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General Writing Tips

Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How

Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How | Tips for writers about using all five senses when describing events and settings in their stories. A must read for writers who aren’t sure what it means to tap into their characters’ senses.

Writing and storytelling are two sides of the same coin, and one usually needs to be skilled in both to create a great story. If your prose is not engaging, your story may not be enough to maintain your reader’s […]

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4 Signs Your Strong Female Character Might Still be a Sexist Stereotype

4 Signs Your Strong Female Character Might Still be a Sexist Stereotype | Tips for how to make sure your strong female characters aren’t doing more harm than good. A must read for writers wanting to write strong female characters.

Women have not always been portrayed well in fiction, with female characters often being relegated to little more than objects or plot devices. Real-life women grew tired of their fictional counterparts always being in in need of rescue or stuffed into […]

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4 Basic Ingredients to Make Your Story More Complex (the critical narrative elements of a compelling story)

4 Basic Ingredients to Make Your Story More Complex | For your story to be the most engaging and compelling it can be, it should comprise these basic narrative elements. A must read for writers who want to get the best out of their stories. Read more at jackalediting.com.

Every story has different requirements. Some don’t need much character development. Others don’t need tight plots. But for your story to be the most engaging and compelling it can be, it should comprise these basic narrative elements. 1. Character Reader-Character […]

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Why You Shouldn’t Ask How to Find the Time to Write

Why You Shouldn’t Ask How to Find the Time to Write | A discussion about where to find the time to write, and why you shouldn’t be asking this question. A must read for writers who can’t find the time to write, and what to know how they can.

If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you’re probably aware of how I can’t stand the question “How do I find the time to write?”. As part of the online writing community, I see this question asked at least once a week […]

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Writing Rules Explained: Should We Follow Writing Rules?

Writing Rules Explained: Should we Follow Writing Rules? | The truth about writing rules. Why they exist, and why you should know what they are (they’re not what you think ;) ). A must watch for writers who refuse to learn writing rules.

(Video transcript) Not a fortnight goes by that I don’t read the comments section of an article about writing and find a comment spurning writing rules and advice of any kind and it grinds my gears. “Rules stifle creativity!” they proclaim. […]

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6 Ways to Use Your Protagonist’s Sidekick

6 Ways to Use Your Protagonist’s Sidekick | Tips for utilising your protagonist’s sidekick to achieve more than just comic relief. Turn them into a useful, lovable character.

Ah the sidekick. Dimwitted menace or valuable tool? Many sidekicks are written poorly and with the primary role of providing comic relief or making the protagonist look good. This sort of sidekick can work in some forms of fiction, but […]

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4 Reasons You Should Avoid Writing Dreams in Novels

4 Reasons You Should Avoid Dreams in Novels | Tips about writing dream sequences in novels, and why you should avoid it. A must read for writers who have written out detailed dreams in their stories.

If you’re on a book editor’s website reading blog posts about writing then you’ve been in the writersphere long enough to have heard that editors and agents hate dreams in novels. Many people in the writing community tend to just […]

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9 Microsoft Word Tips for Writers to Save Time and Increase Efficiency

9 Microsoft Word Tips to Save Time and Increase Efficiency | Microsoft Word Tips for writers to help save time.

Download the cheat sheet! Check out: Sign up to get your free workbook  

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6 Places to Find the Title of Your Novel

6 Places to Find the Title of Your Novel | Tips for finding the perfect title for your novel. Have you looked in these 6 places?

Finding the right title for your novel can be difficult. Many writers miss the mark, naming their book something obscure for the sake of creating interest even if that obscure something has nothing to do with the story, e.g. Twilight. […]

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Why You Need to Keep the Promises You Make to Your Readers

Why You Need to Keep the Promises You Make to Your Readers | Advice about making promises to your readers, and why you need to keep them to avoid turning readers off your book. A must read for writers who want to keep their readers engaged.

When writing a novel, you’re making promises to your readers. A promise is when a writer indicates to his or her readers that something will happen or be explored. Writers make dozens of promises as they write, probably without realising […]

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the latest

  • What are Stakes and Why Do Stories Need Them?
    Story Stakes: Using Consequences to Drive Your Story March 11, 2020
  • 5 World Building Aspects You Might be Forgetting | Good world building makes a fictional world feel real and lived in. You don't need to tell the reader everything. You just need to make them feel like you've thought of everything. Read the full post at jackalediting.com
    5 World Building Aspects You Might be Forgetting February 12, 2020
  • 3 Most Important Things to Know About Your Characters | One of the keys to writing a great story is great character development. And for that, this is what you need to know. Read the full post at jackalediting.com
    The 3 Most Important Things to Know About Your Characters January 8, 2020
  • 3 Storytelling Lessons from STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE | Analysing other stories can help you develop your own storytelling skills. What storytelling lessons can we learn from STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE?
    3 Storytelling Lessons from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace April 3, 2018
  • Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How | Tips for writers about using all five senses when describing events and settings in their stories. A must read for writers who aren’t sure what it means to tap into their characters’ senses.
    Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How May 15, 2017

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