Tag: how to write a better novel

When you write a work of fiction, your characters can be anyone, from anywhere, and from any time. This is exciting creative freedom, but it can also be perilous.

Edgar Allan Poe's notion of "unity of effect" describes his belief that everything in a written work must lead toward the denouement, starting with the first word.

Scope is what everyone is talking about when they talk about genre. The scope of your story defines the genre — some concepts and ideas are in and others are out.

Try this exercise and write your query letter before you write your next book to keep your manuscript focused and help you pitch it to agents and publishers.

Whether as a substance check, a means to kick-off the writing process, or a vehicle to share your story with beta readers, agents, and publishers, there is a lot of value in a book synopsis.

Your life experiences — exhilarating and tedious, mundane and magnificent — should inform your written work. Channel your emotions and use descriptive details to make your story-world come alive.

Not only does keeping a journal of short fiction keep your creative writing muscles working, harvesting your short fiction might lead to your next great idea for a novel.