5 Questions to Ask About Every Article Idea I know a good idea when I see one. So should you. Dump those time-tested ideas you’re sending off to editors every other day, and find ideas that will get you the assignment each time, every time. How do you know whether your brilliant idea will strike a chord and get you the assignment or land your neatly crafted query in the slush pile? Use the follo...

5 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs A Newsletter There are a number of reasons that every writer should have their own newsletter. 1. Creative Outlet — Every writer I know writes because they must, because they simply have something to say. However the trick is for many writers finding the right outlet, the right expression, for that message. Starting your own newsletter or ezine can give you that ...

5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity Surprise Your Mind. List laughable, ridiculous, outrageous and bizarre ideas. Don't limit yourself to ideas that other people consider "sane," "reasonable" or "logical." The best and most creative ideas stem from silly ones. When you're in a creative mode, you're suspending judgment on ideas you generate. You simply list them all down and never worry whether th...

5 Words to Creating Unstoppable Confidence One thing drives me each and every day to keep growing, learning, and striving for my dreams. It is this single idea, five simple words, that has dramatically improved my life, giving me the positive motivation and confidence necessary to achieve my goals and really enjoy each moment I am alive. Today, I am going to share this idea with you. Once you r...

When someone reads a novel, he is often looking for a way to temporarily escape from reality and hopes to be ‘transported’ to an unusual or glamorous location. Therefore, if you can set your story against a thrilling, unfamiliar or exotic backdrop, you will certainly excite the reader’s imagination and enhance the quality of your story. The following is an explanation of how to find a suitable set...

When thinking about how to create the right atmosphere in your novel, your  aim should be to stimulate the reader’s emotions. With the correct atmosphere,  your reader may be filled with dread, wonder or awe; he could be outraged or  feel serene. Use the suggestions made below to help you create the right  atmosphere so as to manipulate your reader’s feelings and moods. Choosing Your Ambience R...

In very simple terms, dialogue is the author’s way of sharing information without expressly telling the reader this information. Before going any further, keep in mind the following: first, start writing on a new line when a different character speaks. Second, you can use single or double inverted commas when writing dialogue. Whichever you choose, remain consistent throughout your novel. The Fun...

What do characters like Scarlett O’Hara, Professor Henry Higgins and Clark Kent have in common? They are characters in fictionalised tales which live on in the minds of audiences (both readers of works of fiction and movie-goers) long after many other features of the story are forgotten. Use the suggestions made below to create characters which will be remembered in the same way. Realistic and Be...

While in the planning stages of your novel, consider whether you’ve got a proper structure in place. Roughly speaking, this means assessing your story to see if it has been divided into the ‘beginning’, ‘middle’ and ‘end’. As you will see from the explanations given below, each of these segments has its own pace and tone. The Beginning The beginning is the introduction to your story and also the...