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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

writing technique

Creating a Protagonist? Give Them the “It” Factor

April 18, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 14 Comments

If a character has the “it” factor means he or she is someone special. Memorable. A character with charisma. How to develop a protagonist with these qualities? Read on…

Posted in: Characters, Writing Craft Tagged: characters, novel writing, writing technique

Improve Your Fiction Writing Skills with Poetry

April 13, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 1 Comment
pen writing

Writing poetry will strengthen your fiction and make it matter. That is why you should write poetry—to write what matters. What better reason to write than to get in touch and explore the genuine feeling within you?

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Life, Writing Tips Tagged: writing fiction, writing poetry, writing technique

Creating The Compelling Protagonist: Three No-Fail Writing Strategies

January 18, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 13 Comments

One of the most important aspects of a page-turner is a strong reader-protagonist connection. Use any one or better yet, all of these three techniques and you are well on your way to writing a bestselling protagonist.

Posted in: Characters, Writing Craft Tagged: characters, writing technique

Opening Lines of Books: Hook Your Reader

November 11, 2011 by Kathy Steffen 4 Comments
opening lines of book hook a reader

Opening lines of books. So short. So simple. So important and hard to get right. You need them to hook your reader and pull them in. To make it so that reader has to read on. How do you do that? One of my friends has Yoda for a grandmother. Okay, not really. But that … [Read more…]

Posted in: First Pages, Writing Craft Tagged: first lines, writing strategies, writing technique

Best Writing Tools–My “How To Write” Bookshelf

June 15, 2011 by Kathy Steffen 7 Comments

I love books, writing books included. I have them all. Well, maybe not all, but I do have quite a few, and my collection constantly grows. I read them, highlight passages, make notes, and then if they are truly excellent I keep them on my “How to Write” bookshelf. These are the books I reach … [Read more…]

Posted in: Book Reviews Tagged: creative writing, how to write, novel writing, on writing, write a book, write a novel, writing, writing reference, writing technique, writing tips

Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

Get at Amazon

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Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

Get at Amazon


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