Write Better Fiction / 115 posts found
How Inspiration and Research Shape a Novel
As a writer of historical fiction, research forms an integral part of my work—and indeed is something I have always enjoyed. In my previous career as a theatre director, researching the time period of the play that I was directing was always one of the things I relished the most, and so it is no surprise that in my writing, I am drawn to stories from the past that allow me to lose myself in another time and place. My latest novel, The Widow’s Last Secret, is set in England in the early Victorian period; a time of amazing inventions […]
Going From Me to We: Collaborating on the Writing of a Novel
Most writers are lone wolves. Our words are our babies, and we don’t like them messed with. Over the years, some of my novels have made the rounds in Hollywood, with a few of them going into pre-production. The worst thing about those experiences was getting feedback from individuals who apparently read my book with cursory interest, and whose comments about possible changes in the book’s adaptation seemed to come out of left field. Hollywood is a collaborative process. When the right people come together, it can lend itself to wonderful magic, but in my own experience it felt as […]
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Dismissing Other Genres
Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well. (Grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we’re looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week’s writing mistake writers make is dismissing other genres. Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Dismissing […]
Evaluating the Sample Edit and Choosing the Right Editor for You
In this series about hiring a professional editor, we’ve examined whether you need an edit as well as what kind, looked at how to find good editors, and determined what questions to ask to narrow down your choices. (When Is My Novel Ready to Read: 7 Self-Editing Processes for Writers) At this point in your vetting process, one of the non-negotiables I always suggest is asking any editor you’re considering for a sample edit—you wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, and editing is a major and important investment. But how do you evaluate that sample once you receive […]
Abbreviation vs. Acronym vs. Initialism (Grammar Rules)
If you have trouble understanding the difference between an abbreviation, acronym, and initialism, don’t worry: They’re easy to mix up. In fact, they often overlap each other. But this post will attempt to untangle these terms ASAP. (Grammar Rules for Writers.) Learn when you’re using an abbreviation vs. acronym vs. initialism with Grammar Rules from the Writer’s Digest editors, including a few examples of correct usages. Abbreviation vs. Acronym vs. Initialism Abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase intended to speed up communication and/or use fewer symbols. For instance, using “vs.” for “versus” or “dept.” for “department” as […]