There is a path to fiction writing success that is quick and sure, even obvious. It's a path that's simple to explain. In fact, I'm going to explain it in this short article. And when I'm finished, most of you who read this will nod and say to yourselves, "I knew that." Then you'll move on without giving it another thought. And you won't do it.

Of the many different writing styles, viewpoint writing is probably the one that works best for aspiring writers - but what is it? Viewpoint writing is used extensively in modern novels, especially ones that contain fast-paced action. As its name suggests, it's written from the active character's viewpoint, telling the reader what the character

When writing for women's magazines it's important to know the themes that work - and those that don't. Here we take a look at popular magazine themes. First off, here's a question. What kind of stories do you think are printed in women's magazines? If you don't read them, chances are that you'll say 'romance'. Well, you would only be half-right.

Sitting by the fireside in the cold desert night, the sky above him pitch black and mysteriously void of stars, he reflected on who he was and what he might have been and the history of the troubled times that were unfolding all around him. His name was Chief Joseph. Possibly the greatest of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. On a parchment in fron

The young man stood on the steps of the library, waiting for it to open. The librarians, three elderly ladies sedately dressed and whispering even amongst themselves, came at the appointed hour, unlocked the door, and went in. Ten minutes later, after completing their opening ritual, they decided to open the door five minutes earlier to let t

RTD2, who actually liked to call himself "Artie De True" after the humor circuit had been added to his metallic cranium, stopped by the computer lab on his way to work at the Infinite Robotics Factory. His friend, Random Bytes, a new flat screen, completely automated psychological responsive unit was not busy and had time to see him. "How can

The desire to have a book with your name on the cover seems universal - yet how many would-be writers really know if they have what it takes to succeed? Here are ten points that every beginner should consider. Writing a book - and getting it published - is an ambition that is not hard to understand. Breaking into the ranks of published writers m

Have you ever wondered how some writers seem to have plenty of ideas to work with and others very few? Well, here perhaps is one reason why . . . If you have ever listened to anyone say something along the lines of 'I had this most amazing dream last night - but I can't just remember what it was about' you may start to guess where I'm coming fro

If you have decided to write a novel, the story that exists within it extends way beyond the book itself. This 'backstory' is what helps give your book depth: here are a few points to keep in mind about the 'past' of the book you're writing. A novel may encompass any period of time, from an hour or two to many centuries. Yet this span of time, n

The Martian stood in the open field surrounded by the best government artillery pointed at his head and chest and back. The infantry troops formed a circle around him. Up above, fighter jets waited for the word to launch a missile right into the corn field if necessary. Unaware of the hostile force that had greeted him, innocent of all t

Life is a book. No saying can hold more truth than that one short quote. Life is indeed a book waiting to be written. Ideas for the best novels and stories often come from the authors past experiences, what they observe, or what they hear from people around them. Stories often start with an idea that gets stuck in your brain after hearing or seeing

The short story market often demands tight word counts from the writer. Here are some tips on how to keep that word count under control! Short stories written specifically for inclusion in weekly or monthly magazines are a lucrative source of income for any writer. The pay rate per word is often high and the returns are good for the length of ti

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions. ~James Michener Writing has always been a highly pleasurable form of art for me. I find it surprising that many people view it as something to avoid as much as possible. The most baffling thing to me is how people complain of "writer's block." I've also heard

For many aspiring writers, the novel is the chosen path to publication. Yet with so few achieving this goal, why not consider some other pathways to success? This article lists three reasons why not to write a novel and gives some alternatives! 1. Novels take a long time to write. On average, a novelist will spend a year on researching and w

The short story genre is one that is thriving - but only in certain places. Where are they? A short story can be roughly defined as any work of fiction below about 12,000 words. A greater wordcount tends to move the story into the realms of the 'Novella' or Novelette', a niche in the writing field that falls between the short story and the full