Friday March 29
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Build Toward The Story’s End

November 6, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Include anticipation in your stories to keep readers turning pages and involved with possible outcomes for your characters.

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Set Story into Motion—Use Meaningful Verbs

October 11, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Verbs power your stories. Use accurate verbs to create the motion and emotion you want your story to have. This article includes tips for choosing verbs, including use of the passive voice.

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Dig Deep and Push Harder

September 17, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A reminder to layer on the emotional hits so the reader will feel them. Use knockout lines or zingers when that works for a scene, but don’t be hesitant about pushing, about hitting the emotional button again and again.

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Introduction to Description

August 9, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Description in fiction paints the story world and characters for readers, gives substance to a world wholly unfamiliar to the readers. Learn some tips for working with description.

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Setting Details—Mastering Technology

August 3, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Technology is part of a story’s setting. Remember to include technology, especially in contemporary stories, if you want setting and background to feel authentic.

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You Gotta Start Somewhere

July 15, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A discussion of where to begin writing, especially when you don’t know where to start. Included a reminder to decide on foundational issues before putting pen to paper.

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Light a Fire Under Your Characters

July 8, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Characters need motivation to compel them to act when they otherwise wouldn’t. And writers have to supply the right motivation for the story events, the character, the genre, and the setting.

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Making Something Happen in Story

June 16, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Whichever story event you refer to when you talk about the inciting incident, make something happen in your story. Include a cause that gets the story, and your protagonist, moving.

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Those %!@# Expletives

May 26, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Expletives—there is, there were, it is, it was, and so forth—can make sentences dull. And sometimes they’re just used too often in our writing. Learn how expletives can work either for or against story.

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Come to Your Senses

May 4, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Tips for using the sense elements to differentiate characters, enhance mood, and make stories feel real.

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