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Narrative Modes in Fiction—Telling Your Story (Writing Essentials)

June 24, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A introduction to the narrative modes of fiction—action, dialogue, description, exposition, and thought—and a brief discussion of how they can be combined in novels.

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Plot, Goal, Inciting Incident—A Reader’s Question

June 18, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A readers asks about links between plot, character goal, and the inciting incident.

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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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Tone, Mood, & Style—The Feel of Fiction

April 19, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Tone, mood, and style—three of the elements of fiction—each contribute to the feel of a story. Learn what each is and how they affect one another.

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Defining Genre Part 2 (Writing Essentials)

October 29, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

This is Part 2 of Defining Genre. Included here is a breakdown of the major fiction genres and sub-genres.

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Defining Genre Part 1 (Writing Essentials)

October 27, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Fiction genres have conventions that allow readers to know what they can expect from a novel in the genre. An in-depth look at fiction genres, including reasons for writers to use genre conventions as they write. An article from the Writing Essentials.

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Point of View—Part Two

July 26, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Second of three articles on point of view. This is an examination of first, second, and third points of view in fiction.

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Point of View, the Full Story—Introduction

July 26, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Point of view is one of the basic elements of fiction. This is the first of three articles exploring point of view.

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How Long Should My Story Be

April 7, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Writers can’t write novels of any length, not if they want to be published traditionally. Word count is important, especially for the first-time novelist.

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When To Bring Backstory Out of the Shadows

March 30, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Backstory can bring depth to characters and their motivations. It can reveal reasons for the status quo at a story’s opening. But it could overwhelm current story events, if you don’t keep it in its place.

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