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Exclude Us From Novels

August 11, 2014 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A look at words, punctuation, and writing elements that can be safely excised from novels, creating more memorable fiction.

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Habits, Motions, and Common Actions of Fictional Characters

July 2, 2014 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Tips for putting characters into motion with habits and physical movement without disrupting the main action of a story.

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Zeroing in on Words

June 8, 2014 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Explore how the change in words affects individual moments and scenes and stories, and how words can direct fiction.

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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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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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Purposes for Connecting Words into Story

October 2, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Why write? Why sit at a desk and connect words into scenes and stories? One reason is to entertain readers. But writers don’t only entertain readers. Great writers and good stories can change a reader’s life.

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That’s Not a Real Word

July 2, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

You’re a fiction writer? Then by all means feel free to make up words for your story world.

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Keep Readers Close to Action and Emotion

May 12, 2012 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

If readers aren’t engaged by your story, maybe you’re holding them at a distance, using filtering phrases that keep them a step away from the action and emotion of a scene. Check out these common filtering phrases that keep readers at a distance.

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The Ubiquitous, Wandering It

April 2, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Because they’re so simple, so common, we overlook some words when we write. Instead, an examination of such words could easily ramp up our writing. The word “it” is one such word. Understand the reasons for reducing the overuse of “it.”

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