Use poetry to spice up your writing. If your writing feels dry and boring, poetic elements such as metaphors, images, and juicy language can make it sing!
Read more at Writers@Work: How to Use Poetry to Spice Up Your Writing
fiction
All posts tagged fiction
5 Must-Try Writing Techniques For Fiction Authors – Writer’s Edit
Published March 15, 2018 by Jennifer LoringWe’ve put together an easy-to-follow round-up of different writing techniques you might like to try out in the search for that perfect routine. Click here to learn more!
Source: 5 Must-Try Writing Techniques For Fiction Authors – Writer’s Edit
How To Find And Fix Plot Holes In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
Published January 25, 2018 by Jennifer LoringPlot holes. We all know what they are: inconsistencies or gaps that defy logic in stories. And we all know they’re entirely undesirable when it comes to writing a good novel. Plot holes diminish the plausibility of a story and can have a huge effect on the way that story is viewed by readers. Your novel may be wonderfully written with great characters and an engaging plot – but leave one plot hole in there and, sadly, all your hard work may be undone. So how can you tell if your story has plot holes? And if it does, how can you go about filling them in? Let’s dive into a step-by-step process for finding and fixing plot holes in your novel.
How to find plot holes
The first thing you need to do is to determine whether your…
Source: How To Find And Fix Plot Holes In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
Create Compelling Characters With These 3 Types of Character Arcs – Writer’s Edit
Published January 11, 2018 by Jennifer LoringWe all know that crafting believable characters with strong motivations is vital in fiction writing. But how do you ensure that your characters remain compelling throughout the course of your story? The answer is simple: make sure they all have strong character arcs. Below, we’ll first discuss what exactly a character arc is. Then we’ll take a look at the three main types of character arcs – change/transformation, growth, and fall – and discuss how to write each one effectively, creating characters that truly resonate with readers.
What is a character arc? A character arc is basically the journey a character undertakes over the course of a story. But this doesn’t mean a physical journey. We’re talking about an inner journey: one that makes a character grow, learn, change, evolve, or even completely transform as the story unfolds. Generally, this means that a…
Source: Create Compelling Characters With These 3 Types of Character Arcs – Writer’s Edit
5 Quick Tips for Writing Thrilling Fight Scenes – Writer’s Edit
Published December 1, 2017 by Jennifer LoringFight scenes are common across a range of genres, from action, spy and thriller novels to fantasy and sci-fi. They’re often a physical manifestation of the conflict that’s driving your story – and they’re great for keeping things exciting for readers. Whatever genre you write, knowing how to write an authentic, exciting fight scene is an invaluable skill to have. But why are action and fight scenes so difficult to craft authentically? One of the primary reasons is that the average author doesn’t usually have a whole lot of experience with fighting in real life. And even if they do, it’s not an easy thing to translate to the page! The scene has to strike the right balance between the actual action and the other important elements, like emotion and personal stakes. With that said, let’s dive into some…
Source: 5 Quick Tips for Writing Thrilling Fight Scenes – Writer’s Edit
5 Reasons Novelists Should Write Short Stories – Writer’s Edit
Published November 8, 2017 by Jennifer LoringThe ability to write a short story, and write it well, is invaluable to any author. Novelists in particular can benefit from regularly immersing themselves in short fiction. Writing short stories…
- Develops creative and critical skills.
- Builds portfolios.
- Provides the opportunity to expand experiences with submissions, editors and professional expectations.
- Furthers your understanding of genres and potential readerships.
- Helps construct a strong authorial presence and gets your name ‘out there’ as a published author.
So if you’re wading your way through the umpteenth draft of your novel, or even if you haven’t quite started yet, read on for five reasons you should stop what you’re doing (just for a bit) and start writing short stories.
1. Short stories develop your skills
As a novelist, you’re used to long-form fiction where you have the time, the space and the word count to…
Source: 5 Reasons Novelists Should Write Short Stories – Writer’s Edit
6 Quick Tips For Writing Gripping Scenes – Writer’s Edit
Published October 19, 2017 by Jennifer LoringScenes drive your story forward; without them, there would be no novel. Your scenes need to keep your reader on the edge of their seat with your plot and characters because otherwise, they won’t keep reading. Looking at your novel on a scene-by-scene basis is a critical step in the writing and editing process. Here’s a list of six things you can do to make every scene super engaging for your readers.
1. Structure your scenes to maintain good pacing
You’re probably aware of the importance of structuring your novel, but having good scene structure is equally important. By structuring your scenes carefully, you will ensure your novel maintains a good pace and isn’t full of dull patches.
Creating scenes and sequels
In his book Techniques of the Selling Writer, author Dwight V. Swain highlights the importance of creating scenes and sequels. He suggests that a scene should always be…
Source: 6 Quick Tips For Writing Gripping Scenes – Writer’s Edit
How To Master Setting In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
Published October 6, 2017 by Jennifer LoringIn our visual world of cinema and photography, setting often takes a back seat in novels. But even when constructed through words, visuals are a powerful story element. Whether creating a fantasy world from scratch or using the current world as your backdrop, it is important to work your setting into your story effectively. The first question is, obviously, where. But to truly master this story element, you need to consider the why, what, when and how as well. So, why is setting such a big deal? The experience of immersing oneself in a new place is becoming the domain of cinema, and it is still a powerful tool for today’s writer. Fiction is all about transporting a reader to another place – making them forget the paper in front of…
Official Blurb and Cover for The Long Change
Published August 2, 2017 by Jennifer Loring
A secret affair…an unspoken love…the change of a lifetime.
Andrew Ellis is a winger on a failing hockey team and sees an opportunity for change in the upcoming expansion draft. Through that, he believes he can escape his ex-wife and the painful memories of their daughter’s death from cancer. Not to mention the secret he’s been hiding—his year-long affair with his team’s equipment manager. He’s afraid his career will suffer if anyone finds out. Will Andrew find the courage to acknowledge he’s gay and admit his feelings for Dylan Murphy before it’s too late?
Coming soon from The Wild Rose Press.
Release Day: The Firebird Trilogy boxed set
Published May 30, 2017 by Jennifer Loring
FIREBIRD – BOOK #1
Stephanie Hartwell is a journalist chasing the story of her career…
When superstar hockey player and notorious bad boy Aleksandr Volynsky is traded to the Seattle Earthquakes in a blockbuster deal, Stephanie demands the opportunity to prove herself by scoring an exclusive interview with a man with no love for the media…the same man she once thought, as a naïve teenager, she’d someday marry.
An Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Aleksandr has achieved every goal he’s ever set…
Now expected to carry a failing team on his shoulders, Aleksandr’s troubles deepen when he encounters Stephanie after a season-opening loss. His lifestyle of drinking and random hookups has been a futile attempt to forget the beautiful tomboy who stole his heart nine years ago. And worse, fame and fortune have made it impossible for him to trust anyone—especially Stephanie, who is engaged to another man.
WHAT’S LEFT OF ME – BOOK #2
Recovering from years of living the superstar hockey life wasn’t easy, but now Aleksandr Volynsky finally has everything…
He’s married to the love of his life, expecting a daughter, and has a new job as an assistant coach with his old team, the Buffalo Gladiators. His happiness is short lived, however, when a sexual assault allegation surfaces, and Alex is forced to cooperate with an investigation for a crime he didn’t commit.
Stephanie Hartwell is juggling her dream job with marriage and motherhood, but she’s not convinced she’s doing any of it well…
Stephanie’s stress level goes from bad to worse when she’s diagnosed with a serious illness. Battling declining health and the critics who question her commitment to Alex in light of the allegation, she makes a decision that could change their relationship forever.
THE PIECES OF ME – BOOK #3
Aleksandr Volynsky thinks he’s experienced the worst life can throw at him, until the most devastating loss leaves him questioning everything…
One year later, Alex and his daughter, Anya, are still picking up the pieces. In the process, he realizes how far apart their mutual grief has driven them and how lonely he has become—especially when the Buffalo Gladiators’ beautiful anthemist, Hannah Kent, finally introduces herself.
Anya Volynsky is a high-school senior with plans—her father’s plans—to become the first woman on a professional hockey team’s starting roster…
But Anya is toying with the idea of staying in Buffalo and caring for her father rather than accept a scholarship to play hockey at Boston College. Her decision becomes even more difficult when she meets her school’s new athletic trainer, Lucas Donovan. Their experience with similar losses draws them together, and soon their friendship blossoms into a forbidden love that neither of them expected.
