Guides
How to write a strong opening line that hooks readers instantlyA strong opening line is the doorway into a story, article or chapter. It has one job: create a reason for the reader to cross the threshold. The best lines do…Writing an eco-horror novel that makes readers think about the planetEco-horror can turn an abstract environmental emergency into something a reader feels in the lungs, skin and stomach. A toxic plume over a fishing harbour,…Turning Oral Stories Into Published FictionTranslating Oral Storytelling Traditions Into Written Fiction begins with listening. Every family, classroom and community carries stories shaped by memory,…How to write a novel in a month without sacrificing qualityA month is long enough to complete the first draft of a book, but it is not long enough to excuse weak planning. The fastest route to a readable novel is not…Creating Tension Between Characters Who Are in LoveRomantic tension rarely comes from perfect compatibility. It comes from two people who care about each other yet want incompatible things at the same moment.…The art of writing a good blurb: Selling your book in three paragraphsA blurb is often the only sales copy a reader sees before deciding whether a book is worth their time and money. It may appear on a retailer’s product page,…How to Write a Successful Query Letter for a Nonfiction Book ProposalA query letter is often the first test of a nonfiction book idea. It gives an agent or publisher a quick sense of your subject, authority, readership and…Chapter Titles That Shape Meaning and Invite ReadersUsing chapter titles to add meaning and intrigue to your book is a compact way to shape the entire reading experience. Each heading can signal a change in…Building a scene that earns its climaxA climax has greater impact when readers can trace its force back through the scene that prepared it. Crafting a scene that builds to a powerful climax is not…Writing a confessional memoir with vulnerability and craftKnowing how to write a confessional memoir that balances vulnerability and craft starts with a useful distinction: confession creates emotional risk, while…
