by Suzanne Lieurance Most writers love to read. And much can be learned about writing from reading. One of my favorite authors is Margaret Atwood. Let’s take a look at 10 valuable lessons about writing we can learn from reading her work. Lesson #1. The Power of Blending Genres Atwood is known for her ability…
by Suzanne Lieurance When it comes to understanding trade fiction versus commercial fiction, it’s easy to get confused—they’re often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference that’s worth noting. What is Trade Fiction? Trade fiction is essentially any book you’d find in a bookstore or online, aimed at a general audience. It’s a broad category…
by Suzanne Lieurance This week’s creative writing prompts are all about returning to school after the summer. These will be particularly fun if you’re a young student, but if you’re an adult who hasn’t been to School for some time, write from the point of view of a young person. Back to School Creative Writing…
by Suzanne Lieurance It’s hurricane season here in the USA, so let’s use the subject of hurricanes as the basis for some new creative writing prompts this week. Monday’s Prompt – The Sentient Storm A hurricane with a mind of its own forms off the coast and begins to communicate with the people in its…
by Suzanne Lieurance Pacing in a novel refers to the speed at which the story unfolds and how quickly the reader moves through the narrative. Effective pacing keeps readers engaged and ensures the story progresses smoothly. Here are some techniques for controlling the pace in your novel: Techniques for Pacing #1. Sentence and Paragraph Length…
by Suzanne Lieurance In fiction, point of view (POV) is the perspective from which a story is told. The main types of POV are first person, second person, and third person, each with its own advantages and limitations. Let’s take a closer look at each of these. #1. First Person Point of View Definition: When…
by Suzanne Lieurance Here are some new creative writing prompts for the first week of August. Monday’s Prompt A mysterious summer carnival arrives in your small town overnight. Write about the strange attractions and the secrets they hold. Tuesday’s Prompt During a scorching August heatwave, a hidden underground lake is discovered in your backyard. Describe…
by Suzanne Lieurance I’m sure you’re familiar with the fantasy genre but you might not know much about magical realism. In this post, we’ll take a look at each of these genres and then the differences between the two. So, what is fantasy? The fantasy genre is a category of speculative fiction characterized by magical…
by Suzanne Lieurance This week’s creative writing prompts are all based on the summer Olympics taking place in Paris. Enjoy! Monday’s Prompt – The Secret Keeper During the Olympics, a Parisian journalist stumbles upon a scandal involving a famous athlete. As they dig deeper, they must decide between exposing the truth or protecting the athlete’s…
by Suzanne Lieurance Speculative fiction is a broad category that covers genres pushing the boundaries of reality with imaginative and futuristic concepts. It dives into “what if” scenarios that step outside the realm of the possible. Here are some key genres within speculative fiction: Science Fiction Think futuristic tech, space adventures, time travel, aliens, and…
by Suzanne Lieurance The distinction between genre fiction and literary fiction often sparks debate among readers, writers, and critics. While both forms offer valuable contributions to the literary world, they cater to different tastes and serve distinct purposes. First, let me define genre fiction and give some examples. Genre Fiction Definition and Characteristics Genre fiction,…
by Suzanne Lieurance Note: If you haven’t read my post, What a Memoir Is and What It Isn’t, you might want to read that first. Memoirs often employ various tropes to engage readers and convey their stories effectively. Here are some common ones. You might want to consider one of these if you want to…
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