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Author of THE ELEVENTH TRADE

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Alyssa HollingsworthAlyssa Hollingsworth
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10 Writing Resources- Drafting

10 Writing Resources: Drafting

January 22, 2015 Posted by Alyssa Fiction & I, Writing Tips

10 Writing Resources- DraftingMy 10 Writing Resources: Characters was the beginning of a series where I compile some of my favorite creative writing links from around the web. Here I present the second post of the series: 10 writing resources I like to keep in mind while I’m drafting.

From tools to keep your creativity churning to the basic elements of dialogue and POV, these links will help you get through your first draft.

Enjoy!

 

1. The What If: A List Method for Getting Unstuck

marissa

It’s inevitable that at some point in the writing process, we’re going to get stuck. Even for serious outliners, like me, there’s bound to be a point in the story where you’re just not sure what should happen next.

 

2. Writing Tutorials: Describing a Character, How to Describe and Create Characterization

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The writer is the artist that will illustrate this vision through descriptive and carefully crafted words. However, you must keep an important step in mind. You cannot describe a character until you have built the character.

 

3. Finding The Theme Of A Story: Almost Famous

AlmostFamous

Sure, you can write “fun” or “cool” pseudo-stories without a Theme, but you can’t transcend medium, genre and culture without a powerful Theme. Stories with power are stories with a Powerful Theme.

 

4. How to Write Better Fiction

write-better-fiction

You know that feeling you get when you read a novel and become completely lost in it? You can’t put it down, so you lose track of time. When you finally finish, you wish it would just keep going. Isn’t that the kind of novel you want to write?

 

5. This Playwright Explains How to Write Great Dialogue

playwright-dialogue-630x630

You know the characters backward and forward from their biggest dreams to their pickiest pet peeves. Now all that’s needed to move the piece forward is for them to speak—and for you to write their dialogue—except the words aren’t coming.

 

6. 10 Killer Chapter Breaks

Chapter-820x380

Chapter breaks are do-or-die territory for novelists. You may be spinning a grand ol’ tale, full of fascinating characters, but if your chapter endings leave readers no reason to turn the page to find out what happens next, all your hard work on the other aspects of your story will be wasted.

 

7. Don’t Get Caught Making These POV Violations

searching dog with magnifying glass

It’s as easy for a writer to make a critical POV mistake as it is for a driver to drift over the speed limit, and these POV errors can compel an editor or agent to reject what may be an otherwise beautifully crafted story.

 

8. Keeping Your Writing Alive: The Importance of Keeping a Writing Journal

Writing Journal 5

I think I have finally found the thing to keep me writing consistently. Keeping a writing journal helps me keep my writing alive.

 

9. 9 Steps to Writing Dialogue with Rich Subtext

Sherlock Holmes Sign of Four

I discovered there were nine steps to writing good dialogue with subtext.

 

10. What To Do When Your Story Bogs Down

What To Do When Your Story Bogs Down

I’ve never been very patient, so when my story starts to bog down or I’m not sure what to do next, I don’t like to to sit around and wait for good ideas to strike. I go and start poking around my book and trying to find a way to unstick things.

 

BONUS:

1. The Four Different Types of Conflict in Dialogue

2. Here’s Why, How, and What You Should Doodle to Boost Your Memory and Creativity

3. DOs and DON’Ts of Deep POV

4. Tactics for Avoiding the Temptation of a New Idea

5. 5 Writing Exercises That Will Make You More Creative

6. How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader

Have your own favorites? Leave a comment!

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Alyssa Hollingsworth

Alyssa was born in small town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.

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Alyssa Hollingsworth
Alyssa was born in small town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.

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