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Writing Craft

Symbolism and Motif Entry: Bondage/Enslavement

January 20, 2011

Symbolism and Motif Entry: Bondage/Enslavement

January 20, 2011

Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer’s advantage by planting symbols in the…

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: World Building

January 15, 2011

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: World Building

January 15, 2011

When it comes to unforgettable settings, we’ve touched on choosing the right setting, describing the setting, and maximizing the setting through various figures of speech and techniques. But what if…

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: Adding Powerful Layers

January 11, 2011

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: Adding Powerful Layers

January 11, 2011

You’ve picked the perfect setting, you can describe it so compellingly your readers will want to move there…but have you added powerful layers to make it really stand out? Don’t…

How to Create Unforgettable Settings: Description

January 8, 2011

How to Create Unforgettable Settings: Description

January 8, 2011

Some of this has been covered in previous posts (see the end of this article for links to other parts of this series on setting) , but I just couldn’t…

Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Evil

January 6, 2011

Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Evil

January 6, 2011

Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer’s advantage by planting symbols in the…

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: the Right Location

January 4, 2011

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: the Right Location

January 4, 2011

As writers, we often underestimate the power of setting. Who didn’t want to visit the Hundred-Acre Wood? How much of our Bilbo-love is wrapped up in Hobbiton, my precious? And…

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Daycare

December 18, 2010

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Daycare

December 18, 2010

Sight fenced-in playground, slides, swings, jungle gyms, chalk-colored sidewalks, walls covered with artwork, office, restrooms, janitorial closets, classrooms, tiled or carpeted floors, cubbies, lunchboxes, backpacks, jackets hanging on coat hooks,…

Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Isolation

December 16, 2010

Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Isolation

December 16, 2010

Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer’s advantage by planting symbols in the…

Want High Stakes? Amp up the Stress!

December 13, 2010

Want High Stakes? Amp up the Stress!

December 13, 2010

In the real world, we avoid stress whenever possible but in writing, the opposite is true. Why? Because in the land of the Three Act Structure (TAS), STRESS = CONFLICT.…

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Airport Check-In

December 11, 2010

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Airport Check-In

December 11, 2010

For a reader to relate to the current action, they need a physical anchor to tie the characters to. It can be difficult, finding the right words to convey a…