New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

What Is a Narrative Device: 9 Types with Examples

How do you tell a story? Not how do you construct a story, or how do you structure and plot a story? How do you tell a story?

When I think about storytelling at its most basic, I think about our earliest ancestors, sitting around a campfire, sharing stories about their lives, the adventures they’ve been part of, and the history of their people.

This is what narrative devices are about, how you tell the story, and if you’re a writer, the method and perspective of your storytelling is something you must consider.

In this article, we’re going to talk about narrative devices, what they are, the different types found in the best books, plays, films, and serials, and how to use them to tell a powerful story.

20 Fantasy Short Story Ideas

by Ruthanne Reid | 84 Comments

Fantasy as a genre includes a wide range of characters, quests, mythical creatures, and fantasy worlds. I love to escape everyday life in fantasy stories where there’s powerful magic coupled with compelling storytelling.
Here are twenty fantasy short story ideas to help you create your own!

How to Write Lore That Will Deepen Your Fantasy World

by J. D. Edwin | 0 Comments

The best way to immerse your readers in your fantasy story is through world-building, which can be an arduous and intimidating process. After all, to create an entire world is no easy task.

But what if you don’t want to spend a lot of time world-building? The key lies in lore. Lore is defined as “a body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.”

Polysyndeton vs. Asyndeton: Definition and Examples

by Liz Bureman and Joe Bunting | 47 Comments

Today, we’ll look at the difference between polysyndeton vs asyndeton, share some examples, and explain how and when to use them both in your writing. Let’s get started!

Points of a Story: 6 Key Plot Points That Every Story Needs

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

One thing writers have told me consistently is that knowing story structure and the major plot points—or points of a story—makes writing great stories easier. But what are the main points of a story? How can you get them into your books?

I’ve personally found story structure to be incredibly helpful, not just in writing novels and screenplays, but also in memoir and even, sometimes, writing nonfiction books.

In this guide, we’re going to talk about the basic points of a story and how to use story structure to make your writing easier and more effective. I’ll share the six major plot points and talk about a few other points you might look for when writing a book that will give you a general roadmap to writing your story.

Writing Prompt: Finding Independence

by David Safford | 0 Comments

We all long for independence. It’s hard-wired into the human spirit.

Perhaps this is because we all know what it feels like to be trapped. Have your circumstances ever penned you in? Have you ever been forced to look to something or someone else for sustenance, when you would rather be standing on your own feet?

That’s what today’s writing prompt is all about.

Best AudioBook Narrators: Our Favorite Audiobook Narrators for Authors

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

Getting an audiobook produced for your book opens up a whole new group of readers. In fact, about 26 percent of readers only listen to audiobooks, according a study done by the Library Journal. Which means, if you don’t have an audiobook, you’re losing readers. But how do you get an audiobook produced, and how do you choose the best audiobook narrator for your book?

Amy Tan MasterClass Review: Will This Class Help Bring Your Story to Life?

by Elizabeth Nettleton | 0 Comments

“Fiction is actually one of the best ways for finding truth,” Amy Tan says. If you’re looking to uncover the truth in your own writing—and make it even more authentic and emotionally impactful—her MasterClass might be exactly what you need. In this Amy Tan MasterClass Review, I’m sharing my honest thoughts about the course and whether I think it will help you bring your characters and stories to life.

Plot and Structure: How to Use Structure and Subplot to Add Suspense

by Joslyn Chase | 22 Comments

You can’t write a great story if you don’t master plot and structure. But what is the best structure for a novel? How do you plot a novel?

Figuring out your plot and structure is essential for your story’s success. Even if you have an exciting idea for a story, great characters, and a memorable setting, you need to put your protagonist through events that have high and escalating stakes.

Without a sound plot and structure, you won’t thrill your readers. Today, we’ll look at story structure and learn how you can build an effective plan for a story packed with suspense, with all the right twists in all the right places.

Em Dash Shortcut: What Is an Em Dash and How Do You Use It?

by Liz Bureman | 48 Comments

An em dash is a versatile punctuation mark that looks like an extended dash. It is used to break up a longer sentence, usually to insert a phrase into the middle or end of a sentence, to add modification phrases to a list, and sometimes to show a break in narration or conversation. Let’s look at when to use an em dash, and learn the keyboard shortcuts to make them!

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