New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

Deep POV: 6 Ways to Master Character Voice

So, you’ve got an intriguing story idea and you’re picturing some of the scenes in your mind, eager to get them down on paper and begin wowing readers. But unless you ground your reader with deep POV, you’ll have a hard time getting them to care or like your book.

There are specific techniques that master writers use to draw readers in and keep them engaged. In this article, I’ll be teaching you about the first and fundamental—absolutely indispensable—technique that pulls readers in and makes them forget they’re reading.

So get out your notebook and prepare to level up your writer’s toolbox. This will be a game changer!

Do You Italicize Book Titles? And Other Title Conundrums

by Alice Sudlow | 41 Comments

Italics, quotation marks, underlines, plain old capital letters—when it comes to writing titles, the rules can feel like a confusing mess. Do you italicize book titles? What about movie titles? And for goodness’ sake, what should you do with pesky things like TV shows, short stories, or Youtube videos?

With so many different kinds of media, it’s easy to get lost in all the rules. Let’s demystify them, shall we?

How to Publish Short Stories: 5 Important Steps When You’re Ready to Publish

by Sarah Gribble | 6 Comments

So you’ve written a short story. Now what? This step-by-step guide will walk you through the complete process for how to publish a short story.

Subtext Examples: 7 Simple Techniques to Supercharge Your Scenes

by Joslyn Chase | 0 Comments

As writers, we are always working to make our stories the best they can be. One of the more advanced techniques that can help you do this is by giving an underlying meaning in a scene—otherwise known as subtext.

In a story, subtext can be implied by the surface action and dialogue.

When you think about the books and stories that you most enjoyed reading, chances are that story’s scenes were woven with something deeper than what appeared on the surface.

Today I’d like to teach you seven simple techniques for using subtext in your story, which I’ll also teach with some subtext examples.

February Writing Prompts

by Sue Weems | 0 Comments

The shortest month of the year is here, and with it we have some creative writing prompts to keep you warm and writing all month long. Check out our February writing prompts today.

How to Write a Transformation Story

by Joslyn Chase | 0 Comments

One of the foremost reasons people read is to experience a character’s arc of change, their transformation, in other words, and transformation stories are among the most powerful and popular in literature and film.

That’s because the human experience is all about change. Each of us is a work in progress—growing, changing our perceptions and how we think—shaping our character.

These stories involve the reader in the course of the character’s change, helping them explore their own potential and desire for transformation, along with the limitations, possibilities, and price attached.