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 Write a Morality Story

by Sue Weems and Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

If you have a main character whose crisis tempts them to veer outside of their values, then you likely have a morality plot. Sometimes the choice is one of selfishness at the expense of others, other times, it is selflessness at the expense of self. But the character’s moral fiber, their soul, is always on the line. Let’s look at how to write a temptation or morality plot.

How to Give and Take Better Writing Feedback

by Sue Weems | 41 Comments

A little over ten years ago, I had almost a decade of English teaching experience, a couple years paid freelance writing work, several creative writing university courses under my belt, and a few small publications in poetry and nonfiction. A friend’s mom, Mae, had written a query letter for her second novel. She asked me to read it and give her some writing feedback. What could go wrong?

When Mae asked, I had not attempted to write an entire novel or a query letter. I had read thousands of novels and a few letters, but I had not studied the structure and requirements of each. I assumed writing was writing. Surely with a degree in English and a little experience, I was qualified to give good feedback?

Nope. Not even close.

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.

Climax of a Story: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

by Joe Bunting | 1 Comment

How do you tell a great story? Perhaps the best way to judge a story is by how good the climax is.

If your story isn’t good, the climax will be muddled or boring. A good story, though, will bring together all the tension that has been building since the exposition into one perfect scene that overwhelms the audience and leaves them in awe.

What is the climax, though? And how do you write a good one?

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 | 1 Comment

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.

Masterwork Examples: What Books Should You Study to Write Yours?

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

If you want to write a book, you need to study masterwork examples like your book. But what is a masterwork and how do you find the books to study to write yours?

Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!