Gahks

Agreed. Subplots are good too, especially if they offer a contrast in tone and mood to the overarching main plot. Example: a crime thriller revolving around a missing person (main ...

The only place where I find 2nd person viewpoint really works is poetry. It takes a lot of skill to pull it off in prose.

Get "Teach Yourself Screenwriting." It's ace. Also learn the ins and outs of script format. Don't clutter your script with directions, camera angles etc.; leave that business to the director. ...

Go for a walk! Relax! Chill! Take a break! That's a great way to get the juices flowing. Listening to mellow music helps too.

Of course you shouldn't start out with this in mind, but working through the three types of conflict can be useful when editing. And remember, "Genius is one percent inspiration ...

How many different kinds of conflict are there? One? Two? Fifty? Writers actually have a choice of three basic types of conflict: 1. Internal conflict : with the self, i.e. ...

Yes, agreed, miyaviloves. There has to be an element of conflict and contrast in the relationship. You need to find oppositions in the lovers' characters, and then figure out why ...

Also Conditional: Anything with WOULD/SHOULD/COULD: He would still be able to walk if he hadn't had the operation. I would have said go home instead of stay at school. (Perfect ...

Also for cliffhangers. As Snoink said, they're way awesome. I love making readers gasp, "Oh no!" and they frantically rush onto the next chapter/book.

It splits the novel up into manageable, digestible chunks so you can read it over several nights without needing bookmarks!

You can also open using: 1. Images: Like teenagers throwing tantrums, investors get jittery when ministers announce things they hate. 2. Participles: Running through the street, the man tried to ...

Linked to the notebook thing I also recommend having an ideas box. Just put random ideas on scrap pieces of paper, they can be plot ideas, symbols, concepts, phrases, anything. ...

Writing gives you a break from the stresses and strains of modern everyday life. It empowers you to make a contribution to the wider world, to speak out against social ...

Make your dialogue visual! In films and TV series, characters are always doing something while talking. Use background and setting to anchor your dialogue in some sort of context. E.g.: ...

Conflict can be summed up as falling into one of three categories: 1. External conflict (conflict with outside forces: environment, technology, culture, society, even time) 2. Internal conflict (confl