MagnusBane

Most of my writing is short stories and Chapter 1s that never get past 20 pages. I finished my first novel for NaNoWriMo a couple months ago and it's a ...

I write because I love my characters. They're just so... interesting! I never know what they're going to do next, and I love that.

That would be amazing! I'd buy that. :)

First person can be good in certain situations, but you really have to be careful that your main character doesn't become too much like you. I've found that it's easier ...

I find that the name of the character isn't very important. At the beginning of the book it might seem not quite right, but once you start writing you'll find ...

I always do this. I have notebooks full of stories that I wrote when I was in elementary school, all dated, and it's really convenient. I can compare stories from ...

Exactly. I agree with everything you've said. I've also noticed that most fan fiction is just bad writing, period. I think that it's because a lot of people are lazy ...

Do you believe in ghosts? And has anyone had any experiences with the paranormal?

I wouldn't use the names "Thorn" and "Murtagh" together in the same book, seeing as they were both used in Paolini's series and it will definitely look like you're stealing ...

Here's the thing you have to realize - nothing annoys readers more than dream sequences. Throw one in if you absolutely have to, but if you can avoid it, don't. ...

All right, so after months and months of writer's block, I think I might have actually gotten an idea for a novel for NaNoWriMo. My question is, what now? Should ...

What about character development games or activities? Like interviewing their characters or writing letters to them. Making profiles might help too.

From what I've read, italics or nothing seems to be the most popular way to put a character's thoughts. I've only rarely seen quotations used. But, like Sureal said, it ...

I have been having terrible writer's block for months. The only thing I managed to write all summer was a short story for a YWS contest. That's it. It's not ...

Keep in mind, too, that the degree of physical reactions will vary from character to character, depending on their different personalities. Someone who is distant and keeps their emotions carefully ...