May/June 2012 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Website of the Week
Writing Website of the Week
Published author Roz Morris' website covers a lot of topics about writing--some serious, some for fun. Either way, it's a site that's worth a few minutes of any writer's week. (I recommend following her on Twitter too.Nail Your Novel 
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Author Archives: Nancy Kress
The Very Beginning: Your Opening Scene
In this excerpt from Chapter 1: The Very Beginning: Your Opening Scene from Nancy Kress’s Elements of Fiction Writing: Beginnings, Middles, & Ends, you’ll learn:
- why it’s so important to establish your story’s promise
- how to establish strong characters
- tactics to make sure readers keep reading.
Beginnings, Middles, & Ends
Find out more about Elements of Fiction Writing: Beginnings, Middles, & Ends by Nancy Kress.
- Hook readers, agents, and editors in the first three paragraphs.
- Make and keep your story’s implicit promise to the reader.
- Build drama and credibility by controlling your prose.
Q&A With Nancy Kress
Read an exclusive Q&A with Nancy Kress, author of Elements of Fiction Writing: Beginnings, Middles, & Ends.
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Draw Characters From The Strongest Sources
Every drama requires a cast. The cast may be so huge or it may be an intimate cast of two. Where do you get these people, and how do you know they’ll make good characters? Here are the four key sources you’ll need to create great characters.
by Nancy Kress
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Creating Characters: 4 Simple Exercises
Here are 4 simple exercises to help you invent characters for your fiction.
by Nancy Kress
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Dynamic Characters
How to create personalities that keep readers captivated Read more
Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints Read more
Reaction Shots
Build characterization the easy way—through your characters’ reactions to others in thought, speech or action. Read more
The Importance of the Right Word
Word choice: It”s writing”s core. Although it takes practice to always use the exact right word, be sure to keep these guidelines in mind. Read more