You don’t have to be an avid gamer to know that video games have evolved. From the simple mechanics of Pong and Pac-man, the medium has transformed into a true art form that can deliver narratives just as effectively as film and literature. Actually, some would argue that games are much more entertaining than books …
What comes to mind when you hear the word “history”? Some of you probably think of sleepy classrooms led by the world’s most boring professor. Others may imagine a flash of black-and-white footage on History Channel as you make your way to more exciting channels. However, if you’re a fiction writer, you should …
I have always been aware of our impending doom. I think it began with the Y2K apocalypse scare, where chaos was supposed to reign. Well, the New Year came and went, and for better or for worse, we’re still here. In my early teens, it was the Mayan Prophecy in 2012; instead of the …
When I first started watching Game of Thrones (and then read it too), I was fascinated at the balance of reality and fiction. In this story, princes aren’t always kind and gallant. Princesses get rescued by monsters. Good men die, and the villains prosper. We root for protagonists who turn into a villain. We …
If you’re a writer or you’ve studied creative writing, chances are you’ve come across the expression ‘Show, Don’t Tell.’ In literature and poetry, this is called ‘Sensory Imagery’ — the use of different expressions and figurative language to evoke a sensory experience in the reader. When authors use the imagery in their writings, they provide …
A few years ago, when my creative writing teacher was explaining the use of literary devices in novels or poems, she showed us the above picture. Yes, that’s a before-and-after shot of a movie scene — a fantastic example of special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX) in cinematography. So, the tutor asked us to …
Established authors have said it before and we’ll say it again: Novel writing methods or structures aren’t an exact science. So, you’re not bound to the rules. You’re welcome to stray from the path they present. They are simply there to help you discover your narrative’s footing or provide you with a basic blueprint. …
My father, who wrote in the pre-internet days, I believe was a more driven writer than me. He says he was at peace with his writing. He would be less compelled to distractions. He would write waywardly essays, occasional poems, short stories, and a couple of journal entries every few weeks. And most importantly, he’d …
How great would it be if we could gather all the great authors in one room to talk about the best writing tips available out there? It would be glorious! But, since we don’t have the luxury to have these successful authors around us, we took advantage of writing manuals and author interviews and gathered …
When American Crime writer Patricia Cornwell was asked if she procrastinates, here’s what she confessed: “I most certainly procrastinate. I absolutely have days when I’ll find every excuse under the sun not to sit at that desk and write. The reason is: writing is hard. And if the characters are being uncooperative, I just move …
