Prose
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The Writer’s Complete Guide to Symbolism in Literature
A symbol is a powerful device for communicating complex themes and revealing your character's deeper layers. Here's everything you need to know about symbolism in literature, plus a ton of symbolism examples.
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The Best Examples of Good Dialogue for Fiction Writers
Great stories contain great dialogue. But writing good dialogue isn't easy, so we're going to cover what makes for good dialogue, why it's important, and cover examples of good dialogue in pop culture.
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Character Diction: The Writer’s Secret for Stellar Dialogue
Diction is about so much more than choosing the right words. This aspect of your writing can help you create engaging characters with realistic voices. Here's how.
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What's the Sitch with Situational Irony?
Literary devices are the tools authors whip out to add a little extra polish, a bit more pizazz to their writing. Situational irony is just one of those tools, a form of misdirection that will hook your readers until your last page.
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Parallel Structure: The Little Grammar Trick That Packs a Punch
What is parallel structure? And why do fiction writers need to know about it? Here's an in-depth look at what this literary device can do for your storytelling skills.
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225+ Descriptive Adjectives (And the Best Way to Use Them)
Descriptive adjectives can make your prose shine or drag your story down. It's all about how you use them. Learn what it takes to master adjectives and get a whole big pile of them to inspire your writing.
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The Best Opening Lines in Books (And How to Write Your Own)
Studying the best opening lines of books not only helps you write your own brilliant opening, it also sharpens your writing skills overall. Here are some of the best first lines ever written, plus some great tips for nailing your own.
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How to Write a Way Better Story With Sensory Details
Sensory details draw your reader deeper into the story and help them connect emotionally with your character's journey. The trick is knowing how to use descriptive writing effectively. Here are the secrets every author should know.
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A Bunch of Euphemism Examples and How They Help Your Writing
A great euphemism can brighten your prose, clarify a character, or establish the culture of your fictional world. But what are euphemisms, exactly? And how can you use them strategically? Here's everything you need to know.
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How to Write Comedy as a Fiction Writer Afraid of Flopping
It's hard enough to be funny on command. It's even harder to make a joke read the way you want it to in print. Here's everything you need to know about writing comedy in fiction.
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Seriously, What Makes Good Prose?
Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.
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Master Storytelling With 4 Types of Narrative Writing
Narrative writing shows up in multiple forms and nearly every genre. Get to know the four most common types of narrative writing and learn how to tell a great story in any context.
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What’s a Hybrid Genre? Learn the Art of the Literary Mash-Up
Kinda wish you didn't have to choose between genres when you write your next novel? Maybe you don't have to! Get to know hybrid genres and what it takes to write a great cross-genre story.
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6 Types of Writing Styles Every Writer Should Know
What's the difference between narrative writing and expository writing? What does a technical writer do? How do you nail descriptive writing? Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the most common types of writing styles.
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Technical Writing Skills for the Technically Curious
Technical writers are pretty much always in demand. Learn what it takes to survive and thrive in this line of work.
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Ruin Your Characters’ Lives with Tragic Irony
While it's not for every story, tragic irony can be a great way to mess with both your characters and your readers... in a fun way, of course. Learn all about it in this article.
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Literary Trope Examples (Also, What’s a Trope?)
If you're a confused about what a trope actually is, you've got good reason to be. This one literary term covers a ton of storytelling devices, and nailing down the definition isn't always easy. Fortunately, we've got a whole bunch of trope examples to help clarify things.
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What Exactly is an Archetype in Literature?
Got a lot of writerly types around you talking about archetypes but have no idea what they're going on about? No worries! You can find a full explanation here and learn how to use archetypes to write a story that resonates.
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Purple Prose: What Is It and Why Is It Such a Crime?
You may have heard people talk about purple prose. More specifically, you may have heard the phrase "purple prose" used an explanation for why someone didn't like a book or doesn't read a particular author. But what is purple prose? Why is it so bad? And how do you avoid it in your own writing? Find all those answers here.
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What is an Epilogue? A Peek Into the World Beyond “The End”
What's the purpose of an epilogue? Do readers prefer to have one? How do you know if your story needs a little something extra beyond the happily ever after? Find the answers to your most urgent epilogue questions right here.
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Grab Your Reader’s Attention by Writing the Perfect Hook
Hooks can be incredibly powerful openers, especially to draw your readers into your book from the first line. In this article, we're covering everything you need to write a hook to start your novel.
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How to Write a Good Hook Readers Can’t Resist
A hook can be a great way to start a story, but it requires skill and a bit of finesse to pull off properly. That's why we've put together this guide to writing good hooks!
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The Four Types of Irony Every Writer Should Understand
What's the difference between situational and dramatic irony? How does verbal irony fit in? What the heck is Socratic irony? And do you really need to know all this? This guide untangles irony and shows you how you can use it in your own stories.
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Your Guide to the Manipulative Art of Socratic Irony
Socratic irony is sneaky, manipulative, and a great way to make a big reveal even more delicious. If you want to learn how to incorporate this device in your own story—or if you just want to get better at identifying it—you've come to the right place.
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Opening Scenes With Oomph: Writing In Medias Res
The way you start your novel is one of the most important decisions an author can make. In medias res (literally "in the midst of things") is one of the most effective options you have to open your story. Learn more about it, including how to write an in medias res opening, in this article.