FICTION WRITING TIPS

It feels great to read a good fiction novel. But do you know how a good author creates a good fiction novel? Do you know how an author develops a plot that keeps you reading from cover to cover? If you are a writer who wants readers to finish your book in one sitting, apply some of these tips to write great fiction.

1. Fiction writing requires you to write original plots. Don't lift a storyline from some other book. Make your storyline unpredictable in every part of your fiction novel.

2. Begin your story with a rough story outline. Even if the story exists only in your head, you need to chronicle your story's events. Begin by writing down one sentence describing the opening scene. Next, write another sentence that describes the last scene of your book. A big space in between serves as the space to create major plot points from beginning to end. These sentences will guide you as you write your fiction novel.

3. You must have the story's characters in mind by now. You must know these characters inside out, as if they are alive and you personally know them. You must know each one's strengths and weaknesses.

4. Know the weaknesses of your character and attack them using the plot. Your story should bring your characters together to fight between two strong emotions in some type of emotional struggle.

5. Great fiction writers are great storytellers. If you are a talented storyteller, start with a storyline that comes from your own experience. More story ideas will come from research. You must have a detailed eye for important facts during research. You could always use these for your plot and sub-plots.

6. Use the active voice when telling the story. Active voice helps readers relate themselves to your characters and they feel part of your story. Use short and concrete words for impact.

7. Practice your typing skills. If you are a good typist, it is easier to put your thoughts in written form. Sometimes, ideas bombard you by slow typing. Type fast, and get your thoughts and ideas to paper faster.

These important tips can help you write better fictional stories. Keep going at it. As you get better at the craft, it will become easier to create new plots and characters.


NON-FICTION WRITING TIPS

Non-fiction topics such as history, biographies, how-to books, and self-help books can be a big bore to readers. The overload of data, facts or information bores and turns off some readers. Some people have a hard time focusing on reading pure facts -- they tend to forget what they have just read if it is written in plain and straightforward dry English.

1. If your aim is to write a best-selling non-fiction book, you have to turn boring and straightforward facts into fun and interesting facts. Otherwise, you might as well just write a textbook. (Textbooks only sell because schools require them, otherwise, they would rot on bookstores' shelves.)

2. After you decide what to write about, you need to know how to make your information interesting to readers. Remember, nothing beats human interest to capture an audience. Inject human interest into your otherwise boring how-to manual or non-fiction book.

For example, let's say you are writing about how to build a dog house. Instead of plainly telling readers step by step the how-to's, insert some anecdotes or possible incidents the reader might experience while doing the task. You should always capitalize on human feelings. Appealing to the emotions always works.

3. In writing non-fiction, it is always best to show readers what is happening than tell them what is happening. By showing, I mean leading readers into the scene and making them feel they are seeing or witnessing the event firsthand. Instead of enumerating facts or stating numbers, describe it in a way the average person can relate to.

Not everybody knows his or her metric system, and not everybody has a vivid image of how long 10 meters is. In cases like these, you can make use of your stock idiomatic expressions and metaphors. You can liken the length to something the readers see in their everyday lives.

Instead of stating that the wood is two inches thick, you can say it is as thick as their Harry Potter book 7. These allusions give readers a vivid image in their mind.

If you learn these simple techniques, you can write non-fiction stories and articles in a fun and interesting manner and not bore your readers to death.