General Fiction

Getting Started: The Fundamentals of Fiction, by Marg Gilks

Part I: "I've Got an Idea!"

Part II: Read, Read, Read!

Part III: Critique Groups and Writers' Groups

Part IV: Writers Write!

Part V: Learning How: Courses, Workshops and Tutors

Part VI: Learning the Lingo

Part VII: Being Realistic About Your Work

Part VIII: Finding Markets for Your Fiction

Part IX: Writing Etiquette

Part X: Avoid Those Beginners' Blunders

Characters and Viewpoint

Creating Memorable Characters - Lee Masterson

Creating Villains People Love to Hate - Lee Masterson

Establishing the Right Point of View: How to Avoid "Stepping Out of Character" - Marg Gilks

Finding Your Characters - Mary Cook

Handling a Cast of Thousands I: Getting to Know Your Characters - Will Greenway

Handling a Cast of Thousands II: Your Story as Your Characters (and Readers) See It - Will Greenway

Handling a Cast of Thousands III: Developing the Five-Act Scene - Will Greenway

Headhopping, Authorial Intrusion, and Shocked Expressions - Anne Marble

The Mystery of Character - Robert Wilson

Plotting by Personality - Marg McAlister

Viewpoint, Perspective and Time - Will Greenway

Dialogue

Creating Dynamic Dialogue - Will Greenway

It's Not What They Say... - Mary Cook

Off with the Talking Heads! - Marg Gilks

Punctuating Dialogue - Marg Gilks

The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags - Anne Marble

Description and Setting

The Art of Description: Eight Tips to Help You Bring Your Settings to Life - Anne M. Marble

Four Ways to Bring Settings to Life - Moira Allen

Houses are People Too: The Structure of a Literary Device - Geoff Hart

Location, Location, Location! - Jim C. Hines

Story Structure

Choosing the Right Name for Your Story - John Floyd

Dynamic Beginnings: Getting Your Story Off to a Great Start - Will Greenway

Five Fiction Mistakes that Can Spell Rejection - Moira Allen

Plotting Your Novel - Lee Masterson

Plunge Right In... Into Your Story, That Is! - Rekha Ambardar

To Outline or Not to Outline - Tim Hallinan

Where to Begin? When, Where and How to Write a Prologue - Lital Talmor

Why Do I Need an Outline? - Cheryl Sloan Wray

Your Story Outline: What It's All About - Rekha Ambardar

Flash Fiction

Flash What? A Quick Look at Flash Fiction - Jason Gurley

Flashes of Brilliance: Writing Flash Fiction - Joan Popek

Flashes on the Meridian: Dazzled by Flash Fiction - Pamelyn Casto

General Tips

25 Unique Places to Find Story Ideas - Michelle Giles

Blueprints: Building a Home for Your Characters - Elizabeth Cheyne

Can I Make a Living as a Novelist? - Marilyn Henderson

The Ethics of Tragedy: Plot Victims are People Too! - Paula Fleming

A Field Guide to Genre Writers' Organizations - Catherine Lundoff

Historical Research for Fiction Writers - Catherine Lundoff

How Long Should Your Story Be? - Lee Masterson

Keeping Your Story On Track with Style Sheets - Marg Gilks

Look before You Write: Applying the Lessons of the Visual Arts - Paula Fleming

Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers: Setting the Scene with Weather - Larissa Ione

"Prove" Your Story with Evidence - Sue Fagalde Lick

A Research Primer for Historical Fiction Writers - Erika Dreifus

Stuck in the Middle of Your Story? Try Prompts! - Alina Sandor

The Top Ten Mistakes New Fiction Authors Make - Sally Zigmond

Visualization Exercises for Writers - Holly Lisle

What, Where, When and Why - Marg Gilks

Write What You Know -- Because You Know More than You Think! - Marg Gilks

Writing Confessions: An Interview with Bea Sheftel - Moira Allen

Getting Published

How to Write a Novel Synopsis - Marg Gilks

Research, Track and Conquer: How to Research Short Fiction Markets, Track Submissions, and Ultimately Get Published - Joseph Thomas

Serial Writing: The Ongoing Paycheck - Alina Sandor

Small Press Magazines: Should You Bother? - Bruce Boston

For More Information, see also Writing-World.com's sections on:

Children's Writing

Mysteries

Romance

Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror

Getting Published - Fiction queries and synopses

Contest Database and tips on entering contests

Related Links:

Character Naming Resources

Children's Writing

Horror

Mystery

Romance

SF/Fantasy

Writer's Market	Novel & Short Story Writers' Market	Beginnings, Middles and Ends
Characters and Viewpoint	The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction	The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing
Creating Short Fiction	Creating the Story : Guides for Writers	Get that Novel Written!
Guide to Literary Agents	How to Write a Damn Good Novel	How to Write a Damn Good Novel II
Immediate Fiction	On Writing (Stephen King)	The Sell Your Novel Toolkit

Subscribe to our Free Monthly Newsletter!