A literary device is a technique in writing to help enhance the writing or otherwise help authors get their message across in creative ways. Many literary devices are widely known, such as the simile. But there are many you might not know about! Here are some lesser known literary devices to spice up your writing.

Metaphor

Metaphor is commonly thought of in the same vein as the simile. While a simile is a comparison using “like” or “as” (ex. Her eyes were blue like the sea), a metaphor is a comparison that does not use “like” or “as.” (ex. Her eyes were a blue sea.) A metaphor might be an ideal device for comparison if you wish to be more abstract and establish a recurring theme over the course of your story. 

Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences/independent clauses. This kind of repetition is typical in oration and poetry, in order to emphasize ideas, provoke emotion in the audience. An example: The repetition of “I have a dream” in Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech – so effective, it is how people know that speech all these years later!

Metonymy

Metonymy is symbolism, but phrased a certain way – a metonym is where a single object is used to represent a larger thing that is more complex. It comes to serve as a synonym for that thing or things. Examples: “The crown” representing the British Monarchy; In the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword”, “pen” means written words, while “sword” means violence. 

Consonance

You probably have heard of alliteration before – the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words. But did you know that alliteration is actually a form of consonance, the repetition of non-vowel sounds in a series of words? Consonance can also happen in other places in a word, not just at the beginning. Example: “Hickory dickory dock,” “He struck a streak of bad luck.”

Parallelism 

Parallelism is a type of sentence structure. It is arranging similar words or phrases in a way that reflects their similarity or relationship. Typically, it creates a harmonious, poetic sound. It is more common in oratory, but can be effective in your book as well. Examples: “No pain, no gain,” “Where there is smoke, there is fire.”

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton is a fancy sounding word for a device that is fairly simple. Polysyndeton is when a writer combines long clauses with conjunctions, rather than commas or starting a new sentence. It is usually for dramatic effect, such as to represent a train of thought or perhaps a worried tone. Example: In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5: ““Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous — where is your mother?””

In Medias Res

In medias res translated from Latin means “in the middle of things.” To use In medias res means to start a scene right in the middle of action. It is effective to use when you want to catch a reader’s attention right away. 

Allusion

Allusion is a term that simply means a reference to another work. Well placed references wont take away from your story but will enhance it. They can pay homage to works that inspired your work. 

Hypophora

Hypophora is similar to a rhetorical question. It is when someone asks a question for dramatic effect, and answers it themselves right away. It is typically used when a character is talking to themselves, making a dramatic point, or talking to an audience. Example: In The Great Gatsby, when Daisy Buchanan says, “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.”

Zoomorphism 

Zoomorphism is the opposite of personification – taking animal traits and assigning them to something that isn’t an animal. These traits can be metaphorical, or literal, such as the mythological creature of a centaur. Example: Saying someone is “barking up the wrong tree” to express bad behavior. 

(Source)

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When it comes to writing fiction, interesting characters are essential to a book that will keep readers engaged. Here are some tips for writing interesting characters that apply across all genres and story types.

1.) Direct vs Indirect

There are several approaches to developing interesting characters. One to keep in mind is the concept of direct vs. indirect characterization. If you have heard of “show vs. tell” before, this will be familiar.

Direct characterization is that which is told to the reader in a black-and-white manner.

Example: “The child was well-behaved as he sat in the waiting room with his mother.”

Here, the reader is told that the character of the child is acting well-behaved. It can be inferred that this means he is being quiet, respectful, or non-disruptive. The reader didn’t learn this information by observing the characters’ actions; it was told to them outright. 

Indirect characterization, on the other hand, is conveyed through other means, such as dialogue or small moments over time that the reader will have to think about to pick up on. A helpful acronym for how to achieve indirect characterization is STEAL.

2.) STEAL

The mnemonic device STEAL refers to how to accomplish indirect characterization. 

• Speech
• Thoughts
• Effect on others
• Actions
• Looks

Let’s go through each of these and see what they mean.

Speech refers to how a character talks. You can develop character through dialogue – how they speak to others and what they say.

Thoughts refers to what a character is thinking internally. You may have heard of the idea of a “internal monologue” before – a character talking to themselves. We all have a monologue in our heads and talk to ourselves. You can, as an author, show what a character is thinking through the narration. Conveying your character’s inner thoughts will make the reader feel like they know them, and they will want to know what happens to them. It will establish their character and make them more interesting.

Effect on others is how other characters react to and/or interpret the character. How does Character A, for example, react to what Character B is saying? How do they interpret Character B? This can be accomplished via dialogue – aka the characters speaking to each other. Other ways to show a character’s effect on others is through describing their body language when the character speaks or is around them, or their thoughts about the character.

Actions is what the character does. Actions can tell a lot about the character without it having to be explained. 

Looks is how the character physically appears at any given moment. For example, if they are described as smiling and sitting lazily in a chair, one can assume the character is relaxed or aloof. If they have a put-together, straightedge appearance, the reader can assume they are a Type A kind of person. Looks can also refer to facial expressions, such as reacting to their environment or what another character is saying. 

Overall, using the STEAL method will help you write interesting, well-developed characters. If you are big on taking notes about your writing, you can create a chart with each category and take notes for each character. 

3.)Flat vs round characters

Author EM Forster once said that one can think of characters as being “flat characters” or “round characters.” It is important to have both in a story. Flat characters are one-dimensional without many features. They exist in the background.

Round characters are three-dimensional characters, well-developed, with discernible features. Not all characters can be round, but  not every character should be flat. 

Most likely, your main character will be round, while background characters will be more flat. One can accomplish well-rounded characters through the STEAL method as explained above.

4.)Motivation

In order for characters to be interesting, the reader will have to be invested in their story. One way to accomplish this is to always be thinking about their motivations. Your main characters – and even those in the background – must act with purpose. Why are they doing what they are doing? You do not need to answer that question outright, and should answer it over time through the story. Keep your characters’ motivations in mind as you write your story or fiction novel. 

5.)Build on tropes

There are many character tropes out there – types of characters or molds for characters – that have been seen across time. You do not have to avoid using tropes; instead, you can build on them. Character tropes can be used for inspiration and then fleshed out more, or even subverted. Character tropes such as the Wise Elder, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and Dumb Jock, for example, can be used as starting points for your characters. 

We hope these tips and methods will be helpful in crafting your characters for your novel!

Have a novel full of interesting characters that you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post How To Write Interesting Characters: 5 Tips to Make Readers Invested! appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

We talked to Ms. Parks about her inspiration for writing the book and more!

Name: Malissa Parks

Hometown: Grew up in Carson, CA and now reside in Long Beach, CA.

Book Title: “I Like Being Brown, This Family & Hero 44”

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

A keepsake for families that teaches young learners to read.

What made you want to write your book?

I wrote this book because of the relevance of the most historical moment in African American History.

How long did it take you to write your book?

It took a year to write this book.

What do you do when you have writer’s block? 

Due to the history that is apparent behind writing this book, I never experienced writer’s block because I definitely was inspired by God. He gave me the wisdom so I knew exactly what I wanted to write about and it came to me naturally!  I knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to present it. As an educator, I am very passionate about writing, especially writing about a topic that teaches.   

What was your favorite part to write and why?

My favorite part in Small Trilogy is in the story “I Like Being Brown” when Richard, the character, realizes he could be whatever he wanted to be, just being himself!

If your book includes illustrations, what was it like working with your illustrator? 

It was great working with all three of my illustrators. With my son and my nephew as two of them, it was really a surreal moment!! I really pride all three young men on making each picture come alive in the minds of children.

If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

-One friend or family member:

My son because he’s always been my little protector.

-One fictional character:

Character in the book, Richard because of his big imagination!

–One famous person (living or dead):

Maya Angelou because I love her thought process when creating some of her most famous and cultural poems and quotes.

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy skating, swimming, singing and socializing.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

The main characters would be Viola Davis, Phylicia Rashad, Denzel Washington, Tyler James Williams, Zendaya, Yara Shahidi, Marsai Martin, Jennifer Lewis with a splash of Sherri Shepard.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

Receiving my Author’s copy of my finished project!

Five favorite books of all time?

“Becoming,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Of Thee I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters,” “Beloved,” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to write a children’s book?

To write a good children’s book, you must be a creative writer with a big imagination that kids can relate to!

You can purchase I Like Being Brown now at the Dorrance Bookstore.

Have an educational children’s book you’d like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Malissa Parks, “I Like Being Brown, This Family & Hero 44” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Vivid setting

Help your readers get into the story with strong descriptions and images of where they are. They will not feel the suspense if they can’t see the space the characters are in. Establish the geographic location of your story early. Establish what it looks like: urban or rural? What is the weather like? Imagine the places where the story takes place – the police station, the scene of the crime, the main character’s house. Sketch out these places ahead of time with words – or perhaps draw a picture!

Research and plan

Mystery and crime is not a type of story to write off the top of your head. Research the crime you plan to put at the center of the story ahead of time. By knowing the ins and outs, you can write it in a way that is believable and serves your plot. If something is completely unrealistic or off the wall, readers will disengage. Study real life examples of the crime and other novels with similar crimes or happenings at the center. Have details mapped out as to what weapons, motives, timelines, etc. are involved. Go ahead – link everything with a red string on a corkboard!

High stakes

No one will care about the mystery without a reason to. The stakes of the story must be high, and must be raised often in the story. For example, what is different about this murder that makes it so important to solve? What is going on in the main character’s life that makes the mystery important to them? Once the story develops, keep raising the stakes to keep the reader in suspense. Add new revelations, twists, and surprises until you arrive at the climax of the plot. 

Believable suspects

The best way to keep a reader guessing in a mystery novel is to have multiple suspects for a crime, or multiple answers to the mystery. Not only must there be many possibilities, but they all must be believable. Believable suspects for a crime will naturally occur if you develop well-rounded characters and stakes for them. Think about what each suspect might stand to gain or lose from committing the crime or being at the center of the conspiracy.

Avoid cliches

Avoid cliches in both your characters and plot. Sometimes cliches are good, but sometimes they might work against separating your book from others in the genre. If there is an opportunity to do something different, do it. Not every detective has to be a depressed alcoholic, for example. 

Overall, a mystery/crime novel today must not be afraid to be bold and new. Loyal fans of the genre will keep reading if you offer something unique. There are many ways to take a classic murder mystery and make it your own. 

Have a mystery or crime novel you want to publish? Contact us!

The post Tips For a Great Mystery and Crime Novel appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

We spoke to Katherine about bringing this special book to life.

What made you want to write and publish this book?

Artemis John Korkidis after the loss of his beloved wife, Sophie, chose in his later years to write stories about his life and his experiences as a gift to his daughters and his grandchildren.

Written originally in Greek he asked his daughter, Dr. Katherine E.A, Korkidis, a writer, to do a translation of his writings so that all his grandchildren and their grandchildren could read it someday.

Katherine translated and combined two of her father’s four manuscripts, as well as added new content to create The AJK Anthology.

How long did it take to write the book?

It took Artemis 6 months to write his first two manuscripts. It took Katherine four months to completely translate and add content to her dad’s writings.

What was the most difficult part of putting this book together?

The most difficult part was securing the original photos in a higher resolution of the first executions during the German occupation.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite story to translate and for my father to write was part 4: The Battle of Crete. He had written this story when we were very young children. Having lived through this difficult time for his homeland he wanted us to one day understand the bravery of people that fought for freedom. When I found this story amongst his manuscripts I had to add it to the Anthology. It was written from the memories of a young man.

Besides writing this book, what are your other interests?

My father was a philosopher and an intellectual, a loving husband and father. He loved to learn and read, particularly politics, and was always there to help all who knew him.

He loved to write, paint, spent time with his family, and inspire others. He was an avid painter and had created over 500 paintings of nature. He loved the natural world, the sea in particular. His first love was the sea. I am proud to be his daughter and give an audience to his many works. His legacy to all of us was his love of others, his thirst for education, and most of all his love for our natural world.

Katherine E. A. Korkidis is a PhD physicist and loves writing, teaching, and astrophysics. I am a classical pianist and love to sing and lector.

I love the natural world as did my father, particularly the sea. It serves as an inspiration for my writings. I am a writer of short fictional stories of various genres from science fiction to mystery and have also published my first novel four months ago called Josette, my second novel, Daniel, is being currently printed, and I am writing the third novel, Josette and Daniel, of this trilogy.

I have also written my own Anthology of my short stories to be published soon. I also like to write blogs for My Author’s Corner on My website is https://katherinekorkidisauthor.com/ and posts on my author’s FB page ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079099482023). I have written websites and do freelance work as a graphics designer.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

With my father now gone it was not a celebration but rather a realization of a promise delivered. I was proud of his works and my only regret was that I did not finish his book before his death.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

My father was a gentle man with much intelligence and understanding.

My favorite actor is Tom Hanks, particularly of his performance in “News of the World”.

In addition he loves the Greek Islands and with his wife who is of Greek descent, Rita Wilson, he is immersed in Greek Culture and history.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

From the first step working with my sales consultant, updates from [company president] David Zeolla to inform me on the next step, and the experience of working with an excellent production and promotion team. The entire process was easy and very professional. I would have to say I enjoyed the editing process the most.

Five favorite books of all time?

My dad loved the philosophical works of Plato, Socrates and the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides and of course the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.

I love the works of Dickens, particularly A Tale of Two Cities, The Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield.

My favorite five works are Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Dubliners by James Joyce, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I have many other classical writers of British and Russian literature that I admire and enjoy reading.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to preserve a family members’ writing through a book like The AJK Anthology?

Keep all photos and writings such as journals from members of your family, both young and old. Preserve them if you can. Take the time to piece together all in a written work. 

I would highly recommend to piece together through writings and photos into a timeline and record of your family’s history. Giving the gift of a family history is priceless for future generations.

Thank you, Dr. Korkidis!

You can purchase The AJK Anthology at the Dorrance Bookstore.

Have a family history book you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Artemios Korkidis and Dr. Katherine Korkidis appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

In Spain, the tiny village of Urueña boasts a strong industry of bookstores. Located in the rural Spanish countryside, Urueña has a population of 100 people – and 11 stores that sell books, with 9 dedicated bookstores. That is over 1 bookstore for every ten people!

According to a piece by the New York Times last month, this village has an aging rural population and not much industry to speak of. Turning into a book lover’s mecca didn’t happen on accident. It was a concerted effort by the town in order to bring visitors and a sense of pride to Urueña.

There are several rural book hubs across Europe, according to this report, such as notably Montmorillon in France and Hay-on-Wye in Wales. The village of Urueña invested about 3 million Euro from the government to restore old buildings and convert them into bookstores. They also created a conference center with the funds, making the town even more attractive for outside tourists. 

As it turns out, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to book tourism: 

Spain has one of Europe’s biggest book-publishing markets, feeding a network of about 3,000 independent bookstores — and double that number if stationery shops and other places that sell books are counted. But about 40 percent of bookstores have less than €90,000 in annual revenue, which amounts to operating “a subsistence business,” according to Álvaro Manso, spokesman for CEGAL, an association that represents Spain’s independent bookstores.

The economics of the small town leave something to be considered. Despite the bookselling industry, no younger people are moving to Urueña. The vast majority of the 100 people who live there are retirees, living off their pensions. Food and other supplies must be delivered from larger towns. Rural populations continuing to decline is a trend in Spain. 

The residents remain hopeful and proud of being a tourist destination. Around 19,000 tourists visited Urueña in 2021, despite the covid-19 pandemic. Local officials think the number was probably higher, due to those who only stayed for the day and didn’t check in with the local offices. 

The Times article featured several residents.

Isaac García has a bookstore in Urueña that specializes in publications about film. He and his partner had previously lived in Hay-on-Wye, the book haven in Wales. The couple jumped at the opportunity to have their own bookstore in the heartland of Spain.

“We felt that we could combine a great business with a dream countryside lifestyle, but this time in our home country,” García said. “Hay of course has had much more time to mature and establish itself as a literary hub, but I think we’re getting there in Urueña, bit by bit.”

Likewise, longtime resident Joaquín Díaz, is a Spanish folk singer and ethnographer. Díaz, now 74, moved to Urueña from Valladolid in the 1980s and lives in a historic building where he has gathered a vast collection of instruments, books and recordings. His home was turned into a museum by the provincial authorities three decades ago.

When he first arrived in the village, there were more specialty stores, including a thriving crafts sector. Now that industry is gone, replaced by the bookstores. There is not much nostalgia for it, though, as the bookstores have allowed the village to have new life. 

“Overall, life is much easier now in the Spanish countryside than 50 years ago, and nobody could ever imagine that books could ever get sold and help save this village when I arrived here,” Díaz said.

Maybe we will see a Dorrance title in one of these bookstores someday.

Read the Times article for more details!

The post This Spanish Village Has More Bookstores Than Students! appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Biography

A biography is one’s life story written by someone other than themself. Often, someone chooses a biographer to tell their story after careful consideration. People want to make sure their biographer is a writer who can tell their story well. Authors can also write biographies about a figure they are interested in without that person’s official consent. Biographies can be about any person, living or dead, famous or simply a regular person with a fascinating tale.

A biographer spends time interviewing with their subject, conducting research, and also speaking to people who know the subject in order to form a full picture of their life. Factual accuracy is important in biographies. While factual accuracy is important, it is also essential to write in a way that flows nicely rather than a laundry list of facts. Biographies still use structures found in fiction such as scenes and characterization in order to accomplish this. Summarize when appropriate, but use action scenes to describe important events.

Biographies are broad in scope, focusing on most of a subject’s life or a certain long period of their life. They are heavily structured, usually in chronological order. The biographer uses a bird’s eye view – third person perspective – to tell the story of their subject. That way, they themselves do not become a character in the story. 

If you would prefer to tell your life story on your own terms, then an autobiography may be right for you.

Autobiography

An autobiography is one’s life story as told by themselves. Autobiographies have all the traits of biographies, except the writer is telling their own story. As an autobiographer, a writer will use first person point of view. Speaking from your own perspective will lend your autobiography more credibility. Like biographies and fiction, autobiographies utilize scenes and characterization to tell the story in a way that is compelling, rather than simply reciting facts. 

However, it is still important to be factually accurate so your whole story lines up. If you would like to delve deeper into how something felt rather than how it happened in a literal sense, perhaps a memoir is a better choice.

Memoir

A memoir is a nonfiction story that centers on one event or period in someone’s life, rather than a longer period or their whole life. Memoirs often use the same literary devices as fiction stories and poetry in order to make them more dynamic and compelling. As creative nonfiction, memoirs deal in finer detail than biographies and autobiographies. Authors attempt to convey their feelings. They talk about how an experience changed them. They focus on sensory details and crafting a unique narrative voice.

In memoir, the accuracy of how an event might have happened takes a backseat to how that event felt to the writer. Most importantly, a memoir attempts to reach a universal appeal through one’s own experience. While your experience may be something that only happened to you, it will be relatable to your audience. 

Ultimately, which format you decide will, in many ways, determine the course of your book. Therefore, it is important to choose wisely.

Sources consulted: Author Learning Center

For more tips on nonfiction writing, check out this blog. 

Have a biography, autobiography, or memoir you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir: What is the Difference? appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

The following are some of the most popular forms of poetry:

Rhymed Poetry

As opposed to free verse, poetry can follow a specific rhyme scheme. Popular rhyme schemes often involve rhyming words at the end of a line. Some specific poems, such as the limerick mentioned above, stick to certain rhyme schemes.

Free Verse

Free verse poetry does not follow any rhyme scheme or set meter. Sometimes called blank verse, these poems often follow natural speech rhythms, yet are still written in stanzas and lines. Free verse poetry is actually a more modern invention, with origins in France.

Elegy

An elegy is a poem written to mourn the death or loss of a person. They are often written in elegiac couplets, meaning stanzas containing two lines, although today any poem with reflective, melancholy themes is said to be an elegy. The tradition of elegies dates back to the 7th century B.C. in Ancient Greece.

Acrostic

An acrostic poem is a poem in which the beginning letters of each line spell out a word pertaining to the subject of the poem itself.

Haiku

One of the more famous and well-known poetic forms, haikus are three-line poems. The first line of a haiku contains 5 syllables, the second contains 7 syllables and the final also contains 5 syllables. Haikus are of Japanese origin and traditionally discuss nature and the seasons. Nowadays, one can find haikus written about a wide variety of topics.

Limerick

A limerick is a short, humorous poem that is five lines long and uses the rhyme scheme AABBA. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the dominant meter is anapestic, with two metrical feet in the third and fourth lines and three feet in the others. Anapestic foot consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. 

Pastoral

Pastoral poetry centers on nature and man’s relationship with the natural world. It idealizes rural life and places utmost importance on nature. The tradition of pastoral poetry dates back to the Ancient Greeks.

Sonnet

The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. They can utilize several different rhyme schemes. Sonnets are typically thought of as pertaining to romantic themes, due to the influence of William Shakespeare’s sonnets, but they do not necessarily have to be about romantic relationships.

Have a book of poems you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Popular Forms of Poetry appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Develop Your World
What sets fantasy apart from other genres is its immersive worlds. Take some time to think about and plan your far away fantastical setting of your book or books, either before or after you know the details of your plot. Having the mechanisms of your setting planned out will help you write the novel more smoothly. It will help you convey your world to your readers in a way that draws them in.

This not only means the physical landscape of the world, but the politics and culture of it as well. Every society has a culture with a set of rules and norms – even mythical ones. It is even more important to flesh these out ahead of time for a fantasy story than for one that takes place in our contemporary world, for both yourself and your audience. You may think you have your fantasy world entirely in your own head, but planning out the world can help you avoid continuity errors – elements of the plot that contradict a previously explained element. Use notes or a graphic organizer to sketch out your fantasy world, as well as the rules and norms for your fantasy society. There are many resources online to help you in this task.

Character and Narration
A similar amount of care and devotion should be used to develop your characters and their voices. Decide if your story will be told through first-person narration, third person limited, or third person omniscient narration.

First person narration will be told through a character with the use of “I” and an intimate knowledge of their inner mind, thoughts, and feelings. In third person limited, a reader has intimate knowledge of a main character and follows them. The degree to which they are known is up to you, the author. In third person omniscient narration, an outside observer knows about and follows many characters.

Deciding on what route to take with narration will affect the structure and flow of the story. Ask yourself: Is your story better told through one singular character, or many characters whose lives interweave?

Know Your Audience
Fantasy is an interesting genre in that it is quite popular with children, teens, and adults alike. It is unlikely, however, that your story will appeal to all audiences. It is important to decide who your audience will be – or, what the “rating” of your novel will be. A novel for teens should not have the same levels of violence and mature subject matter as one for adults. A fantasy book for children will be much shorter than one for middle grade students. Use discretion and decide early on who your target audience will be. Additionally, there are a number of subgenres within fantasy that might be worth considering – it’s not all wizards and dragons. Steampunk, magical realism, and urban fantasy are examples of other popular fantasy subgenres. Find your niche early on.

The Conflict
Of course, it wouldn’t be a fantasy book without the plot – the central conflict that drives the story. Every story has to have an action that kicks off the plot and sets things into motion. From there, a character will have a mission or a goal. When you zoom out, you will see your main character or characters having conflicts with other beings, ideas, the nature of their world, or even themselves. Conflict will make readers care about the story and ultimately lead to the overarching message of the story. That message is entirely up to you. Ask yourself: what do you want to say with your book? What lesson do you want to teach?

Think About – But Don’t Necessarily Avoid – Cliches

As you take stock of your characters and your plot, you may find that you use cliches of the fantasy genre. The wise wizard, a prophecy that must be fulfilled, or a main character that is “the chosen one” are all examples of fantasy genre cliches. While some may say to avoid these devices, a more interesting approach is to use a cliche but to make it your own. Put a slightly different spin on these cliches, and they will no longer be cliches. Readers will take pleasure in something that is familiar to them, yet something new at the same time. For example, maybe the wise old wizard that mentors your main character isn’t really that wise after all.

Take your time to think about all of these aspects, and have fun as you embark on your fantasy writing journey.

For extra help, consider our writing coach program.

If your fantasy novel is already written and waiting to be published, contact us!

The post Things to Think About Before You Write Your Fantasy Book appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Know Why You’re Writing

It is important to have a clear vision of why you are writing your nonfiction book. With a clear vision and purpose, your writing can be well organized. Otherwise, you run the risk of simply ranting about your topic. Ask yourself: Why is my topic important enough to write a book about? What do I want my readers to take away from the book? What is the ultimate message I want to send? If you don’t have quick answers to these questions, take some time to think about them.

Make An Outline

The best way to stay organized when writing your book is to make a detailed outline. Make headings for each chapter and use subheadings when appropriate. Under each heading and subheading, jot down the main points you want to make in that section. An outline is a guide – it doesn’t have to be set in stone. You can always make changes later if you find something that flows better as you are writing.

Research 

Even if you are an expert in your topic, it is a good idea to have research to back up your claims. Look for books, articles, and other sources at your local library and online to verify that your facts are correct. Include your sources in your book via a reference page at the end. If you have previously published books or studies that you have conducted that you are using, cite them as well and be sure to talk about how they make you credible. This will help you boost your credibility as an author while also qualifying you as an expert in your specific area of interest. 

Be Personal

While any nonfiction book is about a real-world topic, you can still show your personality. Write in a tone of voice that feels natural to you. Use words and phrases that you would use, not what necessarily sounds the “smartest.” Having a unique voice will make you more endearing and appealing to readers. Additionally, don’t be afraid to include personal anecdotes about your connection to your topic. These personal touches usually come in the introduction, as you work to establish why you are writing your book.

Flow

In addition to being personal, it is important to keep the flow of the narrative in mind while writing nonfiction. This relates to the question of why you are writing in the first place. Avoid diversions into other topics that are not relevant to your overall take-home message. Reader attention spans are finite, so it is important to keep a reader’s attention. Taking a sharp turn into other directions may confuse readers. For example, if you are writing a book about military aircraft, you might not need to include a rant about how passenger airplanes operate today.

Look to the Future 

As you near the end of your book, it is often helpful to look towards the future in regards to your topic. How is your topic relevant going forward? Remember the question of why you are writing the book in the first place. The end of the book is the place for you to drill down on why all the ideas, facts, and theories of your book are important.

We hope these do’s and don’ts are helpful in your writing journey.

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