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Quick Tips for the Craft & Technique of Writing

Brief, informative tips on all aspects of fiction writing.
The Well-Used Bad Metaphor
Believe it or not, there are times when really bad metaphors -- mixed metaphors or cliches -- come in handy, as in this example from George Saunders.
Recording Your Dialogue
Having trouble getting your dialogue just right? Try recording it and playing it back to yourself. You'll hear it in a whole new way.
Writer's Block and Your Relationship with Your Writing
It's helpful, when dealing with writer's block, to remember that you have an ongoing relationship with your writing.
Steve Martin on Writing for Fun
Steve Martin, in his introduction to "Pure Drivel," talks about taking time off as a means to actually becoming more productive.
Quick Tips for Punctuating Dialogue
Before you can worry about nuances of dialogue and how it creates character and moves the action of the story along, you first must know how to write it correctly.
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