There are, of course, an infinite number of ways to write a book. In these articles I've been outlining how I do it, because that's what I know to write about, but there are no binding rules, no arbitrary guidelines. That said, there are some structural... suggestions that can benefit almost any writer. Stories can …
NaNoWriMo Tips
I'm a huge fan of National Novel Writing Month. I think it's one of the best ways to get people inspired to work on that novel they've always dreamed of writing. Structure is a writer's best friend (even when sometimes it feels like a frenemy). Every year I try to post daily writing tips for …
The Lessons of Creepypasta
First there were campfire stories--which probably date back to the invention of language. These begat "urban legends": the Hook, the call coming from inside the house. The Russian scientists who accidentally drilled into hell. Stories without authors, folk tales for a more scientific age. Creepypasta is the direct descendant of that canon. It has its …
Why I Don’t Believe in Willful Suspension of Disbelief
We're told, almost certainly apocryphally, that one of the earliest movies was of a train heading directly toward the camera, and that audiences who saw it ran for their lives. We're told that a truly great piece of fiction makes the reader forget they're reading a book (or seeing a movie, etc.) and immerses them …
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Bad Writing Advice: “Write What You Know”
99% of all writing advice is just inspirational nonsense. Most of it boils down to "sing the story inside of you!" or "don't give up on your dreams!" If you're a writer, you don't need to be told this. If you have the bug, you're going to write and nothing, not even self-interest, will stop …
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Dream Logic: Using Surrealism in Fiction
I heard a podcast recently where the guest talked about the Magical Realist novel he was working on. The host asked, "is that just a fantasy novel but you don't want to admit you like geek stuff?" The guest laughed and admitted that was pretty much accurate. Similarly, you hear a lot of people go …
From Twee to Grime: Tone Gone Bad
Tone is the psychological setting of your story. It establishes the ethos of your world, that is to say the prevailing philosophy. It is one of the key elements in giving weight and gravity to your story. It's also very easy to get wrong. Wild tone shifts are a problem, of course, though if handled …
The Shocking: Notes Toward a Theory
We're often told that comedy appeals to our intellectual side--our appreciation of wit and timing--while drama appeals to our emotions. Appealing to one or the other is the way to reach an audience, to create a significant effect in the reader's/viewer's brain that will cause them to be entertained. Either we need to laugh at …
Theme: The Unintended Parable
I want to share a story about one of my failures as a writer. I intended, once, to write a short story about a woman working in an organ farm. A place where brainless clone bodies are grown in vats, so that their organs can be harvested to save the lives of people waiting for …
DAVID WELLINGTON 
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