
January 1, 2010 | Posted by John Halasz
The main part of any novel is the characters and how the reader relates to them. If you are writing a non fiction novel then the character will be based on a real person. However, with fiction you have to imagine the character and give him a personality. Since a novel is made up of many characters, the reader might hate some or love others. If you are still learning how to write a novel, characters are not only composed of their outward appearance but their personality as well. When you create a character, be sure he will keep the reader wanting to know what will happen next.
Characters in a good novel should encounter a variety of situations. Due to their diverse personalities they will handle the situations differently and this is where the reader is captivated. If you are using narration in your story, this can be a good way to tell the story. However, it should be not be a tool to describe the characters. While learning how to write a novel, you will realize that situations in the story are the right way to reveal various characters.
Use the right choice of words when describing situations. The reader should be able to tell characters’ weaknesses and strengths before reaching the story’s climax. Each character should stand out in terms of specific actions. For example, one character can be a nerd and is always trying to solve mysteries while the other can hate socializing. An important thing to always keep in mind when learning how to write a novel is that the aim of characters is to make the reader see himself in the story. Therefore, take your time to create the best characters possible.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: characters, creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 31, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
Learning to write a good dialogue is a crucial part of learning how to write a good novel. Many writers mistakenly think that writing a dialogue is a simple task. It is simple to put words in speech marks and include speech tags. It however takes careful thought and practice to write a dialogue that will hold the interest of a reader. A realistic dialogue if used well can be a very powerful tool in the writing of a novel. The following tips will help you in the writing of a realistic dialogue, an important part of learning how to write a good novel.
• Listen to other people as they talk. Listen to the natural speech patterns of conversations around you. This will help you develop an ear for natural dialogue. Listen to the expressions people use in their speech and in music.
• Read other novels in the same genre as that you are planning to write. Note that the dialogues in these books only read like real speech. A dialogue in a novel should not follow the actual pattern of real speech. Include only the most relevant parts and get rid of the filter words.
• Avoid providing too much information in the dialogue.
• Interrupt the dialogue with actions. The inclusion of descriptions of actions taking place in the physical world will help capture the reader’s attention.
• Avoid overusing speech tags. The readers will not be impressed by the many different ways you thought up of saying ‘he said’.
• Avoid using profane language and slang. This may put off some readers.
As you learn how to write a good novel you will find that dialogues are a good way to draw readers into the story and help them understand the theme and plot. Take the time to learn how to use this powerful tool properly.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 30, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
When first time authors are just getting into the business, they really want to learn and be sure they know how to write a good novel. The advice they usually get is to read as many books by successful authors in the same genre as that which they are interested in. This is the best advice you can get. Reading novels written by successful authors is the best way to learn different aspects of writing. One thing you can learn from reading novels is how to structure a good plot.
The structure of your plot depends on the conflict in the novel. As you learn how to write a good novel you will discover that the action in the plot will rise as the conflict in the story develops and builds up. The conflict in a story is therefore the driving force of the story. It is the element of the story that attracts and maintains the interest of the reader.
The conflict in a novel is any force that works against the protagonist of the story. Conflict can therefore take form of a person who in this case would be an antagonist. This antagonist does not have to be evil. Antagonists are those characters who interfere with the progress of the protagonist towards the goal set by the theme of the story. The presence of this character therefore creates conflict in the story.
Conflict can also be created by an event or inability to perform a certain task. Past or present hindrances that are barriers to the accomplishment of a ‘happily ever after’ by the protagonists are conflict creators.
In learning how to write a good novel you will be well advised to introduce the conflict of your story early. This will get the readers interested in the story early.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 29, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
Anyone who embarks on writing a romance novel does so with the intent of making big sales and having thousands of readers. It isn’t always the case with many novels that are published. This is because many authors mistakenly think that writing a romance novel only requires inspiration and a good word processor. The following tips will help you not only understand how to write a romance novel that sells.
If you want to make big sales you must begin by learning from the masters of the art. The best way to learn how to write a romance novel is by reading the works of great romance novel authors from the olden days and modern times. Observe how they develop their plots and how the characters and events relate to the theme of the book. Read romance novels that are making big splashes in the current market. This will give you an idea of what the modern romance reader is looking for in a romantic tale.
The next step in writing a romance novel that sell is carrying out market research. Get as much information as you can on the publishers you are interested in. Go through their guidelines and standards. This will help you understand the type of books they are associated with and the kind of information they would like passed in the books they publish.
You may now begin planning your novel. Start by deciding on the theme of the book. Choose the hero, heroine and the supporting characters. Plan the plot of your story and decide on the role of each character in developing the plot. Carry out thorough research to strengthen the plot and theme. A well researched book seems more realistic and will in turn captivate readers. You may then begin the actual writing.
The guidelines above on how to write a romance novel will not assure you of big sales. Following them however, will increase the chances of producing high quality writing and therefore increase your chances of making big sales
Producing high quality writing increases the chances of making big sales. These tips will guide you in producing a high quality romance novel.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: fiction, how to write a romance novel, Novel Writing, novelist, writer, writers, writing, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 28, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
To most novel authors the best part of writing is creating novel characters. This is where they get to play with their imagination. If you want to learn how to write a novel and come up with great characters this short piece will be of great help.
To create an interesting character you need to first get in the mood. Everyone has a time when their mind is open and filled with ideas. The best way to get into this mood is to find something that inspires you and concentrate on it. In this state, go ahead and picture a character then pretend you are this person. Ask yourself what you would like your name to be and your personality. A name should match the character for example Paul cannot be perceived as a mischievous person.
Next is to give this character a form by describing it to the reader. You can state his outward appearance and let the plot of the story reveal his inward personality. Once you have the character, give him a location or residence. Choose a location you are familiar with for example if you live in Texas, use this in the story. While learning how to write a novel you will realize every character needs a back story. This should include his livelihood and the people who surround him. In most cases the people who influence the character’s life give the story a twist. These simple guidelines on how to write a novel can be adopted even by beginners. Begin writing you novel today!
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creating characters, creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 27, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
Anyone who embarks on writing a romance novel does so with the intent of making big sales and having thousands of readers. It isn’t always the case with many novels that are published. This is because many authors mistakenly think that writing a romance novel only requires inspiration and a good word processor. The following tips will help you not only understand how to write a romance novel that sells.
If you want to make big sales you must begin by learning from the masters of the art. The best way to learn how to write a romance novel is by reading the works of great romance novel authors from the olden days and modern times. Observe how they develop their plots and how the characters and events relate to the theme of the book. Read romance novels that are making big splashes in the current market. This will give you an idea of what the modern romance reader is looking for in a romantic tale.
The next step in writing a romance novel that sell is carrying out market research. Get as much information as you can on the publishers you are interested in. Go through their guidelines and standards. This will help you understand the type of books they are associated with and the kind of information they would like passed in the books they publish.
You may now begin planning your novel. Start by deciding on the theme of the book. Choose the hero, heroine and the supporting characters. Plan the plot of your story and decide on the role of each character in developing the plot. Carry out thorough research to strengthen the plot and theme. A well researched book seems more realistic and will in turn captivate readers. You may then begin the actual writing.
The guidelines above on how to write a romance novel will not assure you of big sales. Following them however, will increase the chances of producing high quality writing and therefore increase your chances of making big sales
Producing high quality writing increases the chances of making big sales. These tips will guide you in producing a high quality romance novel.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a romance novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 26, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
Well written romance novels make an interesting read. There are two types of romance novels, those that fly off the shelves and those that gather dust on the same shelves. The romance novels that gather dust are those that have not been written well. In such novels, the character development is poor and readers cannot connect with or relate to the characters. When readers cannot relate to the characters they lack interest. Read on if you would like to learn more on how not to write a novel and in this case a romance novel.
First, do not use passive language. The author should not just tell their readers how wonderful the hero is. Instead they should use their own words to describe and show the reader how wonderful the hero is. Using passive language results in a novel that lacks connection with the readers and that renders it emotionless.
If a first time author wants to know how not to write a novel, it is crucial that they talk and liaise with seasoned writers. One mistake that you as an author should avoid is an anti climax.
There is nothing worse than a novel that starts off with heat and intensity between the heroine and hero but ends with a bedroom scene that lacks in both heat and intensity. Such novels only ruin the readers’ mood. Accordingly, they may not continue reading the book or buy another book by the same author.
Knowing how not to write a novel is easy. Just do your research and always remember that only practice makes perfect.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a romance novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 25, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
There are numerous upcoming writers. While they may have the talent, drive and passion to write novels they are still bound to make mistakes on their first novels. For this reason, guidance is required. The following are tips on how not to write a novel.
One common novel writing mistake is the failure by an author to effectively develop ideas. Excellent authors do not start writing immediately they conceive ideas. They take the time to expand and explore their ideas into plots. The plot in any novel helps capture the attention of the reader. It is crucial that authors develop their ideas into concrete story lines as it is the only way they may be assured of success. Knowing how not to write a novel makes it possible for authors to avoid common writing mistakes.
Another common mistake is the lack of an effective plan. Under no circumstance should you begin writing a novel without a plan in place. ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail’ so the old adage goes. There are numerous authors who fail to finish their novel all because they fail to plan ahead. Novel writing is to say the least, a huge undertaking. Accordingly, when an author begins to write without any guidelines in place, they are unable to ensure that all scenes in the novel are purposeful. Without plans, authors are also unable to effectively develop their characters or even build the dramatic suspense and tensions in their stories gradually and steadily. By liaising with experienced authors, novice writers may obtain meaningful information on how not to write a novel.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novel writing mistakes, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 24, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
A book’s content is crucial to its success. Readers buy books not necessarily because the books’ covers entice them but because they want to derive entertainment or knowledge. When readers shop for books, they look forward to gaining a new experience or adding a new concept to their life. Yet most writers are of the opinion that writing a totally new book is the hardest part of writing.
They therefore need more exposure on how to write a best selling novel keeping in mind the needs of the reader. An important point that writers must be familiar with is that they need to conceptualize their ideas and give the story a focal point that targets the reader.
The most important idea on how to write a best selling novel is to develop a book brief. With the book brief, the author develops confidence to write a masterpiece. The book brief also helps an author to test his or her skills by taking a reader’s perspective. It is important to have one topic in order to avoid the confusion caused by mix-up of ideas. A single topic also helps one to organize thoughts conceptually.
While gaining skills on how to write a best selling novel, the writer also has to note that the purpose of the book is what captivates the reader most. Hence the author has to arrange the book in such a way that it highlights the purpose succinctly. The book must be appealing to readers’ sentiments, beliefs and emotions.
Categories: Creative -- Fiction Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing |
Tags: creative writing, Fiction Writing, how to write a novel, novel, novelist, writer, writers, writing a novel |
Comments Off

December 24, 2009 | Posted by John Halasz
Becoming the Most Honest and Ethical Leader You Can Be
One of the best ways to move toward being the most honest and ethical leader you can be is to surround yourself with those who possess an even higher level of integrity and ethics. Additionally, read about ethical decision making. When faced with an ethical dilemma, take some time to deliberate the best course of action. If you are unsure about how to act in the most ethical manner for a particular situation, you can rely on the help of those who have a high level of ethics. For instance, speak with a leader from church, a professor, or a trusted friend. Rather than relying on only one person, you can ask several of these ethical leaders for assistance.
Improving Personal and Corporate Ethical Decision Making
In my estimation, personal and corporate ethical decision-making can and must be improved. As a society, we need to have role models that are more positive, rather than idolizing those who amass great wealth at the expense of others. Instead of acting based on what will create the greatest amount of money in the shortest amount of time, it is time corporate leaders begin to consider the bigger picture and reassess what is really important. There exists a sort of moral bankruptcy among many business leaders, and a growing number seem to lack the capacity to think in terms of a community.
Rather than considering how their actions may affect others, they consider only their personal gain. There are many extreme cases where business leaders have chosen money over saving other’s lives. Or, they have chosen to increase their bankroll in ways that significantly reduced others’ quality of life.
Core Values Overlooked by Leaders
Leaders for a number of reasons are overlooking core values. Primarily, it seems that some people grow accustomed to living a lavish lifestyle and will do whatever it takes to keep up their high mortgage and bills. Additionally, several leaders see and watch other leaders acting unethically and rewarded.
Perhaps even more influential is that by the time people are finished with school, they are often drowning in debt and feel a sense of injustice because they had worked so hard to earn the material things they want. Then, they find that their friends who dropped out of high school or never went to college are doing better than they are, and without all the debt, stress, and responsibility. While ethics and wealth need not be mutually exclusive, many people find it easier to earn money in unethical ways.
I think that simple greed is the main reason why so many leaders overlook ethics and core values. In addition, many leaders are pawns in the system and follow orders from their superiors. If they want to continue their lifestyle and keep their job, it is often required that they follow orders, regardless of ethics. In such cases, a strong and ethical person will seek employment elsewhere.
Categories: BUSINESS |
Tags: BUSINESS, ethical leadership, ethics, leaders, leadership |
Comments Off