Song prompts are some of the hardest prompts to nail. The reason is that you have to make them significant to the story, but you cannot just dump loads of lyrics into your text. This is something that is against FanFiction.net rules, so when considering using these prompts you should bear in mind how you… Continue reading Song Prompt
Author: IWSC
Exposition, Action, and Dialogue
In the last two Handy Hints articles, we have looked at aspects of how plot is judged and what you can do to make your plot the best it can be. Today, I will be continuing with that thought, after all, the plot is a very important aspect of your story and of the feedback… Continue reading Exposition, Action, and Dialogue
Flow in Your Story
Welcome to Handy Hints. Today we will be looking at some of the most common ways students at the IWSC lose points from the flow section. Flow is all about readability and structure, so it’s a very important aspect of your writing. Our judges pointed out issues with paragraph structure, paragraphs in relation to dialogue… Continue reading Flow in Your Story
Plot
In this issue we explore the plot of a story and how to maximise your points in that department. In the guidance tab on your judging documents you can find a number of things that judges are looking at when marking your plot: StructureResolution Vs Open EndingDoes it make senseStory-telling techniquesBalance: Exposition Vs ActionThe idea… Continue reading Plot
Framing Dialogue
Dialogue is an important tool for characterisation, for subtle exposition and to develop relationships. Here we will focus on how to keep dialogue flowing into your story naturally by framing it properly in your narration using dialogue tags. Dialogue tags should be invisible The dialogue itself is what is important; the tag is just functional.… Continue reading Framing Dialogue
Characterisation in Dialogue
How a character speaks can be utilised for the sake of characterisation in a very effective way that shows the reader what kind of person someone is instead of simply telling them in narration. Here are some things you should take into consideration when writing dialogue. Accents and dialects Accents and dialects point to a… Continue reading Characterisation in Dialogue
Foreshadowing: Set Up and Pay Off
Do you ever wonder why JKR’s stories are so satisfying to read? Why is it so much fun to follow her characters into an adventure and solve one riddle after the other? To build a plot like that, you need proper set up and pay off. The mystery genre uses this the most, but it… Continue reading Foreshadowing: Set Up and Pay Off
Compelling Characters – Mary Sue
First rule when building characters: Nobody is perfect—except Mary Sue. Who is Mary Sue? She is a character trope that becomes most apparent in amateur writing and was first recognised in fan fiction. A Mary Sue is a character without flaws, often claimed to be a self insert and wish-fulfillment for the writer. Why avoid… Continue reading Compelling Characters – Mary Sue
Real Emotions
Have you read a book before that made you cry harder than you have ever done in your whole life? That had a romantic scene so intense, you felt like your whole chest is constricting and your toes curling? Those are real emotions, and they are the reason we continue to read, desperately looking for… Continue reading Real Emotions
Wizarding World News 