How to Write Fiction - Part II

Second in the series offers five more tips on writing fiction:

1.    Note that the most realistic and relatable characters are flawed. Find something good about your villain and something dark in your hero’s past. It is commonly done.

2.    Avoid telling readers too much about the characters. Instead, show the characters’ personalities through their actions and interactions.

3.    Give your characters difficult obstacles to overcome. Make them suffer. That way, when they triumph, it will be even more rewarding.

4.    Always explore the human side of your characters.

5.    Use many sub-plots to create and strengthen an intriguing master plot.

How to Write Fiction - Part I

In near future I will be publishing my new help guide, "Top Ten Secrets of Fiction Writing". Over the next few days I will reveal some of the tips that you may want to collect as a 'Neat Sheet' when writing fiction. Here are 5 out of 33 tips that I will share:

1.    Dissect and analyze your book to find out what works in storytelling and what doesn’t.

2.    Try writing a short description (<1000 words) and a long description (about 4,000 words) as an outline after you finish your rough draft. It can provide you with a roadmap, and that is a mighty powerful tool to have at your disposal.

3.    The best fiction comes from real life. Jot down stories that interest you whether they are your own experience, you hear them from a friend or read them in a news article.

4.    Real life is also a great source of inspiration for characters. Look around at your friends, family, and coworkers. Magnify the strongest aspects of their personalities and you’re on your way to crafting a cast of believable characters (that would be composite of various features of many real-life characters).

5.    Make your characters real through their habits and not just physical description. A girl who bites her lips or a guy with a twitch will be far more memorable than characters that are presented with lengthy head-to-toe physical descriptions.

Victoria Writers Society

Providing support, community, and an informal forum for writers at all levels of experience.

Get more details at their website at: victoriawriters.ca

Emerging Local Authors Collection

Greater Victoria Public Library celebrates local authors! The library has established the Emerging Local Authors Collection to highlight self-published, independent, or small press print works (fiction, poetry, non-fiction) by local authors, for readers of all ages.

Each year, April to March, GVPL will showcase books by emerging local authors at the Central Branch. Information about the authors and their books will be featured on this page. The books will also be available to browse and borrow from our online catalogue.

Starting October 1, 2015, they will be accepting applications for the 2016-17 Collection.

People go far and wide to find such an opportunity?

Some of the Canada's amazing literary talents are coming to you. Mark your calender and make sure you attend this prestigeous BC event: –https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/2013festival/event/62-iworld-upon-us

Sidney Literary Festival

Greater Victoria, Sidney (Book Town) and the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island enjoy many award winning authors and several privately-owned, wonderful bookstores. To celebrate this rich literary culture come and join the Sidney Literary Festival on October 2-4, 2015. The Festival begins with youth workshops followed by an evening of authors’ presentations at North Saanich Middle School. The excitement continues Saturday with workshops and authors’ readings to be held at the Sidney Pier Hotel on the waterfront. The day ends with a gala evening at the Mary Winspear Centre featuring well-known authors. On Sunday the festival wraps up with a “Brunch with the Authors” at the Pier Hotel. This is your event , come and be enthused by incredible literary culture that surrounds us on Vancouver Island.