Writing advice and short stories

Advice and comment on writing and some examples

This is where we share presentations from the writing group on all aspects of writing, from ideas to publication and everything in between. We also include some fiction writing as we try to put our advice into action.

All Points Imagination

We’re very proud to announce Bounds Green Book Writers’ first short story collection, All Points Imagination. A doctor called out to a sick baby, a stranger chatting on a park bench, a warrior preparing to die for her Queen, a young couple falling in love… From writers’ group Bounds Green Book Writers, these are shortContinue…
Writing Humour

As they say, one man’s meat is another man’s poisson. Or to put it another way, humour is in the ear of the beholder.
Openings – First Paragraphs

So, assuming that your first sentence has fully grabbed the attention of the reader, your first paragraph (Introduction) must accomplish some basic objectives.
Openings – First Sentences

If you want someone to read your book, you must ‘hook’ them by your first paragraph—ideally, by your first sentence. Potential publishers or agents may ask you for your first 3 chapters, but in practice they often read only the first paragraph before rejecting you.
Write Natural Dialogue

The biggest mistake I see is sentences that begin with ‘You know…’ It is not natural for people to say things the other person already knows. Ask yourself—which bits of the speaker’s conversation are new news to the other person, the interlocutor?
Write What You Know?

Mark Twain’s advice to writers was to ‘write what you know’, but I’m terrible at taking advice. I’ve written about first century Jews, and I am not a Jew, and 14th century Muslim lesbians, and I am neither a Muslim nor a lesbian. I’ve always been driven by the desire to learn about new things.…