how to write | Penstricken

Are You Making The Best Use Of Your Writing Time?

Posted on May 29, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’ve recently made a few more changes to my weekly writing schedule which I hope will allow me to make better use of my limited time. While I’m sure your writing schedule won’t be exactly the same as mine, I thought I’d tell you about it anyway to provide you with a bit of food for thought.

6 Things I’ve Learned About Writing Fiction

Posted on May 28, 2021 Leave a Comment

Today I’ve decided to share a brief selection of some of the lessons I’ve learned over the years which I think has helped to make me a better writer.

Why Your Fantastic Story Idea Has To Die

Posted on May 24, 2021 Leave a Comment

If you want my advice, you’ll treat your idea as a profane thing from the very moment it’s conceived. It is not sacred. It is not too beautiful to die. Frankly, it’s probably not as clever as you thought.

How to Help Your Audience Suspend Disbelief

Posted on May 21, 2021 Leave a Comment

You as the writer have a responsibility to write a story which makes it easy for the audience to suspend their disbelief…. The issue is not one of what is possible. The issue is of what is likely.

Horror Clichés and How To Avoid Them

Posted on May 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

Well, we’re getting near the end of our series on genre clichés and how to avoid them. Today it’s all about horror.

Romance Clichés and How to Avoid Them

Posted on May 7, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’m just going to come right out and say it: love stories really aren’t my thing…. Nevertheless, romance is a major genre of fiction and we are right in the middle of a series on genre clichés and how to avoid them so it seemed only right for me to take a stab at this anyway. So here goes nothing.

Sci-Fi Clichés and How to Avoid Them

Posted on May 6, 2021 Leave a Comment

For those of you who haven’t read the previous post, get over there and read it for even more sci-fi cliché goodness. But first, and without further ado, I give you today’s top three sci-fi clichés…

Mystery Clichés and How to Avoid Them

Posted on May 5, 2021 Leave a Comment

Mystery Clichés and How to Avoid Them #NewPost #fiction #stories #writing #writetip #writingtip #amwriting #genre #mystery

Fantasy Clichés and How to Avoid Them

Posted on May 4, 2021 Leave a Comment

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve done a series of posts on any subject so I decided it was about time for another one: this time focusing on all your favourite genre clichés and how to avoid them.