Prose by Pamela

Ghostwriter, editor, professional historian, and researcher.  Find me on Instagram @prosebypamela, on Twitter @iblamewizards, and check out my website, prosebypamela.com

[novlr]

Writing Prompt!

"Two houses, both alike in dignity..."

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, there are two families who have long been allies. Their children are destined to wed, but the bad news is, they absolutely hate each other!

[prosebypamela]

Do I smell enemies to lovers?? 🥰

[laurenmariesmusings-deactivated]

The Difference between a Villain and an Antagonist

I had no idea there was a different between a villain and antagonist, I thought they were interchangeable. But, they are not and I’m here to tell you why!

A villain is ‘a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot’.

An antagonist is ‘a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something’. So the enemy or competitor to your main character. Whether there intentions are good or not.

So basically, your main character (protagonist) could be the villain and your hero could be the antagonist.

To sum up, your villain is defined by there intentions and your antagonist depends on who the the story focuses on.

[prosebypamela]

Write like your mother will never read it

That’s it.  That’s the advice.

[drbennedict-writingadvice]

Writing Tip#271

Dialogue in writing always serves a purpose. There is nothing more boring in fiction than exchanges between two people who are on the same wavelength. Now you can absolutely write conversations between two people who are not in conflict, but they should be talking about something important that drives the plot, and 99% of the time that will be some form of conflict.

[prosebypamela]

Book cover mistakes to avoid

You cover is the first impression any reader will have of your book, so it’s important you make that impression the best it can be.  These are the most common mistakes that new writers make and it can really affect you sales and put off potential readers.

1. Using too many images

Writers often use too many images to make their book look interesting, when all it does is make the cover look busy. A great, single image provides context and lets your readers know what to expect.  Keep it simple.  Less is usually more.

2. Information overload

You don’t need to tell your whole story on your cover.  Non-fiction writers are especially guilty of this, but fiction writers aren’t exempt. This goes for images and blurb.  Think of your cover like a film trailer.  You want to get readers interested, not give away your plot. 

3. Using your cover to make a point

Everyone’s work is personal, so it can be tempting to use your cover to prove the validity of your work before a reader has even picked it up. For non-fiction this might be your central argument, for fiction, this might be your moral stance. Don’t give away your point too easily - there’s nothing wrong with making a reader work for it.

4. Not designing for your audience

Your book cover isn’t about you.  It’s not about what you like, or what you want.  It’s about what will make people pick up and read your book. Covers include visual cues that let readers know what to expect. If you’ve written a romance novel but don’t like traditional romance covers, let that go. Your audience will expect it. If you create a gothic cover but your novel is a traditional romance, you’ll just end up with disappointed readers.

5. Too many colours or fonts

It’s design principles 101 - don’t mix too many colours or fonts. Typography, colour, layout; all these things will speak to a reader and let them know what they can expect. You want something easy to read that conveys the right mood for what your book is trying to say. 

6. Using copyrighted images

If you don’t get the right licences for the images you use in your covers you can leave yourself open to lawsuits or takedown notices.  Avoid the drama, and just get it right before you go to print.

7. Designing for the wrong genre

Readers have expectations for covers when it comes to choosing a genre.  Don’t make a romance cover if your book is a thriller.  It will leave readers disappointed when they don’t end up reading something in the genre they were expecting, and consequently, you’ll end up with negative reviews.

[prosebypamela]

Never delete your words

Every word you’ve ever written is worthy.  Everything you’ve ever written can serve a purpose.  I know the delete button is tempting, but don’t do it!  You might regret it some day.  Instead of deleting, do the following:

1. Revise

Can you make your words work with a few simple changes? Give yourself some distance. Move to a different scene and come back to the one you’re not happy with.  Has your opinion changed?  A first draft is never the final, so don’t expect the first thing you write to be perfect.

2. Re-use

If you can’t make your words work for the scene you’re working on, save them for later!  Another scene, or a whole other book, might be just the right fit for what you’ve written.

3. Learn

No matter how bad you think your words are, they represent a learning opportunity. Analyse them to find out what works, what doesn’t, and why, or simply save them to see how you’ve improved. People aren’t born with the talent to write, they practice. Seeing how your style changes over the years can be just as informative as what you’ve written.