rule 4/7

May 25, 20183 min read

What Is the Christian Fiction Writers’ Job?

It would probably be pretentious to say that it’s Christian fiction writers’ job to make God look good. God doesn’t need our assistance in

18 views

The Imperfections of Chick-Lit Protagonists

Jeannette DiLouie

May 18, 20183 min read

The Imperfections of Chick-Lit Protagonists

If there’s one chick-lit Writing Rule you can count on, it’s going to be that the main character doesn’t have her life in order at story’s b

81 views

One Definite Rule of Writing Romance Fiction

Jeannette DiLouie

May 11, 20182 min read

One Definite Rule of Writing Romance Fiction

If there’s one definite rule of writing romance fiction, it’s the one stated below. That is to say the one laid out in a few more paragraphs

73 views

Writing Women’s Fiction Never Looked So Good

Jeannette DiLouie

May 4, 20183 min read

Writing Women’s Fiction Never Looked So Good

When you’re writing women’s fiction, the protagonist comes out ahead. In some way, shape or form, she ends up in a better place than where s

11 views

What to Do Within Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dystopian Fiction Setting Details

Jeannette DiLouie

Apr 20, 20183 min read

What to Do Within Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dystopian Fiction Setting Details

Yesterday, we addressed basic setting details – the whats and whys – of post-apocalyptic sci-fi dystopian fiction. Today, we’re going to del

4 views

The Right Way to Do Alternative History Fiction Writing

Jeannette DiLouie

Apr 13, 20183 min read

The Right Way to Do Alternative History Fiction Writing

The best kind of alternative history fiction writing requires some pre-writing prep. As we already mentioned on Tuesday, these books are ty

7 views

3 Tips to Be a More Engaging, Less Preachy Steampunk Fiction Writer

Jeannette DiLouie

Apr 6, 20182 min read

3 Tips to Be a More Engaging, Less Preachy Steampunk Fiction Writer

It’s difficult to write a proper blog post about not being a preachy steampunk fiction writer without being preachy in the process. Is that

35 views

When Writing “Paranormal Fiction,” You’d Better Know How to Classify It

Jeannette DiLouie

Mar 23, 20182 min read

When Writing “Paranormal Fiction,” You’d Better Know How to Classify It

If I’m writing a novel manuscript – paranormal fiction or otherwise – you’d better believe I want people to eventually read it. And I imagin

7 views

Contemporary Fantasy Fiction Warning: Rated R?

Jeannette DiLouie

Mar 16, 20183 min read

Contemporary Fantasy Fiction Warning: Rated R?

What’s the difference between contemporary fantasy fiction and a romance novel? According to certain contemporary fantasy fiction writers’

12 views

What Does a High Fantasy Fiction, Epic Fantasy Fiction Quest Look Like?

Jeannette DiLouie

Mar 9, 20183 min read

What Does a High Fantasy Fiction, Epic Fantasy Fiction Quest Look Like?

This week’s focus on high fantasy fiction and epic fantasy fiction reminds me of a Pinterest writing prompt. It goes like this: What if the

50 views

Dial Down Your Fantasy Fiction Magic to Deepen the Drama

Jeannette DiLouie

Mar 2, 20183 min read

Dial Down Your Fantasy Fiction Magic to Deepen the Drama

Fantasy fiction magic is some pretty powerful stuff. It can locate missing persons or items, open portals to whole new worlds, breathe spea

16 views

This Science-Fiction Ride Is Well-Worth Taking

Jeannette DiLouie

Feb 23, 20183 min read

This Science-Fiction Ride Is Well-Worth Taking

Today’s science-fiction Writing Rule further explores yesterday’s Writing Challenge and Tuesday’s Definition. And it’s a must for anyone who

7 views

Jeannette DiLouie

Feb 16, 20183 min read

One Final Legal Look at Fan Fiction

We’ve already acknowledged writers’ very strong opinions about fan fiction. But it can go further than mere hurt feelings by authors who don

7 views

Jeannette DiLouie

Feb 9, 20182 min read

What’s More Horrifying Than That?

This goes without saying, but let’s say it anyway. In the horror fiction genre writing world, you have to gross out your readers. They’re lo

5 views

Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Emotional Seats

Jeannette DiLouie

Feb 2, 20183 min read

Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Emotional Seats

As we’ve already discussed, thriller fiction is supposed to keep readers on the edge of their emotional seats. It’s supposed to get their he

8 views

Call the Cops! Contact the FBI! We’ve Got a Mystery Fiction Manuscript Here!

Jeannette DiLouie

Jan 26, 20183 min read

Call the Cops! Contact the FBI! We’ve Got a Mystery Fiction Manuscript Here!

Some genres allow you to play fast and loose with the facts. Not so much if you’re working on a mystery fiction manuscript though. Like his

8 views

This Is One of the Worst Historical Fiction Writing Errors You Can Make

Jeannette DiLouie

Jan 19, 20183 min read

This Is One of the Worst Historical Fiction Writing Errors You Can Make

We’re addressing a major writing pet peeve of mine today: historical fiction that isn’t historical. Don’t get me wrong. You can classify yo

32 views

Literary Fiction Might Be Highbrow, but the Best of It Digs Deep

Jeannette DiLouie

Jan 12, 20182 min read

Literary Fiction Might Be Highbrow, but the Best of It Digs Deep

So now we know that literary fiction is highbrow. Using Victorian writing styles and vocabulary choices, it’s designed to explore the writer

7 views

Should You Be Having Fun With the Fiction Writing Process?

Jeannette DiLouie

Jan 5, 20183 min read

Should You Be Having Fun With the Fiction Writing Process?

If you caught yesterday’s fiction factoid on Facebook, you’ll know that: Fiction isn’t always written for fun. Sometimes it’s written to te

7 views

The Milk, the Cow and the Back Cover Blurb

Jeannette DiLouie

Dec 22, 20173 min read

The Milk, the Cow and the Back Cover Blurb

Yesterday, we said that a back cover blurb’s main goal is to intrigue the book’s ideal readers. Doing that requires work, of course: resear

22 views