Leveling Up Your Writing

S39E9 – Using Subtext in Dialogue

Words have the capacity for deception. They’re all full of subtext, and some of them are cliche and overused and vernacular. They’re tricky. All I can say is, words are tricky. – Andrew Bird

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S39 Bonus – Giving Your Characters Choices

“[The sorting hat] only put me in Gryffindor,” said Harry in a defeated voice, “because I asked not to go in Slytherin…”
“Exactly,” said Dumbledore, beaming once more. “Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – JK Rowling

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S39E8 – Starting Sentences Without Using the MC’s Pronoun

Your passion for words and sentence structure should equal a painter’s passion for color and brushstroke. – Andrew McAleen

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S39E7 – Understanding Psychic Distance for Your Writing

The remedy is to abandon the larger for the smaller… to do the small thing closely and deeply rather than the big thing loosely and superficially. – Colson Whitehead

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S39E6 – Knowing How to Use Italics in Your Novel

In writing a weird story, I always try very carefully to achieve the right mood and atmosphere and place the emphasis where it belongs. – HP Lovecraft

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S39E5 – Going Outside Your Writing Comfort Zone

Read. Write. Read some more. Explore the universe through your writing. Practice and learn what moves you and what doesn’t. – Darynda Jones

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S39E4 – Improving Your Writing Through Short Stories

Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner. – Neil Gaiman

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S39E3 – Learning to Critically Read

I always read books twice. The first time you appreciate the story, the second time you appreciate the writing. – Unknown

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S39E2 – Giving and Getting Feedback

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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S38E1 – Understanding Writing Community Lingo

Incomprehensible jargon is the hallmark of a profession. – Kingman Brewster

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