Category Archives: Writing fiction

Inspiration from inside an empty matchbox

Posted on April 30, 2014 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2014 Jerry Dunne This post demonstrates how conflict fuels and develops a story. An understanding of our simple example will help the writer with both good story structure and the search for new ideas, although it’s the ideas … Continue reading →

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The short story’s storytelling elements

Posted on February 28, 2014 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2014 Jerry Dunne Here we examine the short story’s storytelling elements and the restrictions placed on them in comparison to those of longer pieces of fiction. The main storytelling elements consist of character, point of view (POV), plot, … Continue reading →

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The 3-act plot arc structure

Posted on January 31, 2014 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2023 Jerry Dunne The plot isn’t a series of events that move forward in a random way. The events are connected by cause and effect and have a very definite structure to them. In this way, the plot … Continue reading →

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How to write a modern fable for the adult reader

Posted on December 26, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne Here we will look at how to write a modern fable for the adult reader. As this is our first attempt, to make it easier we’ll use one of Aesop’s fables, The Ass, the Cock … Continue reading →

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A philosophical approach to the slog of draft writing those early novels

Posted on June 8, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne Writing a novel is not a simple matter of writing a single draft, or even a second or a third. The first draft is merely the end of the beginning. In fact, once you have … Continue reading →

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Types of research material for the fiction writer

Posted on May 1, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne This post briefly describes the main types of research material available to the creative writer with some pros and cons offered on each type. What are primary and secondary sources? These terms are common to … Continue reading →

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Research and the fiction writer

Posted on March 30, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne This post looks at why the fiction writer benefits from research, the best way of handling research, and ends on a warning of how researched material may easily drown rather than enhance the story. Why … Continue reading →

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Improving the character interview technique used by fiction writers

Posted on February 27, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne In this post, we look at how the character interview technique is used as a means to help stimulate the fiction writer’s imagination in developing character. We see that the usual approach with this technique … Continue reading →

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How to develop insightful and credible short story ideas from a fable

Posted on January 30, 2013 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2013 Jerry Dunne Below is the first part of the fables chapter from my book How to Develop (Imaginative, Insightful & Credible) Short Story Ideas CHAPTER THREE Fables Here we appraise the fable as a means of both an … Continue reading →

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The emotional investment behind writing fiction

Posted on December 30, 2012 by jerrydunne

Copyright © 2012 Jerry Dunne The following is a recent conversation I had with a friend that I thought would make a good blog post. I have written it up here as closely as my memory allows. We look at … Continue reading →

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