Navigate the pitfalls of writing with a keen eye on accuracy and realism. This section is dedicated to helping authors avoid common mistakes through proper research and knowledge. Learn how to enrich your writing with precision and care for the finer details that bring your story to life and resonate with readers. Whether you're crafting a historically accurate novel or a detailed fantasy world, ensure every element is as believable and well-constructed as possible.
“Your eyes touch me physically.”—“The Warrior,” performed by Scandal, written by Holly Knight and Nick Gilder Oh, the amazing wandering body parts. The absolute horror inflicted upon readers as eyes fly, hands inch around, and hearts roam the world. The term “wandering body parts” refers to the sentences in...
Valerie Steel begins her study The Corset: A Cultural History claiming, “The corset is probably the most controversial garment in the entire history of fashion.” Considering its reputation as oppressive, torturous, and downright dangerous, it’s hard to argue. High time, then, we unknotted fact from fiction when it comes...
In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. —Law & Order. In a gamut of literary genres including Mystery, Police Procedural, Legal Thriller, and Prison...
How to Call an Ambulance Various emergency numbers around the world are used to contact emergency services. Take some time to research the one used in your story’s setting. In the United States, Mexico, and Canada, you dial or text the numbers 911 to access police, fire, and EMS...
People get sick or injured all the time and seek medical care in a doctor’s office or hospital emergency room setting. When story characters encounter these situations, realism will lend believability to the story, even in contemporary fantasy settings. Getting the details right keeps the reader engaged with the...
Using Feng Shui to Frame Your Magic System Sine Mairi MacDougall Magic systems can be one of the most fun parts of world building. Readers also obsess over this part of fantasy. They are looking for clearly laid-out rules, so many authors base their fantasies off known systems. This gives...
