Category Archives: advice about writing

Naming your novel

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Danielle de Valera

When choosing a name for your novel, always check to see how many of the same names already exist on the web. The more unique your title is, the better your chance it will come up in the first page … Continue reading →

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What’s in a name?

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Danielle de Valera

When it’s the title of your novel, a great deal, if you plan to publish on the web. A writer has only four chances to attract readers. These are: ~ the cover ~ the title ~ the story as revealed … Continue reading →

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Spontaneity in fiction

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Danielle de Valera

How important IS spontaneity in fiction? The answer is: It depends. Some works benefit from having a style that appears spontaneous. However, in my experience, when emerging writers talk about spontaneity and the fear of losing it by redrafting, they … Continue reading →

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“Real” Dialogue

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Danielle de Valera

Good dialogue in novels is not real dialogue, which is often very boring, containing as it does a lot of batting about of unimportant information between the two parties. Too often, writers get led astray by their desire for realism … Continue reading →

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So yew trust yaw computer to cheque yaw spelling?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Danielle de Valera

  Your computer can check the spelling in your fiction for you, but it won’t pick up your typos and it won’t pick up wrong gender adjectives, such as blond for blonde, where the owner of the hair is female. … Continue reading →

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Manuscript Layout for Australian Publishers

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Danielle de Valera

The advice below is meant to serve as help for writers trying to have their work traditionally published in Australia. It can also be used by short story writers entering Australian competitions.  ~ Do not align the RH margin — … Continue reading →

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Submitting Manuscripts to Agents/Publishers

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Danielle de Valera

I fell over this image while looking on the web for a suitable image of an agent. It’s actually an ad for a typewriter. The one shown here is so old they’re calling it ‘a writing machine’ in the sales … Continue reading →

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