Category Archives: writing a novel

Writing a Novel? Leonard Tells All…

By Leonard Bishop (Ed.  This was part of a series Mr. Bishop wrote in 1985, “…for people who are interested in writing a novel but who have felt too inadequate to begin.”  The advice rings true today!  His other pieces … Continue reading

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Thankful for Words of Wisdom, Part 2

By Catherine Hedge I used to shake my head at some of  Leonard Bishop’s teachings.  He’d harrangue us with writing advice.  His voice would bellow with authority…insistent, commanding, and frightening! Frightening because he said it with such force, I figured … Continue reading

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Thankful for Words of Wisdom

(There are several writing groups around the country who began with Leonard Bishop.  Each of us writers and dreamers are thankful to him every time we sit down to our desks, or curl in front of a fire to “percolate” … Continue reading

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A Pair of Persistent Threats

by Leonard Bishop There are two persistent threats that intimidate all inexperienced writers who want to write novels. And unless they avoid those threats, they will never write their novels. When I was instructing at the University of California, in … Continue reading

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The Writer’s Life: A Social Vacuum

by Leonard Bishop Don’t quit your present employer to become a professional writer until you have learned how to be alone. It is not the lack of talent or skill that stops someone from succeeding as a professional writer. Talent … Continue reading

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Write a Novel? Invent Life

by Leonard Bishop Let’s get to the plot-line. A plot-line is the razzle-dazzle and suspense of the story. Here are some exaggerated examples to use as a guide. If you are writing a first-person novel (telling the story of what … Continue reading

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Write A Novel? Let’s Pretend (repost)

by Leonard Bishop (For our friends who need to be reminded…it IS possible to write a novel!  And Leonard tells us the first step!) A late general complaint from all people who want to write novels is:” I’d love to … Continue reading

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Who Will Cast The First Stone?

by Leonard Bishop This is an apology to many easily forgettable best-selling writers. Some not exceptionally enlightened college students taught me a lesson I was needing to learn for years. About how to be critical of other writers. While my … Continue reading

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I Will Not Be Had

by Leonard Bishop   Once I received a phone call from an editor on the staff of the writer’s Digest books. They were publishing my first non-fiction book on the craft of writing Dare to be a Great Writer. The … Continue reading

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Writers Beware of Editors

by Leonard Bishop Writers do not get their novels published by writing for people. Long before the public reads what is written, it must be passed through the stratified structure of book-publishing editors. Writers should not struggle to understand the … Continue reading

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