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Links to Bishop's works
Writing Tip by Leonard Bishop
A good story is like a motorcycle. All the parts move together and move forward. (7-8-99)
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Category Archives: Writing Techniques
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
Posted in humor, Inspiration, teaching, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, beginning writers, Dare to Be A Great Writer, foreshadowing in writing, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, point of view in writing, starting a novel, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, writing advice, Writing dialogue, writing inspiration, writing sex scenes, writing technique
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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
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
Posted in Inspiration, nostalgia, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, writing group, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, self-expression, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, writing inspiration, writing talent, writing technique
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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
Posted in Inspiration, publishing, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, Dare to Be A Great Writer, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, writing advice, writing inspiration, writing talent
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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
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
Posted in humor, Inspiration, teaching, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Leonard Bishop, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, what is a plot? How do I write a novel?, writing a novel, writing advice, writing inspiration, writing plot, writing technique
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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
Posted in Inspiration, slice of life, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, How to write a novel, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, self-expression, taking risks in writing, writer's hints, writing a novel, writing dramatic scenes, writing inspiration, writing talent
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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
Writers Need Each Other
by Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare to Be a Great Writer Many writers are shriveling. They are alone, and isolated from each other. No one really cares if they are ever published and many of their families wish they would … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, publishing, teaching, Writing, writing group, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Leonard Bishop, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, teaching writing, writing critique group, writing inspiration
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Learning to Write Sex Scenes
by Leonard Bishop Be careful how many sex scenes you use in the novel, and the type of sex scenes you allow the characters to experience. Limiting contemporary writers to two or three lusty graphic sex scenes is not censorship … Continue reading
Posted in humor, Inspiration, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, how to write sex scenes, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, taking risks in writing, writing inspiration, writing sex scenes, writing technique
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