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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
Writer’s Hint: Keeping the Readers Interested
From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be a Great Writer A reader’s interest is captured by what you tell them, not by what you promise to tell them. (11/5/98)
Need A Plot? Experts Recycle Them
By Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be A Great Writer There are three reference books that all unpublished (and many already published) writers must own: One Hundred Non-Royalty One-Act Plays (Grosset and Dunlap), 101 of the World’s Greatest … Continue reading
Posted in humor, publishing, teaching, Writing, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, dramatic scenes, history of American fiction, inventing plot, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, Plot, taking risks in writing, using existing plots, writing inspiration, writing technique
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Writer’s Hint: Theatricality and Drama
From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare to Be a Great Writer Theatricality is visual, unusual, and gets the reader’s attention. Drama holds the reader in an emotional strata. That’s what the readers are engaged in. (10-13-94) ©by Leonard Bishop
Writer’s Hint: Characterization
From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare to be a Great Writer: Readers want extravagant forms of behavior. This makes them [The characters] larger than life. (6-21-96) ©by Leonard Bishop
Closet Writers Usually Turn To Dust
By Leonard Bishop There is a reason why many writers do not remain in the small towns of Kansas to achieve their recognition. There are no writing environments to keep them. A “writing environment” is a place where inexperienced … Continue reading
Posted in publishing, Writing, writing group, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, Catch 22, Crazy in Beroin, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, Hemmingway, Henry Miller, history of American fiction, Jack Kerouac, Joseph Heller, Lie Down In Darkness, Mario Puzo, Nathaniel West, Norman Mailer, Scott Fitzgerald, taking risks in writing, teaching writing, Thomas Berger, William Styron, writing inspiration
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Writing Hint: Narration
From Leonard Bishop, author of Dare to be a Great Writer Narration saves bulk. Use it! Start as though you are writing headlines. (5/15/97) ©by Leonard Bishop
Writing Hint: Continuity
From Leonard Bishop, author of Dare to be a Great Writer Continuity returns portions of what we already read into current material and extends it into the future. (6/5/96) ©by Leonard Bishop
Posted in Writing, Writing Techniques
Tagged continuity, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Leonard Bishop, writing technique
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Writing Hint: Creating Powerful, Dramatic Scenes
From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare to be a Great Writer Always know a scene can get shorter. Your first priority is information, then visual action, physical and historical background, succinct and authentic dialogue, extended imagery, and finally, ask, “Does … Continue reading
Writing Hint: Inspiration
From Leonard Bishop We are onions with perceptions deeper than we think. We have to take risks and peel back the layers. (8/22/96) ©by Leonard Bishop Leonard Bishop was a champion of one-line inspiration for panicking writers! Those of us … Continue reading
Multiple Viewpoints: Farrell is example; Writers come, go
By Leonard Bishop Sensible writers live with the knowledge that no matter how great or popular they become, they are quickly replaceable. Who today, ever reads or remembers James T. Farrell? In the 1930’s, 1940’s, and into the 1950’s, writers … Continue reading
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