Tag Archives: effective scenes

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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Learning to Write Dialogue

by Leonard Bishop One of the most important devices a writer uses is dialogue. Writing a novel without a plentiful amount of dialogue is like trying to create a gourmet omelet with yokeless eggs. To the reader, dialogue is just … Continue reading

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Open Fast and Stay Critical

 by Leonard Bishop If the writer doesn’t write for his own Time, she is not ahead of her time, she is way behind. In this era the opening of the novel is the most important chapter that is written. Characters … Continue reading

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Aggression, Cynicism and Great Writing

by Leonard Bishop What I intend to say, and how I say it, are not always the same. I received a letter from a Mr. D. of Manhattan. He stated that my attitudes to “being a writer” were aggressive and … Continue reading

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Writer’s Hint: Characterization

From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be a Great Writer Let characters live in a constant state of “Scream!”  (2/12/98)

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Writer’s Hint: Truth

From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be a Great Writer The first thing that gets sacrificed in the interest of good writing is the truth (2/26/98) ©Leonard Bishop

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One Novel In The Life of a Writer’s Desk

by Leonard Bishop About 20 years ago, Boston University approached me with an offer to establish a  “Leonard Bishop collection.” It would be placed among the other writers, artists, stage and screen  performers  they considered distinguished enough to be exhibited. … Continue reading

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Writing Hint: Use Adventure!

From Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be A Great Writer To keep a novel alive, use adventure.  Have a highly credible character that performs highly incredible things.  (8/26/98)

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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)

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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

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