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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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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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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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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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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
Posted in humor, Inspiration, publishing, Writing, writing a novel
Tagged best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Leonard Bishop, literary critique, modern writers, respecting writers, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, the writer's craft, writing advice, 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 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
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
Posted in humor, Inspiration, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, characterization, Dare to Be A Great Writer, dramatic scenes, effective scenes, How do I write good dialogue, Leonard Bishop, Narration, writer's hints, writing advice, Writing dialogue, writing dramatic scenes, writing effective dialogue, writing inspiration, writing technique
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They Are Leaping Toward A Dream
by Leonard Bishop, Author of Dare To Be A Great Writer As I drive to Manhattan to teach a writing class, I’m thinking about my students. They are beginning to see their own growth as writers. They are amazed. I … Continue reading
Posted in humor, Inspiration, publishing, teaching, Writing, writing group, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, best American novelists, Dare to Be A Great Writer, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, teaching writing, writer's hints, writing advice, writing talent, writing teacher
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Deadlines….
by Leonard Bishop All unpublished writers, at some time, commit themselves to a foolish decision that ruins their publishing potential. They bring themselves to the threshold of “the deadline.” They decide, “I’ll give myself two years to write a novel. … Continue reading
Posted in publishing, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, American writers, Dare to Be A Great Writer, Leonard Bishop, meeting a deadline, surviving as a writer, taking risks in writing, writer's hints, writing a novel, writing advice, writing deadlines, writing inspiration, writing talent
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Forming Characters
by Leonard Bishop Fiction writers are alchemists. They draw together scraps of illusion and transform them into readable realities. Major characters must have size. Great ambitions, exaggerated passions, fascinating minds, superhuman capacities for love and hate, and monumental capabilities. If … Continue reading
Posted in teaching, Writer's Hint, Writing, writing a novel, Writing Techniques
Tagged American Novelist, characterization, creating heroes in writing, creating villains in writing, Dare to Be A Great Writer, inventiveness, Leonard Bishop, writing advice, writing characters, writing inspiration
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