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A Prisoner of Hope
Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.
A Prisoner of Hope
Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.
I post the first and third Tuesday of the month.
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Megan DiMaria
May 211 min read
How to Get Started as a Writer
Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking about it? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out...
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Megan DiMaria
Sep 26, 20231 min read
Some encouragement for folks who want to write a novel
Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out of the...
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Megan DiMaria
Jul 16, 20191 min read
Five necessary components to a novel
Sometimes it good to remember stuff we've already been taught. Elementary, yes—but it's good to ponder the basics of novel writing. One:...
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Megan DiMaria
Apr 23, 20191 min read
Eleven tips for revealing your novel's characters
Hi! I'm back after my Lenten break. I didn't blog, but I haven't neglected my writing. I like simple tips, ones that make you say ah-ha...
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Megan DiMaria
Feb 19, 20191 min read
Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:
Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out of the...
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Megan DiMaria
Nov 6, 20181 min read
Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 2
Last Tuesday I discussing writer's block and strategies to get your productivity back on track. Writer's block doesn’t have to paralyze...
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Megan DiMaria
Oct 30, 20181 min read
Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 1
Dear writer, are you feeling burned out? Is your word count and productivity down? Do you want to beat your head against a wall to battle...
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Megan DiMaria
Jan 30, 20182 min read
What do readers to hear while they're reading?
I know of authors who listen to certain soundtracks while they're writing to inspire them to write with emotion or to add authenticity to...
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Megan DiMaria
Nov 28, 20172 min read
Why plot holes are a big deal
I love to get caught up in the fictional dream, and one of the worst things that can happen is a gaping plot hole. It doesn't matter if...
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Megan DiMaria
Aug 29, 20171 min read
A Word of Encouragement for Writers
Friends, this is as much for me as for you. While you're here, take a moment, go to the main page of my blog, and find some encouragement...
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Megan DiMaria
Jun 6, 20172 min read
Author Voice, part four
*This is part four in a series. View parts one, two, and three. If you've been following this series, are you understanding author voice...
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Megan DiMaria
May 30, 20172 min read
Understanding Author Voice, part three
*This is part three in a series. View parts one and two. I hope you’re enjoying the different samples of author voice we're including...
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Megan DiMaria
May 23, 20173 min read
Understanding Author Voice, part two
*This is part two in a series. View part one. Last week we started discussing author voice, which is the way in which an author tells a...
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Megan DiMaria
May 16, 20173 min read
What is Author Voice?
A lot of time is spent in writing circles discussing author voice. What is it? How do you perfect it? Author voice is the way in which an...
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Megan DiMaria
Apr 25, 20172 min read
How does a writer decide on an idea? Part Two
This is the second of a two-part topic. See part one here. If you ask a seasoned writer, they’ll tell you that ideas are in the air....
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Megan DiMaria
Apr 18, 20172 min read
How does a writer decide on an idea? Part One
How does a writer decide on an idea? I believe writers are peculiar people. We tuck bits of memories in our brains and hearts only to...
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Megan DiMaria
Apr 11, 20172 min read
The Truth about Defining Moments
Have you experienced a moment when when reality crystalizes and you finally KNOW a deep, personal truth? I’ve been thinking about...
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Megan DiMaria
Mar 28, 20172 min read
Why readers need to experience the novel (see it, smell it, feel it, taste it, hear it . . .)
I recently read a story that left me wholly unsatisfied. The author skimped on writing in the sensory details. I felt disoriented while...
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Megan DiMaria
Feb 28, 20172 min read
Strategies to Overcome Writer's Block
Consider yourself the luckiest writer in the universe if you’ve never experienced a moment of writer’s block. Consider yourself fortunate...
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Megan DiMaria
Feb 14, 20171 min read
Writers: give yourself the gift of perspective
Happy is the person who dreams dreams and is willing to take the steps to make them come true. Don't be afraid to start climbing, and...
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