More Writing Advice…
The 7 Essential Steps to Writing Better Villains
There are seven crucial steps to write better villains. Try these, and you will automatically start to create more compelling antagonists.
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Writing Goals: The 2020 Ultimate Guide
Do you want to achieve your wildest writing goals in 2020? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to give you a complete strategy for setting your most important writing goals in 2020... and how to actually reach them. Here's the overview of what...
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Welcome to My Writing Blog!
Hey there, I’m P. S. Hoffman.
This is my blog, where I share writing techniques and other fiction-improving content.
I mostly write science fiction and fantasy, but my reading tastes range far and wide. So please, talk to me about anything writing related.
And feel free to comment on any article you read, because it helps me figure out what to write about next!
Don’t forget to subscribe for some (very infrequent) email updates.
More Recent Articles…
Why There Are No “Rules” in Writing
There are no rules in writing. Don’t believe it? Read this – and you’ll understand why it’s called the Zeroth Law.
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3 Vital Keys to Every Great Horror Story
How do horror authors do it?
Read this, and you’ll have the three keys to every great horror story ever written. It’s simpler than you think…
5 Best Books (for Writers) by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin has passed away. But her work will stay with us for a long time to come. Here are several books and other writings you should read – to improve your writing skills.
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How to “Fail Better” at Your Writing Goals
Want to conquer your writing goals this year? Want to know how to set better writing goals? This article will tell you everything you need to know… and give you some inspiration.
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The 9 Best Science Fiction Books of 2017
Miss the best Science Fiction Books of 2017? This list has got you covered.
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Too Many Characters? | A “Star Wars” Writing Tip
Do you have too many characters in your story? Get rid of the problem with these three writing fixes from Star Wars.
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19 Current Resources for Horror Fiction Writers
Want to write better horror? Start here: 19 different places to improve your horror writing abilities instantly.
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How J.K. Rowling Describes Unforgettable Characters (With Examples)
How does J.K. Rowling write such memorable characters? She uses one trick in all of her Physical Descriptions…
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How to Write the Perfect Backstory for Any Character
It took me seventeen rewrites (and one editor) before this dawned on me: The MAIN reason my readers didn't care about my story - was because my main character had a weak backstory. Now, I could tell you everything about him... The shape of his face His most powerful...
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5 Ways You’re Writing Your Dialogue Wrong
Good dialogue will punch you in the chest. It will swing like a fist out of the dark, and when it hits it will make your heart stop. But when writing dialogue, most writers miss. Even professionals make some major mistakes (I’ll show you a few examples in a minute)....
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Hemingway’s 7 Tricks to Immersive Dialogue
Want to write dialogue like Hemingway? Read this to gain a quick mastery over dialogue conflict and character speech patterns.
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15 Do’s and Don’ts for Writers: Holidays, Family, and How to Deal with Them
Want to write during the Holidays? These tips will make sure you survive your family and get a ton of writing done.
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How to Take Any Story from “Boring” to “Dangerously Exciting”
Bored of your book? Want to write exciting fiction? With these, you will turn your boring story into an unforgettable one.
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How to Make Every Chapter an Irresistible “Page Turner.”
Write chapters that your readers will gobble up like fire burning paper – read this! Your books will be irresistible…
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How to write engaging characters who feel Alive and pop off the page
These ideas will make your major characters more life-like. Readers will engage faster and get swept up in their lives.
Follow these three techniques and your characters will pop off the page and dance into your readers’ imaginations.
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The 5 Keys to Succeed (and Stomp All Over) NaNoWriMo
Word counts killing you? Read this, and you will be able to conquer NaNoWriMo like the tiny guy always conquers the giant.
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9 strong reasons why writers should PLUNGE into NaNoWriMo
Afraid to do NaNoWriMo this year? Read this, and you’ll get all the inspiration you need to sign up for the biggest, best writing challenge.
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Melania Trump Plagiarized … on Purpose? (And What this Means for Writers)
Did Melandia Trump plagiarize Michelle Obama on Purpose? Find out what this means for writers everywhere.
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Write Everyday with these 9 Habit-boosting Strategies
These 9 strategies will help you build a daily writing habit so powerful, your own friends and family will think something is wrong with you.
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A Professional Question of Murder – (Flash Fiction)
In this line of work there were few answers, and many questions. One question, in particular, stuck out like a knife from a dead man's chest: "Could you ever kill a friend?" For years, Blay the Assassin thought about it, turning it over and over in the quiet hours of...
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Our Human Secret – Flash Fiction
Number Eight didn't know it, but I knew she wasn't an Android. I don't blame her. I'm no Robot either. The Masterson's only bought me believing I was an Android. I've been lying to them since. Understand this: it was a matter of air quality. The Masterson's, my...
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How Many Characters Should Your Story Have?
Your main goal as writer is to get your reader’s attention.
If your readers can’t remember who’s who in your story, you’re done.
This guide will help you figure out how many characters your story needs, and how to root out the useless characters.
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