More Writing Advice…
How to Craft Distinct Character Voices
Do all your characters sound the same?You are losing readers. Read this to make all your dialogue rapid-fire and intense.
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89+ Outstanding Gift Ideas for Writers and Storytellers
Need great gift ideas for a writer? Wouldn’t it be great if there was some giant, massive, so-big-it-could-serve-as-a-second-moon list of outstanding gift ideas for the writer in your life? You got it. This is the ultimate guide to gift ideas for writers. This list...
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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…
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
He was weak... ...because he had no history. It took me seventeen rewrites (and one editor) before this dawned on me. The reason my readers could not get immersed in my story - was because my main character had a weak backstory. I could tell you everything about...
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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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An Unexpected Death | Flash Fiction
The cracking of naked knuckle bones broke the silence, and a long, white finger speared out of the dark. It stopped an inch from my nose.
“CHOOSE!” the voice tolled louder than an iron bell.
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The Vast Size of Old Age (Flash Fiction
She rode a speckled grey mare through the towering forests of grain, the flower’s white petals lapping at her shoulder with every stride. Dirt furrows rose and fell like foothills, and the forest of grain never changed-
Until her head was nearly lopped off by a scythe.
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Writing Better Characters: Zootopia’s Clever Lesson on Backstory
I swear, I only saw it for the sloths. Yet, by the end of the first two scenes, I had already learned more than enough from Zootopia (2016) to pack up the popcorn, leave the theater, and write this post. I mean, I didn't. I stayed for the sloths. My point is Zootopia...
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Breaking the Law…s | Short Fiction
Professor Lou Pole, possibly the greatest mind of his generation, had no business leaving his prestigious (and very high paying job) at ELITE AND NEEDLESSLY EXPENSIVE UNIVERSITY. But he did. When he told his adjuncts and fellow professors where he was moving, each and...
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Dr. Seuss’ Alien Invasion | Short Fiction (Under 500 Words)
In a green, green meadow by the white, stark tundra, stood a bright, young girl beneath a spaceship's dark umbra. With her mouth in the shape of a big, empty "O," she watched the ship rattle and sway, lights all aglow. Not long did she stare, before the ship...
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