Writing Resources Archives - Expat In Bacolod

How To Write A Novel In 17 Killer Steps

Published by Stephen Bentley on September 30, 2016

This post first appeared on my author website. Many of you are writers and some bloggers – if there is a difference? Some of you will have no intention of writing a novel but it doesn’t matter. What matters is the powerful writing tool called ProWritingAid. Read more to find out all about it. Writing a novel is not easy. If you are a writer of fiction then you probably fall into one of two broad categories – a plotter or pantster. If you are definitely in the second category then read no further. There is an excellent new eBook available that shows even the novice how to write a novel in 17 killer steps. How to write a novel in 17 killer steps The beauty…

Word Wednesday Fun: Bizarre

Published by Stephen Bentley on February 24, 2016

Bizarre is a word that is often not associated with fun, and of course, fun is an integral part of the #WordWednesdayFun series. I was recently accused of behaving bizarrely and that wasn’t funny particularly as it was applied to me by someone I believed was a friend. I suppose if disagreeing with an accusation then trying to explain on three occasions; then walking off as a result of a complete failure to listen to my explanation, nay, a total failure to hear me out is bizarre, then so be it! My conscience is clear. Once more folks I follow the usual pattern with the Merriam-Webster definition first then the Urban Dictionary. I wonder if that will be bizarre? adjective bi·zarre \bə-ˈzär\ Simple Definition Popularity: Top 30%…

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Word Wednesday Fun: Antipodes

Word Wednesday Fun: Antipodes

Published by Stephen Bentley on February 10, 2016

The Antipodes The Antipodes is often used by us British to describe those “kith and kinfolk” dwelling in Australia or New Zealand. I had occasion to use it today in a freelance article. It was one of those moments when the word sprang into my mind and as a precaution I checked its meaning. I was correct and it was the right word in the context that I was writing. What surprised me, and on reflection I fail to understand why I was surprised, was reading the literal meaning of the noun antipode. I was so used to hearing “the Antipodes” used to describe Australia and New Zealand that I had become impervious to any other meaning. Following the usual pattern, the Merriam-Webster definition first followed by…

Word Wednesday Fun: Escutcheon

Published by Stephen Bentley on February 3, 2016

Escutcheon is such a great word! Escutcheon is not one of those regular humdrum boring words! You may be tearing your hair out wondering where on earth did he find that word! Or, maybe not 🙂 It’s the name of one of the newest WordPress themes. I was taking a good look at it in readiness to launch my book page as soon as my Operation Julie: Inside and Undercover memoir is closer to publication date. However, the theme name has no bearing on either the theme itself or the way it looks! Following the usual format, the Merriam-Webster definition appears first followed by the Urban Dictionary entry. escutcheon noun es·cutch·eon \is-ˈkə-chən\ Definition Popularity: Bottom 40% of words a defined area on which armorial bearings are displayed and which usually…

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My Take on Stephen King’s “Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully – in Ten Minutes”

Published by Stephen Bentley on February 2, 2016

What follows is an article about Stephen King I stumbled across yesterday. I find the content fascinating. I’m not a big fan of Stephen King but he sure has sold a hell of a lot of books. I have even bought one in the past but for the life of me I can’t recall which one. I neither like or dislike him. But when he talks, I listen. I’m trying to find my way as a writer and anything that helps me (a) write and (b) sell a few books has got to be grabbed with both hands. The article was on the Aerogramme Studio website, a writer’s studio full of news and resources for writers. They reproduced the original article in its entirety. I am following…

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Word Wednesday Fun: Quagmire

Published by Stephen Bentley on January 27, 2016

Quagmire! What a great word! It’s such a great word that I didn’t bother with the Urban Dictionary this week owing to the wealth of information in Merriam-Webster, although there was one hilarious submission in the UB (as usual). Used by President Obama in his State of the Union speech may have got tongues wagging? I bet he knew what it meant. I doubt whether Donald Trump knows even though he would be in a quagmire of his own making if he actually did shoot someone 🙂 Simple Definition Popularity: Top 1% of lookups : an area of soft, wet ground : a situation that is hard to deal with or get out of : a situation that is full of problems Full Definition 1: …

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Busy as a Bee, Me

Busy as a Bee, Me

Published by Stephen Bentley on January 25, 2016

Busy is Good Right? Busy is better than nothing! I can assure you of that. When I first started as a freelance writer, I worried when the first client was going to appear. Click! It happened, and I have been busy for some time now. My writing is divided into categories – my own books, my blog here, and freelance article writing. It’s the latter that attracts immediate payment. The freelance article writing has now transformed into re-writing eBooks and ghostwriting an eBook from scratch. On top of that, I write my regular articles for an international website in addition to regular guest posts for Retiring to the Philippines. I don’t like to turn any work down. I have been described as a prolific writer, so that…

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Soul

Published by Stephen Bentley on January 22, 2016

The soul can mean many things. The word has connotations with music, for example. We have heard of soul food, soulmate, the life and soul of the party. In my writing, I strive to connect with my soul, an inner force. I feel that my best words derive from true feelings, a passion, my innermost convictions and beliefs. This connection cannot be switched on and off like a TV set. Nor is it easy to surf different channels with the remote until I find the “soul” channel. Rachel Toor recently wrote – “How do you help someone learn to write with “soul”? What does that even mean? What does it look like on the page? Pascal said, “When we see a natural style, we are astonished…

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