Writing Retreat Blog
Creative Writing Tips and Techniques: How to Create Characters for Fiction
Welcome to the fourth in my blog series on creative writing tips and techniques! Today I want to examine character creation. Read on for information on how to build characters for short stories and novels – and in the meantime, don’t forget to check out our Creative Writing Retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica! A Character Creation Technique There are many ways to build fictional characters for a novel or short story, and ‘status’ is [...]
Journaling for Creative Writers
This is the third in our series of creative writing tips and prompts for writers interested in our creative writing retreats to Costa Rica and Mexico, and our virtual creative writing classes. Read on for advice for writers on how journaling can help you hone the craft of writing… particularly if you hope to write a memoir, of fiction inspired by life experiences. The Connection Between Journaling and Creative Writing Journaling is a way to [...]
A Creative Writing Prompt for the Weekend!
Our Creative Writing Retreats in Costa Rica and Mexico are close to full now – but some spots remain! In the meantime, we’re offering a series of creative writing prompts – and creative writing tips – for fiction writers, memoir writers, poets and anyone interests in getting their work published, or improving their creative writing skills. A Creative Writing Prompt… This prompt works for writing fiction, or poetry. It is particularly helpful for writers interested [...]
Building a World: A Writing Prompt
World Building for Creative Writers Many forms of fiction – historical, steam punk, fantasy, science fiction – require the construction of an entire world, which then becomes integral to the plot, and to the protagonist’s challenges. But how do you create a fictional world from scratch? A creative writing tip: some part of the world you build for your novel must reflect our own. Readers need to see themselves and their lives reflected in the [...]
Creative Writing Retreat in Mexico 2021!
I just returned from our first ever Creative Writing Retreat to Merida, Mexico! Our creative writing retreat focused on memoir, poetry, planning novels, writing short stories, playwriting, creating characters, getting an agent and more. A wonderful time was had by all. Our Mexico Writing Retreat was structured the same way as our Creative Writing Retreats in Costa Rica, with creative writing classes held for 2-3 hours every morning, sightseeing opportunities most afternoons, group dinners and [...]
How do you Plan a Novel?
So you love creative writing and you have an idea for a novel – but where do you begin? Here Are Some Tips to Get You started! 1. Map out your story. Begin by doing this in a general way. What is the ‘status quo’ for your characters before the story begins? What is the climactic event of the story? How is the character changed by the end of the novel? 2. Identify key elements [...]
