Who Drove Nearly All Lagos Men Mad? was written by  Ugochukwu Ugonna and published by Agbalumo Publishing Services in 2023. The collection of short stories caught the attention of Nigerian readers due to its title. Thereby stirring curiosity for readers. 

This article takes its readers through a review of Who Drove Nearly All Lagos Men Mad? to know why it became one of the most read books in Nigeria as of late 2023.

Book Blurb 

Deep in the heart of Lagos — the center of excellence, from Festac to Ikeja, Surulere to Sangotedo, the sizzling love lives of the diverse humans parading the dating space of this boisterous city are examined through this collection of eleven short stories. These stories beg the question: Who Drove Nearly All Lagos Men Mad?

There’s a story of the wife of an Afrobeats legend living her best life, another of a girl returned to the streets where she belonged, a Christian nurse who could not afford to exceed a certain body count before marriage, a mother unsuspectingly raising a mad man in her toxic home, the guy satisfied with just-the-tip, another of a match that was made in heaven, a girl who swiped right for hook-up but fell in love, and another who wants to burn down her Grandma’s house because of penis.

Introduction

Surely almost every one who reads stories about Nigeria has heard a lot — and for some, enough about the city of Lagos. But to be honest, the writers who take up Lagos as the location of their stories, make readers want to know more and more.

Who drove nearly all Lagos men mad? Has been termed a response to Damilare Kuku’s Nearly All the Men in Lagos are mad.

The collection of stories has 11 short-stories and are written in varying point of views. Every story showcases the madness in the City of Lagos. And this review would give an insight on whether the story is worth you reading or not.

The Review of Who Drove Nearly All Lagos men mad?

The first story in the collection begins with one of the most captivating hooks this reader has ever come across. A hilarious hook with just the right amount of action to get readers ready for the men and women of Lagos.

Bella’s tinder match considers her a hook-up partner and not a real girlfriend, and although Bella would have not minded this term, she had something she was trying to protect and Jidenna might have to bend for her to have her way. This first story ‘Swiped Right’ is perfect for the collection’s introduction, as it gets one ready for the bumpy ride ahead.
More so, the narrative style of this story keeps the readers at attention and prepares you for the next!

The short stories announces itself and the author’s distinct writing style. Outstandingly, Ugochukwu mixes modern day internet slangs in his writings, showing how contemporary his plot, writing style and voice is.

In Just the tip, a story of a supposedly virgin girlfriend and her celebate relationship, Ugochukwu writes

“Woke up today and chose Violence”

Further more, in Mugu from Mushin, a good samaritan returns a through and through Lagos babe, to the street where she belongs.

There are a lot of hilarious stories in this collection, one cannot flip a page without having a good laugh. These serve as comic relief for the depth behind the traumatic experiences of these characters and their love lives.

Characterization and more 

On characterization, the author does exceedingly well. He portrays Lagos people just rightly, the hook-ups, big boys wanting to show off, influencer lifestyle, everyone in Lagos dating everyone, stereotypes based on area of residence— Ugochukwu taps into every aspect of Lagos — from the mainland to the island.

In the short stories, the depth of various characters can be seen. The author took his time carefully crafting these identities and it must be applauded.

However, whilst kicking off with the most interesting stories, it is easy to miss how the fire begins to burn out from three stories towards the last. Wednesdate, Follow-come wahala and that weekend in August, reads a but dull — there seems to be no thrill while reading these — as though the writer’s excitement has waned.

Although the writer makes up for this in the last story! Which gives us twists and turns and also, directly relates to the book’s title! 

The collection of stories all have a similar theme that shines through — and that is Love, in all its forms. Romantic, unrequited, past love, even agape. Other themes that can be seen are betrayal, deception, stereotype, desperation, relationships, sex. Also, the portrayal of what relationships in Lagos are said to be, was excellently done by the writer. In some stories, he highlighted and emphasized on stereotypical happenings, while he in some, he gave true love stories.

The dabble between true love and lies goes on and on in the story, and I think this is its distinguishing feature — showing us every kind of relationship, the ones that fail and the ones that excel.

However, the erotic scenes in the novel were at some point disturbing. Nearly all the men in the short stories easily masturbated or sort sexual pleasure. This addition became distracting at some point.

Overall, Ugonna Ugochukwu has delivered a collection of stories that would take you on a range of emotions— especially hilariously. It is a light read. If you’re looking to laugh, and see Lagos through the eyes of many, Who drove Nearly all Lagos men mad? Is the go-to.

About the Reviewer

Chiziterem Chijioke is a Writer, PR and Advertising Strategist. She is a graduate of communication and Media Studies, as well as an enthusiastic for digital marketing. When she’s not reading novels, she’s watching an action packed movie or writing book reviews. 

The post Book Review: Who Drove Nearly All Lagos Men Mad? appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Many budding short story writers struggle with holding-attention in a short-story. Writing a short story seems like an easier form of prose than writing a full-length novel. Writers who do not have the passion to write full-length novels may find ways to express their creativity through short stories.

However, just as novel writing has its techniques, so do short stories. The misconception that short stories are easier to write must be corrected, as this is not usually the case. Many times when I read short stories, it is as though they are written in haste. Many writers have not mastered the art of holding-attention in a short-story and do not know how to properly engage readers as they miss the techniques required to write a successful short story. 

Sometimes Holding-Attention in a short-story of 500 – 3000 words might be difficult because it seems like the word count limits the expression of creativity. However, writers must write in a way that helps readers understand the message they are trying to pass across. There are steps that writers must follow in order to share their creativity in the best way possible.

It was for this reason that I decided to listen to Jack Wang’s presentation: Holding Attention in the Short Story. 

According to Jack, the most important thing a writer must know while writing short stories or fiction in general, is how to hold attention. They must compel the readers to keep up until the very last word.

In this article about Jack Wang’s presentation; Holding Attention in the Short Story, he explores the technicalities of a short story and how one can properly have the attention of any reader. The following are some things I learned from the presentation.

A Tale of Two Tensions

According to Wang, every short story answers two questions.

• The first is why now? Wang believes that a short story cannot capture the entirety of a person’s consciousness. A short story is like a synecdoche. A part has to represent the whole. This brings about the question that your short story should answer — why now? Why this part? Why do you think that this part is what would hold attention in your short story? Your short story should be able to give an answer to this question.
• The second question a short story should answer is; what is at stake? The question triggers the readers to be intrigued. Why should the story matter to them and why must they pay attention? There has to be something at stake that pulls them and alerts them to read until the very end.

Jonathan Godshell states that there is a universal grammar for every kind of story. Stories across cultures have their unique essence. The universal grammar is character, predicament and extracted extrication.

Stories are about predicament. Something has to happen to the character that they have to face head on. It is this predicament that triggers a series of event that the writer eventually shares with the readers. Without this, a story has no true essence.

There are different kinds of predicaments.

• Acute tension: a predicament that characters face immediately; here and now. They disturb the habitual/ status quo in the character’s life. The emphasis is on action, incident, and plot. This kind of tension helps to answer the question “Why now?”
• 
• Chronic tensions: problems from the past. It is a kind of tension that is longstanding. The problems are ongoing in the character’s life. This kind of predicament emphasizes more on the character. Stories are about the mystery of character and chronic tension helps to reveal that mystery. It helps to answer the question, “What’s at stake?”

A short story is an interplay of these two tensions. For a writer who wishes to be successful in short story writing, understanding these tensions and knowing when and how to use them is a prerequisite.

Turn and Face the Strange Changes

Perceptual systems don’t work unless there are changes to detect. The human mind can only pay attention to what they find fascinating and new. When unexpected change happens, readers are more inclined to find out what it means and what effect it has to everything ongoing.

Humans always want to understand the concept of change and where it might lead to. Is it good or bad? Curiosity is what readers should feel in the opening movements of an effective story. This helps to keep them on their toes and hold their attention.

There are stories where the acute tension doesn’t change. However, it all depends on how well the author can embody this.

Suspicious Minds

Every writer should understand that the content of one’s mind differs from the content of others. In learning the techniques of holding-attention in a short-story, a writer must understand that suspense creates eagerness, and this can only happen when the reader’s mind becomes suspicious. 

The theory of mind describes our ability to explain people’s behavior in terms of their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and intentions.

The human mind is naturally designed to be suspicious, eager to know, and willing to properly understand what goes on around.

Mind the Information Gap while Holding-Attention in a Short-Story 

As humans, we want information. We want to know what is happening. Story tellers should often use this to their advantage. According to Wang, “The more context we learn about mystery, the more anxious we are to solve it.”

Readers need to be informed, they need to understand the drama in order to keep up with the build up a writer is creating. Providing readers with visual presentation using a creative ppt is a must to keep them updated at all times. The curiosity of readers plays a significant role. The zone of maximum curiosity is what a writer should aim at. It is a situation whereby storytellers play; making readers think that they have some idea, but with uncertainty.

A short story should have these basics in order to properly hold attention. When a writer begins a story in a particular way, creating chronic or acute tension at the beginning, the writer should also make sure that at the end of the story, these tensions are resolved.

Short stories must not have a complex structure or form. Every story start at the latest possible moment and only the writer can decide when that moment is. Many successful endings of stories project into the future, but it doesn’t need to expatiate the entirety of that future.

Once a writer has resolved the acute and chronic tension, as well as the information gap, then there is no more information to share.

Finally on Holding-Attention in a Short-Story 

Without holding attention, a writer will struggle to persuade readers to continue reading when there are many works to read.

These tips mentioned in this article are some basic techniques a writer should follow in order to hold the attention of readers in a short story.

Chiziterem Chijioke is a creative writer, editor and a student of mass communication. She has worked as a volunteer and is a member of Fresh Writers Community and currently works as an editor for Creative Writing News. She has authored four works, some of which have been published on Pabpub.  She is purpose driven and passionate about writing.

The post 5 Tips on Holding Attention in a Short-Story { Step by Step Guide + Examples} appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Budding writers often wonder how to write a story. Not just a story, but a good story that everyone remembers and recommends. The world is full of stories, so you have to work hard at yours to make it outstanding. So if you often wonder how to create a story, you have come to the right place. 

Prolific writer, Charles Opara in his article, offers writers a step-by-step guide on how to write a good story. This guide will help you figure out how to  create the best story you possibly can. It will also show you how to overcome certain challenges that writers face such as unproductivity nnd writers’ block.

Ready to learn? Let’s read on.

How To Write A Story Like A Literary Great (Story Writing Tips + Examples)

It is almost impossible to learn how to write a story without first understanding the concept of the story. So let’s start by describing or defining a story.

What is a story? 

When you think of a story, think of a necklace. Or a string of pearls. The entire string is the narrative. Simply put, it is the fiction-writing mode in which the narrator communicates directly to the reader.

The pearl, in other words, is the description. It usually contains the scenes. (Recall, the four rhetorical modes of discourse: narration, description, exposition, and argumentation.)  

Scene vs. Narrative And Why They Matter In Storytelling and Story Writing

The scenes paint a picture and they usually describe places, things, or characters. Consider the piece of string between two adjacent pearls.

In story writing, scenes move at a fast pace. The events that happen in this part are not detailed, and for that reason, advance much quicker.

Here, the writer wishes to inform the reader that this or that occurred, or that time has passed (events that take place between one scene and the next) albeit summarily. Without this vital part it would be difficult to follow the story, difficult to tell what stage the story is in.

While the pearls handle the significant events the writer wishes to share in detail, the string hides details of events the writer does not wish to bother the reader with. I’m sure you’ll agree that the pearls are the beauty of the necklace, the reason why we buy it. And so it is with fiction.

A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Write A Good Story.

When writing a story, even if you must sacrifice the plot (that thing that connects all your scenes) you can’t write a good fiction without at least a scene, which would most likely feature a character in a setting.

If you try, the outcome will be something aimed at informing the reader (rather than transporting him to a different time and place) like a story outline, a skeletal account, or plot points. And this is not good.

People read fiction mainly to be entertained, and it’s hard to entertain them when they do not feel drawn to your story.

While creating a story, it is important to note that  scenes are the building blocks of an entertaining story. There is no better way to make readers feel emotions like joy, anger, disgust, lust, horror, sorrow, tension, excitement and the rest than putting them in a scene with your characters.

Learn to move your story forward: How to keep your readers au fait

The renowned German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht, who died in 1956, used narrators or narrative figures to fill the missing action in his plays. Today, the use of narrators before a scene opens has become a feature in epic dramas.

These narrators tell us the action that is not played out for us by the actors, the action that we missed between the last scene and the next.

Figure Out What Makes Up A Good Story

• A good story is a collection of scenes connected by a narrative. In other words, it has description and narration.
• Sometimes, a story can have just one scene.
• A good work of fiction can never be just the narrative. (That would be the story outline or the synopsis, which is different from the sample chapters we send to publishers and literary agents).
• The narration that doesn’t occur within a scene, often giving a sketchy account, is meant to help the reader follow the sequence of events in the story. We will refer to this as the narrative.

Master The Parts Or Elements Of A Story

The plot, the story goal, the theme, the characters, the conflict and the setting, especially the opening and final scenes, are six things you need to determine before you begin to write your story.

If you are clear on these, then, only your writing can let you down. Before I learned how to write a story, I used to be one of those people who didn’t plan my plot right up till the end before I started to write.

This meant I never knew how my story would pan out until I had reached the very last scene nor did I know how my characters would develop.

My theme was often a mystery to me. Which is why I often had to redraft my stories, many times — too many times. Sometimes having to make major changes to the story.

To forestall against this, develop the habit of working with and working through a story plan that includes the six elements of fiction. By story plan, I mean a skeletal framework on what you want to write about. A story plan is a vital step to writing a good story.

The elements of fiction (expressed as parts of the figurative story necklace)

Going back to our metaphor of the necklace, let’s appreciate the various elements of fiction better. We find the plot coursing through the whole necklace. Having the same dynamics as fluid, it moves much faster in the narrow string and much slower in the pearl.

As I’ve already said, the beads would be that part of the story where characters perform actions.  The part where your characters and their conflicts unfold, allowing you to form an opinion about them, an opinion not (explicitly) defined for you by the author’s narrative (as we see in the string), allowing you to experience or visualize a character or a setting (through sensory images). The string would be that part that takes you to a scene.

Or, you could say, the events mentioned in summary so the reader can follow the story better (e.g. the passage of time). Looking at the necklace more closely, you’ll notice a repeating pattern in the beads (there usually is, in a good necklace.) This pattern is the theme. There’s one part of the string I still haven’t talked about. The clip.

So, what element of fiction do you think the clip of the necklace represents? Here’s a clue: it’s something that keeps the necklace firmly around your neck. It’s that thing that brings all your elements together. Can you guess? Pause from reading and take a minute to think about it.

The Clip And Its Role In Helping You Learning How To Write A Story.

Without the clip would the necklace stay around your neck? No. It would fall off. So the clip is very important. In fact, without it, there will be no point of owning a necklace; its aim is defeated as you can’t wear it.

If you just carry it in the palm of your hand, no one will see it like it ought to be seen, no one will appreciate it. So what is that which plays the role of a clip in a good story?

It is the thematic statement. The theme has two parts: a concept and a statement. The thematic concept is the design or pattern that we see in the beads while the thematic statement is the clip at the end of the necklace that allows it to be worn. The thematic concept is commonly referred to as the theme.

While there isn’t a common name for the thematic statement, to my knowledge, my guess for its more generic term would be the story goal. (The story goal is different from the character goal, please take note.)

Story goals have to do with the morals or the lessons stories try to teach. The thematic statement is the salient message/idea/point that the reader gets from the story. And what determines this is usually how the story is resolved. So you will not be entirely wrong if you called the clip the resolution.

Decide On What The Point Of Your Story Will Be.

When a story lacks a thematic statement then it is  not a good story because it is all plot and no purpose, a collection of different events (different actions described within a setting) that have nothing binding them together, nothing to make you appreciate why the writer took the trouble to tell them. Many readers consider these type of stories a waste of time.

 What Makes A Good Story?

Most times, as writers, we focus on the art of writing, neglecting the art of storytelling or story-crafting. A lot of us are good writers, but some of us have trouble telling a good story.

When your writing is up to par, and you’re still having trouble getting your stories accepted for publication, it’s time for you to master the art of storytelling.

Storytelling is what takes your writing from raw sentences to real entertainment. It is like the glaze on a ceramic sculpture that makes it look finished.

If writing is artistic expression, storytelling is artistic direction. The two are like hand and glove. And like hand and glove, they can be separated.

Storytelling: How Story Writing Works.

Begin by asking yourself what the story you want to write is about. Can you say it in one sentence (called an elevator pitch, a premise, or a logline)?

Whenever you’re trying to figure out what a story is really about, look for the internal conflict. When you ask people what a story is about, most make the mistake of telling you the plot of the story.

Well, it’s not the plot. It’s the theme. And it ought to be so because, when you consider our story necklace metaphor, you’ll see that the theme gives the necklace beautiful patterns; it adds value to it. So it’s all about the theme when trying to decide on the worth of the necklace.

If the necklace is supposed to be a thing of beauty, then, it’s all about the patterns on it. If you can summarize the story you want to write in one sentence and make it include the theme, then, that’s it. That’s what it’s about.

The Two Types Of Conflict.

In a good story, there are usually two types of conflicts: the external one and the internal one.

Why? Because a well-developed story makes us appreciate a character’s inner turmoil, his emotional/ psychological struggle, and in the end, it says something about life. Stories with internal conflicts are deep. When you think of a good story to write, remember that conflicts are important.

They paint pictures about the human condition, the human struggle, the human mind, the human character, the human virtue, the human resilience, and more.  Ultimately, their resolution by characters who show humanities (even if they are aliens) gives your story its meaning, gives it an underlying message, a lesson that can be framed into one sentence called the thematic statement.

The Six Elements of Fiction.

• Plot
• Theme
• Setting
• Character
• Conflict
• Style

Things like, Point of View and Voice, Tone and many others fall under Style.

The plot

The plot is what happens in your story. It usually revolves around an external conflict.

For example, a man takes the bus home from work after his car breaks down.

The external conflict is all that stands in the way of his trying to get home. The need to get home is the character’s goal. It’s a combination of his car breaking down and all the setbacks he encounters on his way home.

The Theme And It Helps You Create A Stronger Story.

The theme is what your sub-story (your deeper, underlying story) is about. And it revolves around your internal conflict.

A man refuses to let his wife give him a ride back home when his car breaks down.

Why does he refuse his wife’s favour?

Because he’s still mad at her for cheating on him with the school coach, his best friend. They’ve already resolved this matter, but he still wants to give her a hard time over it.

So the internal conflict is the emotions he’s still dealing with surrounding his wife’s unfaithfulness, now that he has knowledge of it.

The theme here is infidelity, or dealing with unfaithfulness, the unfaithfulness of a spouse.

Let’s say our story opens with our protagonist trying to start his car. He gets a call from his wife. He tells her he’s having car trouble and turns down her offer to pick him up.

The rest of the scenes in the story detail the things the man sees on his bus trip, and the discomfort and culture shock he has as a result (he has never taken the bus in his life).

While all this is going on, his thoughts flashback to how he learned of his wife’s affair (exposition) and we understand better the phone conversation he had with her in the beginning, why she said something about him wanting to still punish her.

Our example is taken from a short story called The Bus by Brock Clarke. Most of the scenes take place in the bus so it seems the story is about a bus trip, but it’s not.

The internal conflict hints at what the story is really about.

The story is not about a dreadful bus ride. The bus ride is what happens in the story. That is the plot. The story is about a man trying to punish his wife for an affair she had with his best friend by turning down her offer of a ride home from work.

 I know this from the internal conflict. The theme will tell you what the story is about and it usually revolves around an internal conflict.

The Role Of Conflict, Plot, and Theme When Figuring Out How To Write A Story.

You can see that the conflict (both external and internal) is a distinct element of fiction, distinguishable from the plot and the theme. Plot and Theme usually revolve around conflicts. Plot is what happens in a bid to resolve some external conflict. Theme is the idea and the message that the internal conflict brings to our attention.

Do you now see why you should decide what your conflicts will be before you start to type your story? It helps you decide on what will happen in your story and what your story will be about, helps you decide on the plot and the theme.

What happens when a story has more than one external conflict?

Sometimes a story may have several external conflicts and several internal conflicts. But it should have one major internal conflict. If you have two or more internal conflicts, you could end up telling two or more stories instead of one.

That’s not a crime per se, but it is a little too much, from an aesthetic point of view, if you ask me. From an artistic perspective, I don’t advise this. Better for you to break up your story into several chapters and have one theme for each chapter. Or if you’re writing a TV series, have one theme for each episode.

Since the point of a story revolves around an internal conflict, having two internal conflicts would cause some confusion.

(Note that one internal conflict can lead to several external conflicts and not the other way around, not normally. You don’t want your readers to grapple with too many life lessons in one chapter or episode because it would water down or dilute the impact of your piece.)

From our story, our male protagonist could get off the bus and be chased by muggers. This would result in a new external conflict, one that takes place outside the bus: he now wants to escape muggers (the first was getting through an unbearable bus ride home), but it’s still one plot: a man’s effort to get back home after his car broke down (now having two parts: the bus trip and the chase).

When a story has several themes

A story can have several themes. A theme is an idea that the story revolves around. And it is usually rooted in an internal conflict. Several ideas could revolve around one internal conflict. A story can have several themes but it should make a statement about just one (the central theme). From our example, one idea could be unfaithfulness or infidelity. Another could be, resentfulness.

The theme: concept and statement

Earlier, I said the theme is both the idea (concept) and the message (statement) your story carries. If you have an internal conflict, you already have an idea for the theme. What remains now is what statement you make about it. Your theme is not complete unless your story says something about it. And you make it say what you want by how you end your story.

Oh

Determine The Thematic Concept Of The Story.

So, what do you think is the thematic concept of our story example?

How about, ‘Resentfulness vs. truly forgiving’? Begrudging vs. Letting go. What about, ‘the things we put ourselves through to make a point’?

Our ending determines what our thematic statement says.

If the bus trip turns out to be an experience our protagonist wishes he had not undergone, then, the thematic statement would be,

‘Resentfulness after reconciliation leads to regret’?

Or, ‘It doesn’t pay to still begrudge those who have told us they are sorry’.

Or, ‘Refusing to let old wounds heal begets new pains’.

Character and Setting Plays A Good Role In Story Writing.

The other elements of fiction, Character and Setting, are self-explanatory. I won’t go into them. I’ll just say, depending on the length of your story, you ought to devote a certain amount of words to character development and setting. In flash fiction, character development is either omitted completely or done in very few words.

Style

The last is Style, also called ‘writing style‘ or ‘narrative style’. It’s all about the technique you deploy in your narration. You should decide on what style to use after crafting your story, before you sit down to write it. And so it should also be one of your pre-considerations. Style is your art of writing, or your literary expression. It includes things like POV choice, Voice, Tone, Diction and more. It’s very broad.

How To Write a Story Using Diegesis and Mimesis

From our metaphor of a story, some could argue that the string tells more than it shows, and the pearl, a metaphor for a scene (and since scenes are heavy on description), shows more than it tells.

Showing and telling, telling and showing. Aren’t we, as writers, all too familiar with the terms?

The more technical terms would be Diegesis (telling) and Mimesis (showing). They are both style choices.

Diegesis

In diegesis, the narrator tells the story. The narrator presents the actions (and sometimes thoughts) of the characters to the readers or audience. Diegetic elements are part of the fictional world (“part of the story”), as opposed to non-diegetic elements which are stylistic elements of how the narrator tells the story (“part of the storytelling”).

In Diegesis, there is a filter to the action, a narrative filter that gives us a sense of an authorial presence.

We are made even more aware of this presence by the writer’s voice, especially if he or she speaks in a non-standard dialect. Remember the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett? There are many more examples.

Mimesis

Mimesis is imitative representation of the real world in art and literature. It’s understood as a form of realism in literature.

Dissect The Diegesis vs. Mimesis

Mimesis shows rather than tells, by means of action that is enacted. Diegesis is the telling of a story by a narrator. The narrator may speak as a particular character, or may be the invisible narrator, or even the all-knowing narrator who speaks from “outside” in the form of commenting on the action or the characters. In Diegesis, there’s a filter to the action. In Mimesis, there’s none.

I’m sure you’ll agree that the decision to write with or without a filter is a style choice. So you see, it’s not accurate to say that showing occurs in the beads and telling occurs in the string because it’s a style choice.

A story can be diegetically told, with no aspect of Mimesis. Your writing style pervades all aspects of your story and can be seen in every part of the necklace, both string and bead. The only thing we can be certain of is that the plot moves at a faster pace in the string than in the bead.

Writing is art expression; storytelling is art direction

A good writer is not necessarily a good storyteller and vice versa. Writing is a literary expression; storytelling is literary direction. Some writers do one better than the other.

Think of the other five elements (outside style) as all the things that will make you a good storyteller, a good story crafter while style is everything you need to apply to your writing that will make you a good writer.

To learn how to write a story, learn to create a story plan.

If I’m asked what makes a good story, I would tell them it’s a story that deploys the six elements of fiction (plot, theme, conflict, setting, character and style).

If you want to write better stories, create a story plan that looks something like this:

• Plot Summary (in one or two sentences)
• Theme (in one word)
• Concept of theme (in more than one word)
• Statement of theme (in one sentence)
• Setting (place and time period e.g. present-day, 1994, medieval times.)
• Characters (List all your characters with their relationship to the protagonist or their relevance to the story in brackets.)
• Conflict
• External
• Internal
• Style
• POV
• Voice
• Tone

(You can add other aspects of style not on this list). You can create a story plan before you start writing your story, or after the story has been written. The story plan is supposed to help you figure out ways to plu plot holes and to develop your characters.

Conclusion On How To Write A Story Like A Literary Great.

Good story writing is not as easy as accomplished writers make it seem. But you can write good stories if you choose your scenes, characters and themes wisely. And pay attention to the narrative techniques in your story.

Have you learned the ins and outs of writing a story? Please share your tips with us in the comments section. We want to learn more on how to write a story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles Opara is a Nigerian-born author who writes suspense, speculative fiction, and short stories, who is about to publish a collection of short stories. He is a programmer with a passion for groundbreaking technologies. His creative mind enjoys the logic involved in writing stories and programs. In 2015, his horror short “It Happened” was shortlisted for the Awele Creative Trust Prize and in 2017, another story ‘Baby-girl’ was long-listed for the Quramo National Prize in his country. His stories have appeared in Ambit, Flash Fiction Press, and Zoetic Press.

twitter handle: Charles Opara@OparaCc

The post How To Write A Story Like A Literary Great (Story Writing Tips + Examples) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Dear Writer, are you wondering how to overcome a writer’s block? Are you in the middle of a huge writing project and it suddenly feels like you’ve run out of creative ideas? Then this is for you!

Writer’s block is a common condition that affects almost every writer. This term is often used to describe a situation where a writer loses their creative drive or experiences a creative meltdown of sorts. Many creatives often struggle to overcome writer’s block and are often in despair when they can’t get their creative juices flowing.

Studies suggest that it is possible to experience writer’s block and to overcome it several times. Many literary greats have written eloquently after various spells of writer’s block.

To make your job easier, we have compiled a list that may help you to figure out how to overcome writer’s block and in some ways, even, avoid this malaise.

Understand your writing style

Every writer has a unique voice. Every writer has their own style of writing. As a writer, you must be able to understand your own tune, your own voice and your style. Many a time when writers get mental blocks during their writing. This is because they suddenly did not know how to put their ideas down, how to write it or express it.

This is most times because they have gotten to a point where they no longer understand themselves. Most times they never understood themselves from the very beginning.

Some writers often aim to write like their favorite author. They put up this narrative in their head. The voice of another author writing, but when everything gets jumbled up, they stop.

Dear writer, discover yourself on your own. Do not aspire to write like anyone because they are well achieved or because you simply like their way of writing. Struggle to find what suits you, what is buried within you. This way, there is a chance you won’t get stuck on the way and wonder how to write down your own idea.

The following steps would help you discover your own voice:

• Know your genre.
• Read a lot of books, by different authors. When you see different writing styles, it would jumpstart yours.
• Lastly, practice writing the genre you want to be an expert in. If you prefer short stories, write a lot of them. When you do this frequently, you’ll surely be able to uncover what tone you write it.

Make sure your story idea is organized before you begin writing

When I began my writing journey, I was spontaneous. I wrote as it came to my head. I wrote without having it organized and it was fun. I thought that I would know it all as I wrote, that it would come to me anyhow and that it was better that way. But it was not. The story ended up having a lot of plot holes and at some point, I ended up not knowing where I stopped and where I was supposed to go on from. Now, a lot of us writers are like that. We think our story would figure itself out as we go and we find this fun.

Dear writer, stop starting a story when you’ve not fully organized it. When the plot has not been thought out. This would lead you to a dead end. Before you begin your story, figure it all out, from the beginning, middle and the end. Figure out the point of view you want to use, the names of characters, the narrative and descriptive arc and also, the location. Figure out everything to the very spoon your character uses.

When you do this, it would be difficult for you to lose your way while writing. Many people talk about how to overcome a writer’s block, but have you asked yourself if there are ways to avoid it? Ways to just prevent it from ever coming? This is a way.

Creating a Plot Outline Can Help You Get Rid of Writer’s Block. 

A plot outline is a plan. It helps you put all your organized ideas together and in a chronological order. Having a plot outline would make you more organized. All those jottings and whispers in your head would be in a single place.

More so, it is a plan that would remind you of what you are writing as you go. It would keep hitting you hard and telling you. “This is what you planned. This is what you wanted.” That way you don’t get lost.

Also, having a plot outline does not mean you cannot make changes or little tweaks. It does not mean that you cannot at some point feel the need to put Tunde in the car instead of in a truck — it just helps you understand your idea in blueprint. Dear writer, create a plot outline today!

There are even apps that can help you through creating your plot outline. I understand that the excitement of a new idea would send you feeling the need to begin writing immediately. Avoid it. Use that energy to create your plan. You won’t regret it.

Start Writing

After you have taken all the steps above, begin your writing. Write. As you write, read through your plot outline, to remind yourself of that idea. Read it like you are reading an exotic story, one that is new to you. Write that story.

Discard every self doubt

Avoid thinking that the idea was never good enough. That would set a writer’s block in. When you begin to doubt your idea, a creative block sets in.

As a writer you must remember that a story is of your own creation. Just like Chimamanda  Adichie said during her Purple Hibiscus Workshop. “Do not think about the audience when writing, think about the story.”

Many times we writers like to think about what people might think or how they would view the story — yes, this is a good thought. However, always remember that a story doesn’t have to fit into the everyday life. It doesn’t have to be regular. It is fiction. Think about the best way to put your idea out, not the best way to bend it to be pleasing to the audience. Remember that a story is told so people can see or read what you have created.

Do not write when you feel exhausted

Every human is often preoccupied. You are often busy with many things at a go. Then you get exhausted by one thing and you are unable to actually do the other thing. Sometimes the other thing is writing. My dear, don’t kill your self, please. Write when your mind is fresh and not worried or exhausted from something else.

But hey, this gives you no right to become a procrastinator. No no, Aunty/Uncle — do not begin to shift your writing because you feel another day of preparation will come. Get up and write. Cast away the spirit of procrastination and face your laptop. It takes discipline to fight procrastination, nothing else. Remember this.

No one is chasing you

Stop thinking that you have to meet up with time — except of course a publisher is on your tail. If no one is on to you then write at a pace that suits you.

Many times we writers think we might lose something if we do not finish this story within this time frame. Stop that. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to write that story. In the end what matters is that you do. Again I’m not saying procrastinate o. I’m saying when you feel overwhelmed, put aside your thinking and any thing that would involve you working mentally and just relax, rest, soothe yourself. Take your time.

Overthinking how you need to write fast or write this amount of words per day, could shut off your brain and boom, writer’s block. Take it slow, you’ll be fine.

Find Creative Activities that Trigger Your Creativity

As creatives, we are mostly inspired to be creative by other creative works. One time I was buying Sharwama and I was watching the guy make it. It was so random. He made it look as though he were creating something- which he was, but it was with attention, eagerness, zeal, passion. It was just wow. And I was struck. I began to imagine the ways in which I could put that scenario down in my story. It was just beautiful. I was inspired.

For some people it could be music, movies, reality tv shows like BBNAIJA, being in a quiet place, watching real life play out too —

one time I took the bus to go to a nearby mall because I wanted to see something that would inspire me. Then I saw a conductor jump down from the bus to stop a little girl from drinking a water she saw by the road side and I was simply motivated. It could be a random thing, so just find it.

For some people it could be writing for contests, call for submissions or even writing prompts that could set them ablaze. The adrenaline when writing something short and with a deadline attached to it can create an excitement and you just feel like writing again.

I also get inspired by movies, reading books by other authors, articles about relatable concepts or even listening to music and understanding their lyrics. Just find that thing that can help you overcome your writer’s block. That thing that fuels your creativity.

Create a writing routine

As a person who would have other things to do, you can create a writing routine that aligns with your everyday routine. Fix your writings for times when you know you’d be free, less busy and willing to write.

This has worked for some people and it may likely work for you. If of course, you are determined and disciplined enough to follow it. You should give this a try. During these set times, you could also set a word count goal or just wing it, as little or as much as you write should be considered a plus.

Always remember why you began writing in the first place

• Never forget your story, the inspiration behind it and most especially, the excitement to share it.
• Re read your plot draft.
• Find movies that relate to what you’re writing.
• Seek people to talk out your ideas with – this is important! Talk about your work, ask for opinions, share your ideas. Most times when writing, you could find a beta reader (if you like) the person might be your ginger! Hyping you to go on and criticizing you as well. This could motivate you to keep going.

I hope these few points help you overcome your writer’s block, or find what you’re looking for.
Dear writer, you are amazing, never forget that.

About the Author 

Chiziterem Chijioke is a creative writer, editor and a communications professional. She has worked as a volunteer and is a member of Fresh Writers Community and currently works as an editor for Creative Writing News. She was awarded the Quramo Writers Prize in 2023.  She is purpose driven and passionate about writing.

The post How To Overcome Writer’s block {10 Tips + Personal Examples} appeared first on Creative Writing News.

As a student, using GPA-Calculators for course planning can help you in maintaining good grades in each course. 

GPA is a system used by college and high school and universities to assess the academic performance of a student. Students are always concerned about their grades. One way to be in charge is to use GPA-calculators for course planning.

We can describe the academic result in percentages, numbers, and GPA in higher classes. To measure student academic performance and achievement, a GPA system is used around the world. 

A good GPA is a representation of how good a student is in academics and the GPA calculator finds the GPA by considering grade point and credit hour of each subject in a semester. 

Why are students always concerned about having a good GPA?

Students are concerned about having a good GPA (grade point average) for several reasons for academic purpose and future professional pursuits. 

• College Admission

The postgraduate admission in reputable and good colleges and universities require a good GPA. It is an indicator of academic achievement and enhances student chances of gaining admission to their desired institute.

• Scholarship opportunities

For students, many scholarship opportunities are available, which assists students in their financial loan. They have a threshold value of GPA. The merit scholarship prefers students whose GPA are higher. A good GPA increases the eligibility of scholarship and calculator-online.net provides a GPA calculator for estimating the current GPA and reduces the financial burden of education. 

• Career Opportunities 

Some companies consider bright students as a criteria for hiring, especially at an entry level position when you have no experience. A good GPA is a representation of how hard work the student has done. A good GPA stands out to an individual for an internship or trainee post. Companies hire applicants with good GPAs.

• Retention of Scholarships and Financial Aid

The scholarship and financial aid programs need a high GPA for continuing to get scholarships. A student has to maintain a certain level of GPA for retaining their financial support throughout their academic journey. 

How to improve GPA or CGPA using GPA calculator?

A GPA calculator is a strategic tool that helps plan the targeted GPA with credit hours. It improves your GPA by letting you know your current GPA and credit hour completed and the next targeted GPA. 

Course Planning

You can take additional courses to improve your GPA. A high credit hour course is good for getting a good GPA. You can select a course which interests you so that you can score well in the course. 

Add honor course 

An honor course is a difficult course or simplified version of some course. It has more score points like 5 for A. At high school; we have two types of classes: regular and honor classes. Regular classes are less paced and suitable for average students, therefore a high school GPA calculator can estimate GPA either adding the honor course will improve GPA or not. Honor classes are above regular classes. They are more in depth on a subject and move at a faster pace. 

These courses are more demanding in time and studying. Teachers expect more results for honor classes and a GPA calculator can estimate your GPA for the exam before the result. 

Set Academic Goals

Based on previous GPA or CGPA a student targets next semester goals. The selection of courses depends on student interest and credit hour of a course. Setting clear goals will guide academic efforts. For complex subject studies, such as calculus, many calculators online are available. Students can take help from them.  

Identify area of improvement

A student can estimate with different grades scenarios for current enrolled courses by putting in a GPA calculator. Let you know the subject in which improvement is required. Set realistic grades in those courses and see its effect on GPA. 

Consider retaking the course

If you are struggling with low GPA due to some specific course. You can retake the course and estimate the new GPA if you improve in those courses. You can see the overall impact of grades on GPA. 

Selecting Electives

Some schools fix courses in a semester and some have to be taken according to requirement and condition. Try to choose courses that align with your strengths and areas in which you excel. You can estimate the impact of those electives on total GPA if you score well. 

Final thoughts on How to Use GPA-Calculators for Course Planning

Achieving a good GPA is a dream of every student, but it requires struggles, completing assignments, projects, and maintaining good grades in each course. 

It also depends on course planning as you gain more marks in the subject you like the most. Try to choose the subject you are interested to make it easy for you to get good marks. 

The post How to Use GPA-Calculators for Course Planning appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Baobab Press calls for novella submissions. This is a publishing house that seeks books that communicate and support their themes through new and well-articulated means.

They like the unconventional. More importantly, they seek a quality of thought that adds depth to a writer’s concerns. And although it is not an official requirement, they tend to select literary works with a strong sense of place at its core.

In relation to the above, the goal of Baobab Press is to publish work that aligns with the contemporary climate and that will continue on for years to  come. They believe that this goal and the goal of staying financially viable are the same.

Eligibility for the Baobab Press Novella Submission

• Submissions are sought from woman-identifying BIPOC
• More so, entrants must be above 18.
• Only women can apply
• If you are applying, make sure you read through the submission rules. Baobab is specific about what they want.

Submission Guidelines

• Firstly, it is important to inform the organizers in your cover letter if any part of your manuscript submission has been published in a previous format.
• Further more, simultaneous submissions are welcome.
• But authors must inform them immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
• However, this in no way permits more than one submission per category at a time. Wait until you have received a response to submit again.
• Baobab Press seeks novellas (Fiction/ 18k to 40k words).
• The anthology would be made up of female voices with the theme of AGENCY.
• The disparate narratives and alternative perspectives in this anthology will empower readers to find connections that correlate, challenge, and otherwise engage in identifying and promoting female agency.
• Further more, they are looking for works with ideas and experiences that illustrate the struggle (past, present and/or future) of carving out space for female voices in American society.
• Novellas previously published will not be considered for this anthology.
• Please do not send anything that has previously appeared in another anthology or story collection.
• Deadline is October 1st! 
• Make your submissions to the official submittable  

Reward

• If your story is selected, it would be included in the Baobab Anthology! 

Good Luck! 

The post Baobab Press Calls for Novella Submission / How to Apply (Reward: Publication in an Anthology) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

The 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize is currently open for short stories from writers worldwide. 

The Bristol Short Story Prize is an international writing competition based in Bristol, UK, which aims to publish great short stories and promote the stories and writers as much as possible.  Discovering previously unpublished writers is central to their aims and they are absolutely committed to celebrating the short story form and making it accessible and available to as wide an audience as they can.

The Bristol Short Story Prize is an international writing competition founded by the editors of the quarterly cultural magazine Bristol Review of Books in 2007.

Their Aims include:

• To publish a brilliant short story anthology every year full of fresh and original stories, and to get it stocked in as many bookshops as possible. This includes high street chains, independent shops and online booksellers.
• To inspire and encourage writers.
• To discover and promote previously unpublished writers.
• To provide an opportunity for writers to get published.
• To share our enthusiasm for short stories in as many ways and with as many people as possible.
• To establish Bristol as a short story centre.
• To raise the profile and support Bristol Review of Books magazine. (BROB magazine is not being published at the moment but they hope to be part of its return to publication at some stage in the future.)

Submission Guidelines for the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize

1. Entrants must specifically be over 16 years old on the closing date, April 26th 2023.
2. The 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize is open to all published and unpublished writers. 
3.  All entries must be in English.
4. There are no specific formatting requirements: font type, font size, line spacing etc.
5. Entries will be read and judged anonymously. Entrants’ names and contact details should only appear on the entry form and not anywhere on their stories/manuscripts.
6. The maximum length of submissions is 4,000 words (does not include title), there is no minimum length. 
7. There is an entry fee of £9 for each story submitted to the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize. However, there are 250 free online entries available to those for whom the entry fee is a barrier.
8. Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and must never have been previously published, in print or online (including self-published, ebook, magazines, journals, websites, blogs, social network sites), or broadcast or won a prize in another writing competition on or before October 14th 2023.
9. Entries will be read by their readers. They will select a longlist of 40 stories for the judging panel, who then will select 20 for the shortlist. Therefore, ensure your story is properly written and edited.
10. Entrants will not be contacted individually about the competition results unless they are selected for the shortlist. 
11. Submission can be made via post to: Bristol Short Story Prize, Unit 5.16, Paintworks, Bath Road Bristol BS4 3EH, and also on their website. 
12. Visit https://www.bristolprize.co.uk/rules to read more about their rules and submission process.

Prizes

Prizes for 2023 are: 1st prize-£1000, 2nd prize -£500, 3rd prize -£250. Each of the 17 remaining shortlisted writers will receive £100. An additional prize of £100, The Sansom Award, in recognition of the contribution to Bristol publishing of John and Angela Sansom, will be presented to the highest-placed story by a Bristol writer. Also, 20 stories that are shortlisted will be published in the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 16, in both print and ebook formats.

Deadline

The competition deadline is midnight (BST), 26 April 2023.

The post The Bristol Short Story Prize Is Open For Submissions (Prize: £3450 + Publication) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Businesses are attracting customers through marketing their content. A piece of quality content with good marketing efforts can bring up great user engagement. Content is the source to bring up any website in search engine result pages. It is used for SEO of a website along with PPC campaigns.

Bringing up the quality of your content can also boost your engagement because search engines like quality content and they only show remarkable content to their users. Hence, there is no doubt in content enhances user engagement.

So, in this post, we will give you five practical tips to increase user engagement through content. But, before going into that first, understand the term ‘user engagement’ itself.

What is User Engagement?

Every business wants to get maximum engagement nowadays. But, what actually is user engagement? Let us explain it to you. When a user clicks on your website whether the click is organic or paid, it counts as an engagement.

Moreover, when a user like, comment, saves, downloads or shares a post, it also counts as an engagement. So, engagement is everything that a user performs on your paid ad post or organically ranked webpage.

User engagement can be more beneficial when it turns into leads and sales. People who tend to engage with your content have a high possibility to purchase, signup, or subscribe to your site.

User engagement is very necessary for calculating profitability, return on investment (ROI), and product performance. Additionally, you can calculate the number of visitors who came to your website manually instead of depending on the tools.

5 Practical Tips to Increase User Engagement through Content

As promised, here are five practical tips for enhancing user engagement through content. One can follow them to add more butter to his/her business and sales by following the below tips:

Write for the Audience

You would never like to read something out of your interest. Therefore, always write according to your targeted audience. 

Being aware of your audience helps you write engaging content for them according to their expectations. You can perform in-depth research to know your audience if you are new to the market. There are multiple ways to perform research for detecting the right audiences.

The most effective way is to study your competitors. Go through the content posted regularly by your competitors and see the people’s reactions and comments on it.

This way you will be able to see the problems of people that can be resolved with a product and you may also get to know the people you need to target. 

Another way is; giving time to social media platforms and question-answering forums. Answering people’s questions and analyzing the discussions on question-answering forums like Quora and Reddit will help you find their pain points.

When you know the right people while knowing their pain points, you can write a perfect piece of content for them. Always focus on the problems rather than the solutions. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can also help you in finding the right audience by conducting surveys and polls.

Perform the Right Keyword Research

A keyword is a word or combination of words that people use to search on search engines. They are usually a combination of words that represent a problem or solution to some problem.

Keywords are an essential component of content writing. You add keywords on spontaneous occasions in the whole content. The number of times a keyword occurs in a piece of content is known as keyword density. It can vary according to the length of the content.

We will be discussing the keyword’s placement, density, and nature in detail, but first, let us explain the process of finding the right keywords. Hence, use the following techniques to perform the right keyword research:

• Use Google Search Bar:

Google search can help you find the right keywords for your content. Open Google Chrome and go to the search bar, then enter random words regarding your topic as I did in the figure below.

We entered the keyword ‘user engagement’ in the Google search bar and it gives me the related keywords to it such as ceiling fan watts, ceiling fan price, ceiling fan sizes, etc. It also gives you the LSI keywords of the main keywords. You can use these suggested terms as keywords in your content.

•  Examine Google’s People Also Ask Section

Whenever you search for something on Google, in the middle of the first page of the search results there is a section named ‘People also ask’. This section can help in finding the FAQs and points that you should discuss in your content because users frequently search for them. Adding FAQs at the end of your content makes the quality better.

• Do Consider Related Searches

At the end of the first page of search results, there is a section for related searches. They include FAQs and topics that people usually search on search engines. You can consider them as keywords and headings to add to your content. Adding the queries from related searches helps search engine to understand and rank your content higher in SERP.

• Use Keyword Research Tools

Online tools are used for in-depth keyword research. These tools include Google keyword planner, Semrush, Ahrefs, and Ubersuggest. They are all highly advanced tools that can even find the keywords on which your competitors are ranking.

These tools use high-end programming algorithms to find the exact keywords for a topic. Along with main keywords, they also provide secondary and LSI keywords. An online keyword research tool can give you the exact search volume of keywords in a month. Plus, it also provides the keyword difficulty and competitors that are ranking on a specific keyword. 

You just have to put a keyword or URL in the search bar of a keyword research tool and it will provide you with related keywords with high search volume. You can also apply filters while searing keywords with a tool such as country restriction, it will only show you the keywords ranking in a specific territory.

Courtesy: https://ahrefs.com/keywords-explorer

Qualities of a Good Keyword

• The keyword should be long tail (consist of 3-4 words)
• The keyword should have a good search volume
• The keyword should have a low difficulty/competition
• The keywords should be highly relevant to the topic.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing is when you forcefully add keywords to a piece of content. Experts suggest that you adjust keywords normally because search engines and users want quality content instead of keyword-stuffed content. 

Therefore, add keywords only where they are necessary and look normal to the viewer. Keyword density is the number of times a keyword occurs in content. To decrease the keyword density, you can add LSI keywords instead of the main keyword. They are also called synonyms or alternatives to a keyword.

Hence, to give you an overview of keyword adjustment and density, here is the recommended keyword density in a 1000 words content:

• URL of the webpage: (1x)
• Title of content: (1x)
• Meta-Description: (1x)
• Introduction: (app. 2x)
• Body of Content: (use where needed & also add LSI keywords)
• Conclusion: (1x)

• Write Interactive and Readable Content

High-quality content is a necessity for enhancing user engagement. Whereas, for making high-quality content, interactivity and readability should be top-notch. But, what is meant by interactivity and readability?

Interactivity is about making the content talkative to the users. For example, you can ask users questions or put them in a situation where they have to think. Making the user think around a point can make the content interactive. Another great way to make the content interactive is to present it as a story and relate the reader to it in multiple places.

Visuals can also help in making the content interactive. Adding images and videos to your content makes the quality better because search engines like content with visuals in it. Make sure to add only relevant visuals and optimize them before posting. 

Whereas readability refers to the time taken for an average person to go through your content. Google suggests making your content easily readable by an 8th-grade student or a child of 13-15 years. This can be done using easy words, shortening the sentences, writing active voice sentences, etc. Difficult words and long sentences make the content hard to read.

The readability of content can be enhanced by rephrasing the sentences in it. To rephrase the content, you have to change the difficult words with their easy synonyms by using Google or by using online rephrasing tools. By doing this, you can rephrase your original content in a new way without affecting its main idea.

Moreover, changing the sentence structure is also included in the rephrasing process. Converting indirect sentences and complex sentences into simple and direct ones can also help increase the readability of content.

Rephrased content will definitely perform better in enhancing user engagement through content because users and search engines both like highly readable content. You can also use online tools like paraphrasing and rewriting tools to enhance the readability of your content. They can ease the hurdle of making the content highly readable.

Try Different Writing Formats

We use different writing formats or styles to write content according to requirement. For example, a piece of academic writing requires a formal content tone or style, while a movie script requires an informal or jolly tone. Below are a few writing styles mentioned with their overview:

• Analytical Writing:

Analytical writing is about comparing, dissecting, and analyzing current arguments with previous or already written content. In this type of writing, we majorly discuss the causes and effects of something. We use analytical writing for writing comparisons and review articles.  

• Narrative Style Writing:

We use narrative writing for writing novels, poems, stories, movies, serial scripts, etc. In this type of writing, we majorly emphasize the next moment. There is always a touch of suspense and drama in narrative writing, while it has no concern with reality. It may involve a message idea that a writer wants to convey to the audience.

• Persuasive Writing

In persuasive writing, a writer conveys his thoughts and emotion in the form of content. The writer peruses his content based on facts and logic, but there is a touch of emotions, humanity, or somehow bias. Advertisements and commercials are often crafted in this writing format.

• Expository Writing:

How-to-articles, guides, essays, articles, etc. are mostly crafted on this writing pattern. In expository writing, the writer only talks about the facts and figures while being unbiased. Your own opinions and thoughts do not matter in expository writing.

• Argumentative Writing:

Persuasive writing and argumentative writing are almost the same, with only one difference. In persuasive writing, the writer peruses his content based on facts and logic with a touch of emotions and biases but without proof or evidence. Whereas in argumentative writing, the facts or evidence for being biased are necessary.

Ensure the Content Uniqueness

You cannot enhance user engagement without high-quality and unique content. Therefore, plagiarism can be an evil of nights for you. After writing the content, it is necessary to check for plagiarism in it to ensure providing unique content to the users. There are still chances of plagiarism in your content even after you write it on your own. Due to the excessive amount of content available online, it becomes very difficult for content writers to avoid plagiarism.

Anyone can be trapped by unintentional plagiarism. Therefore, always check your content for any plagiarism traces by using online plagiarism-checking tools because they provide accurate results. A plagiarism checker can detect even a minor amount of plagiarism in your content using its highly advanced algorithms. If any part of your content comes up plagiarized, rephrase or cite it to ensure uniqueness.

Conclusion

We have listed the best five ways to enhance user engagement through content in this article. Always consider the audience while writing and write highly readable and plagiarism-free content. Moreover, adjust the right keywords in the right place. 

After writing content for the audience, always run it through by using online plagiarism-checking tools. This will help you to ensure the content’s uniqueness before presenting it to the audience.

Hope this article helps you in creating engaging content. Thanks for reading!

Author: 

The post How To Enhance User Engagement Through Content appeared first on Creative Writing News.

The Stinging Fly Magazine Is Currently Accepting Stories

If you are a new writer looking to promote your writings on an international level, then, The Stinging Fly Magazine is looking to be of help! 

The Stinging Fly magazine is looking for fiction, essays and poetry submissions from Ireland and abroad. They have a particular interest in short stories.

Eligibility To Write For The Stinging Fly Magazine

• Work may only be submitted through their submittable during their reading period which is from 15^th to 30^th of November 2022.
• There is no submission fee.
• The contest is open to all. There are no restrictions on nationality.      
  

  Guidelines On How To Submit

• Works submitted must be an original work (In other words, it has to have not been previously published and not under consideration elsewhere).
• They have no length guidelines for fiction but they have guidelines for their other submissions.
• Send in only part of a novel, do NOT send the entire novel.
• Make your work as long or as short as they need to be.
• Currently, they are accepting submissions in four categories; short fiction, novel extracts, non-fiction and poetry. Please note that you are only allowed to submit for one of these categories per submission period.
• If you decide to write a poem, you should note that, the magazine is willing to publish a number of poems for any artist that is working towards a first collection.
• Cover artwork images are also accepted.
• Although this doesn’t really need to be said but avoid cliché story lines. This cannot be repeated enough. Try to come up with new ideas for a story.
• All submissions are read but reach out to them if you don’t get any feedback 4 months after the closing date.

How Does Stinging Fly Magazine Pay?

• For fiction and non-fiction, they pay €40 per page but they pay a maximum of €1200.
• While for shorter works like flash fiction which are about a page or 2, they pay €150.
• Featured poets and cover artwork image are paid as high as €400

The post Stinging Fly Magazine Is Accepting Submissions / How to Apply (Pay: €1200 + Publication) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

The fantasy of imagination is one of the ways to escape from the realities of the world. These wild fantasies should be shared with the world. Or at least that is what Escape Artists Podcast is looking to accomplish through its Cast of Wonders series.

Escape Artists is looking to fill multiple gaps in their magazine. In this case, there are three gaps are PodCastle, Cast of Wonders and Escape Pod.

Cast of Wonders also publish in online and audio format but only young adult stories. Their submission window is open to stories that fit the 12-17 age range. This just means that they are after all sorts forms of stories that have a wide appeal. (They aren’t necessarily after stories that feature children or young adults but rather they are after stories of older people having their first experience).

Eligibility Guidelines For Escape Artists Podcast’s Cast of Wonders Submissions

• They are looking for fantasy stories that mostly appeal to the imagination of the young. Young adult stories are the most likely to sell to them.
• All forms of fantasy, horror or science fiction is accepted, just be original with things. Read wide to be able to come up with new story ideas.
• Other genres are also accepted as long as it is in line with their core concept and it has that fantastic twist with it.
• They are on the lookout for stories with up to 6000 words.
• Reprints are also accepted.

How To Submit Stories To Escape Artists Podcast

• The deadline for submission is the 30^th of November 2022.
• Submissions are to be anonymous, in other words, nothing identifying the writer of the story like a name or email should be in the manuscript. Anything other than this is automatically rejected.
• When you have come up with your interesting story and you are sure of everything, you can submit via their official link. 

How Much Escape Artists Podcast Pays Its Writers

• Payment is up to $0.08 per word for original work.
• There is a flat rate of $100 for short fiction and $20 for Flash Fiction.

• If you are interested in more contests on creative writing, here are a few. 

The post Escape Artists Podcast Is Accepting Fiction for Its Cast of Wonders Series / How to Apply ($100 + Publication) appeared first on Creative Writing News.