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Punctuating dialogue: the ultimate guide for authors

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Guide to punctuating dialogue

Have you forgotten all the grammar you learnt in school? If so, this guide is for you! My aim is to keep it simple and free from technical terms, so that it's a practical guide for writers. Boring? Trust me, it's worth spending a bit of time learning this stuff now - you'll save yourself so many hours when it comes to editing! The Basics Every time a different person speaks, start on a new line. Double or single speech marks? It's more common to use single in Britain and double in the U.S. It's up to you, though: no...

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How to write a synopsis

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One thing I've noticed from the submissions we receive here at UpLit Press is that there is a lot of confusion about what is meant by a synopsis. A synopsis isn't the same as the back cover blurb. A synopsis is a summary of all the main plot points in your book, from beginning to end, including spoilers. The function of a synopsis is to let an agent or publisher know if the initial promise in your first three chapters is supported by the rest of the book. So, there's no point holding back: it has to summarise everything. And...

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FAQs: transferring a book onto your device

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If you buy a ebook from our site, you will be taken to a screen where you can download an .epub file. You will also be sent this link by email. Once you've downloaded your book, you will need to extract it from the zip folder (which should happen automatically on a PC or Mac). Then, you can transfer it onto your preferred reading device using the appropriate method below: Amazon Kindle / Kindle App on phones or tablets The easiest way to get an .epub file into your Kindle / Kindle app is via email. Amazon provides instructions here...

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What we should—and shouldn’t—learn from other writers’ writing routines

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Why is everyone so obsessed with other writers’ routines? I think it’s because we all feel like we’re somehow doing it wrong and are endlessly searching for validation. Quick tip: you won’t find it. Why? Because we all do things differently. What we can learn from other authors is to feel confident in our own routine and supported by a sense of community. So, without making ourselves feel inferior or developing unrealistic expectations, how can we use other writers’ routines to discover our ideal writing routine? Be realistic A lot of the blogs you might find on this topic are...

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Uplit goes speculative

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When you think of uplifting literature, probably the first thing that comes to mind is the likes of Matt Haig or Fredrik Backman. In fact, I think the term 'uplit' was first coined in reference to Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine. But does uplifting fiction need to be confined to sagas of the everyday? You can find genuinely uplifting stories in every genre. There is some fantastic science fiction these days focusing on empathy, communication, and tolerance, for example, Children of Time and A Desolation Called Peace. You don't have to write battles and bloodshed to sell well or to...

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Why are we here?

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The perennial question, but we can give quite a simple answer. We're here to learn how to be happy and make those around us happy too. Books can help with that. Not just self-help books: fiction can give us a deep insight into our own minds, help us empathise with others, and give us hope for a better future. That's why I started UpLit Press. In my experience in publishing my own work, and talking to many author friends, I've seen so many beautiful, moving, and important books get rejected because they are not commercially viable enough. In a conservative...

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