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Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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Writing Advice

What do your characters want?

March 17, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 134 Comments

Motivation. This is the powerful emotion that inspires people to get off the couch and grab a tub of ice cream. It’s the only thing that is strong enough to pull me out of a very warm bed when it’s still dark and cold outside. It’s what inspires Harry Potter to defeat Voldemort in Harry […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, writing advice

Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer

March 5, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 234 Comments

Writers aren’t generally known as the happiest lot. As a recent Guardian survey of some top writers shows, even the best ones don’t particularly enjoy it all that much. And in case you think this is a new development, an 1842 letter from Edgar Allen Poe to his publisher recently surfaced in which he was […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, Staying Sane While Writing, writing advice

Sympathetic vs. Unsympathetic Characters

February 26, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 115 Comments

Thanks so much to everyone who de-lurked yesterday. And notice how you don’t have scurvy today? You’re cured! Also a special thanks to WitLizToday, who provided some awesome/hilarious de-lurk stats, including a tally of the few states not represented and the number of de-lurkers who claim to be from the Internet and/or Never-Never Land. Also […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, writing advice

Can I Get a Ruling: One or Two Spaces After a Period?

January 13, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 300 Comments

First off, congratulations to my childhood hero Rickey Henderson for being elected into the baseball Hall of Fame!! Not only was Rickey an incredible hitter and base stealer, he also said things like “Rickey don’t like it when Rickey can’t find Rickey’s limo” (no seriously, that’s an actual quote), making him spectacularly entertaining off the […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, Writing and Sports

Can I Get a Ruling: Beginning a Sentence With “That”?

January 5, 2009 by Nathan Bransford 121 Comments

I’m back! Happy ’09, everyone. May all of you win the lottery. Longtime readers may have noted that in an effort to make this blog more… well, professional, I have cut back on the amount of virtual ink I devote to reality television. Yes, I know. I was attacked by a bout of seriousness. I’m […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, The Bachelor

About Those Books Beginning With Dialogue

October 15, 2008 by Nathan Bransford 49 Comments

The results from yesterday’s Can I Get a Ruling? are in, and 77% of you are incontinent. Also, you may have surmised from my own stated philosophy of “if it works it works” as well as the inclusion of a Third Way, that I too am in the “Depends” category. People have raised lots of very […]

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Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: How to Write a Novel, writing advice, Writing and Sports

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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors chase their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

My blog has everything you need to know to write, edit, and publish a book. Can’t find what you need or want personalized help? Reach out.

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My Books

How to Write a Novel
Cover of How to Publish a Book by Nathan Bransford
Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapo
Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe
Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp

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