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The Importance of First Impressions
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. Dating. Job interviews. Being a contestant on Married at First Sight. Road rage incidents…
 • 
Ken Elkes
Does a story really need conflict to work?
Reflections on the so-called 'golden rule’ of narrative
 • 
Ken Elkes
10
Defamiliarisation - a fun way to embrace the strange in your writing
In last week’s free Writing Talk post, I talked about embracing the strange in your writing work. It provoked a very positive response, and is already…
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Ken Elkes
5
Embrace the strange in your writing
Unleashing the potential of the off-beat and the odd
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Ken Elkes
6
Make your readers care
Ideas on the only goal we really need as writers
 • 
Ken Elkes
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What I have learned about submitting to publishers and writing competitions – Part One
 • Ken Elkes
16
Positive Procrastination – Finding Gifts From The Universe
 • Ken Elkes
3
Make your readers care
 • Ken Elkes
Be more dog! How to shrug off those writing blues
 • Ken Elkes
Writing funny - it’s a serious business
How using humour can add depth and energy to your work
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Ken Elkes
The Anatomy Of A Rejection
A One-Act, Not-Entirely-Serious, Screenplay
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Ken Elkes
8
Positive Procrastination – Finding Gifts From The Universe
Firstly, an apology. I’ve been on a break for a couple of weeks and away from Substack. Somehow, I messed up the notification and scheduling of content…
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Ken Elkes
3
Be more dog! How to shrug off those writing blues
Does this sound familiar? You start on a writing project and you feel like a bottle of shaken champagne - fizzing with ideas, overflowing with great…
 • 
Ken Elkes
Honouring Your Own Experiences
Writing Challenge: Create Your Own Desert Island Castaway Playlist
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Ken Elkes
I’m Ken and I’m a writer from a working class background - so live with it!
Let me give you a quote: “Anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his life.” - Flannery O'Connor Let me give you…
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Ken Elkes
18
Character is destiny
Some musings (and a writing exercise) on bringing your characters to life
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Ken Elkes
The magic that happens when turning characters into people
Some thoughts on Direct and Indirect Characterisation
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Ken Elkes
Record your work and open your writing self to your reading self
Some known and lesser known benefits of reading your work aloud
 • 
Ken Elkes
Writing Talk
Writing Talk
A supportive community for writers and readers, featuring insights on writing craft, the power of narrative, and reflections on the good, bad and funny of the creative writing life.
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A-Mail
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CRAFT TALK
CRAFT TALK
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Freelance Writing Jobs
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This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin
This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin
Emma Darwin
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