Bianca Marais
South African-Canadian novelist, essayist, and podcaster focused on the writing craft and life.
South African-Canadian novelist, essayist, and podcaster focused on the writing craft and life.
Bianca Marais recommends this novel and invites the community to its launch because Bianca Marais views it as an excellent historical mystery.
“Kate Hilton launches her excellent novel, City of the Muse!”
Bianca Marais values the work of Kirsten Kaschock for providing a unique, actionable perspective on psychological tricks for the writing process.
Bianca Marais values the essay written by Kerry Clare because it serves as an excellent, practical guide for authors to improve their dialogue.
Bianca Marais features Rebecca Lehmann's insights from this work regarding authorial career sustainability.
Bianca Marais recommends this book in the context of learning how to manage multiple character perspectives.
Bianca Marais values this work as the basis for Emma Hamm's advice on writing intimate scenes.
Bianca Marais shares the author's advice because Bianca Marais considers his writing rule transformative for writers.
“Garrett Curbow, author of Whispers of Ink and Starlight shares the rule that transformed his writing”
Bianca Marais features this work to highlight the author's insightful exploration of the romance genre.
“Caitlyn Paxson, author of A Widow’s Charm, pens a great essay titled I Wrote a Romance and Fell for the Genre”
Bianca Marais recommends this novel as an example of successful persistence and authorial wisdom.
“Amelia Blackwell discusses her latest novel, A Crime Through Time, while sharing many nuggets of wisdom”
Bianca Marais values this book as a practical case study for how to effectively implement the concept of setting as character.
“Using her novel Salt Water as an example, she explains how atmosphere, environment, and location shape the choices characters make”
Bianca Marais recommends this work by highlighting the author's expert essay on the importance of pitching.
Bianca Marais recommends this book for its complex, multi-POV narrative structure and intentional use of varied storytelling media.
Bianca Marais features this book to emphasize the importance of maintaining internal creative control in the face of rejection.
Bianca Marais promotes this work because Riss M. Nielson effectively demonstrates how point-of-view choices influence narrative tension.
Bianca Marais highlights this because Lori Gold offers critical questions that writers should ask before committing to an agent.
Bianca Marais values this work because Camille Pagan provides essential advice on overcoming the emotional dependency on reader feedback.
Bianca Marais highlights this work to share an essay on the rigor of different writing methods.
“No writing is lazy.”
Bianca Marais highlights this author for her expertise in navigating complex editorial feedback cycles.
Bianca Marais presents this as a historical benchmark for auto-fiction that readers should study to understand the roots of the genre.
“Journal of the Plague Year, published in 1722.”
Bianca Marais values this book as a resource for writers needing guidance on the art of revision.
Bianca Marais recommends this work by featuring Moorea Corrigan's essay on historical research methods.
Bianca Marais values the author's insight regarding the structural benefits of using index cards.
“As you build your novel with index cards, you will perceive structural problems that wouldn’t become obvious in a Word document or a notebook.”
Bianca Marais values this work as a practical masterclass for writers seeking to make their prose more dynamic.
“upgrading weak verbs can instantly transform “telling” into vivid, immersive storytelling.”
Bianca Marais promotes this craft guide as a valuable tool for writers to structure their narrative wants and conflicts.
Bianca Marais recommends these insights because the author shares effective practices for dealing with rejection.
Bianca Marais highlights this author for breaking down the five essential tent poles that every story needs.
Bianca Marais recommends this book because the author provides a brilliant checklist for those considering hybrid publishing.
Bianca Marais values this work as an example of how stubbornness is a secret to surviving the publishing industry.
“Given my passion for this story as it was, I promised to at least try querying it in its stubborn, rule-breaking format, and re-evaluate as needed.”
Bianca Marais promotes this author's perspective on career prioritization to inspire her readership.
“A.N. Caudle, author of Worthy of Fate, provides some excellent answers in her Q&A”
Bianca Marais recommends this book because it effectively demonstrates how to reimagine iconic stories.
“Eloisa James, author of The Last Lady B, breaks down how to reimagine iconic stories”
Bianca Marais values this work as it showcases the author's expertise on the poetic approach to language.
“A Little Feral”
Bianca Marais values this work because it establishes the creative credibility of the Aspen conference organizer.
Bianca Marais values this work because it establishes the creative credibility of the Aspen conference organizer.
Bianca Marais recommends this screening as part of a curated community event to encourage local connection among writers.
Bianca Marais values the behind-the-scenes footage of this film for the profound questions Kubrick poses about artistic truth and engagement.
“the two most important questions about any piece of art are 1) is it truthful? and 2) is it interesting?”
