Over the years, as I have improved my writing skills, I’ve looked up sites repeatedly to keep me honest in my craft and to ensure I remember things correctly regarding grammar, punctuation, formation of prose, etc.
I also try to use the same methods when critiquing others’ writing techniques; I’ve made a small collection of bookmarks for various sites on the internet that are helpful, so I thought I’d share them here. I also include links to basic guides on how to write a short story or a piece of flash fiction.
I hope many of you may find these websites as useful as I have.

Enjoy!
Nick
Useful Reference Websites for Writers.
- How to Write Flash Fiction:
Basic elements to form flash fiction stories
https://self-publishingschool.com/flash-fiction/ 2 - How To Write a Short Story in 6 Simple Steps:
A simple howto guide to writing a short story
https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/short-story/how-to-write-a-short-story/ 1 - Nine Key Elements of a Short Story:
What elements are essential for a short story
https://thewritepractice.com/elements-of-a-short-story/ - Plot holes:
Describes what plot holes are and how to fix
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-plot-hole-definition/ 2 - Point of View:
Proper usage of PoV – consistency and how to add multiple ones properly
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/point-of-view 2 - Word economy:
Every word counts. If a word doesn’t add meaning, delete it
https://www.reed.edu/writing/grammar_review/word_economy.html 3 - Writing Dialog in prose:
How to punctuation, tag (or not tag) dialog propely
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-dialogue/ 2 - Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
In Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, Jessica Brody shows how the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting method and adapts to writing novels. Both books reveal the 15 essential plot points needed to make your novel (or young adult novel!) a success- Starter Kit: https://www.jessicabrody.com/save-the-cat-starter-kit/
- Amazon Book: https://a.co/d/5jwpsv9 or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQV2WVJ?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WB492K0EZPC2VKQ43679_1
- Jessica Brody’s website with free Webinar: https://www.writingmastery.com/save-the-cat-webinar-registration
Books I have used as textbooks in various writing courses.
- Keys to Great Writing Revised and Expanded: Mastering the Elements of Composition and Revision Second Edition by Stephen Wilber
- Showing & Telling: Learn How to Show & When to Tell for Powerful & Balanced by Laurie Alberts
- Word Painting Revised Edition: The Fine Art of Writing Descriptively by Rebecca Mcclanahan
- The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Dialogue: A Fresh Look at an Essential Ingredient of the Craft by John Hough
- Writing the Mystery: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Both Novice and Professional by G. Miki Hayden
- Fiction Writer’s Workshop Second Edition, Kindle Edition by Josip Novakovich
- The Elements of Style by William Strun
Discover more from Nick S. Nicholas
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