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child should start moving? Or what would make an expectant mother nervous? What about the logistics of a heavily pregnant woman getting into or out of a bath?

Second during the course of the story you are telling the hero arrives at a well know real world location, for example Waterloo tube station in London. If she is just passing through the barest description may well be enough but what if a key scene happens there? Could you describe it accurately? Convince a local person, someone who has seen that station everyday of their lives that you have been there? Do you know what it smells like? The sounds that are unique to it? Does your character murder someone in the toilets and if so do you know where the toilets are or what's near them?

You may laugh but the suspension of disbelief which any work of fiction relies on to captivate it's audience itself in turn relies on internal consistency and accuracy. Even a work set in its own universe needs to be consistent to that universe or the result may be so jarring as to ruin what you have poured your sweat into for your readers. Think about the way Ireland is portrayed in television the world over. Take it from a real Irishwoman, it's very rarely like that and when it's gotten wrong it can ruin the program for Irish viewers or at the very least lead to a lot of laughing at foolish (insert writers from country in question) who obviously have never set foot here. This applies just as strongly to written works and perhaps more so.

So four cardinal rules for writing a truly great book;

1: Start it, if you have an idea make use of it. You don't lose anything by trying.

2: Plan, plan, plan and then plan some more.

3: If you don't know something research it.

4: Finish it, don't give up. You can do this.

Finally remember not to panic and don't let yourself become downhearted when the enormity of the task which you are about to undertake hits you. There is little point in denying the simple fact that writing a novel is challenging in the extreme, but always remember that while it is difficult many others have already succeeded at it. So can you.

Learn more about this author, Harper Gallagher.
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