4 min read
Writing Team: Jun 23, 2025 8:00:00 AM
Every writer has experienced it: the moment a critique partner points to a random detail in chapter three and asks, "What happened to that gun?" or...
4 min read
Writing Team: Jun 23, 2025 8:00:00 AM
Most writers avoid horror because it feels too intense, too niche, or too lowbrow for serious literature. This misconception costs them access to one...
6 min read
Writing Team: Jun 16, 2025 9:00:00 AM
Romance novels are literature's comfort food—familiar, satisfying, and irresistibly addictive. This multibillion-dollar genre thrives on recognizable...
5 min read
Writing Team: Jun 16, 2025 9:00:00 AM
Every writer faces the same daunting question: what makes readers care about made-up people doing fictional things? The answer lies not in clever...
4 min read
Writing Team: Jun 9, 2025 3:30:55 PM
Here's a writing truth that might surprise you: readers notice bad rhythm before they notice good grammar. A sentence can be technically correct yet...
5 min read
Writing Team: Jun 9, 2025 3:27:27 PM
Every writer faces the same terrifying moment: staring at a blank page, wondering how random ideas transform into stories that make readers miss...
4 min read
Writing Team: Jun 5, 2025 1:13:03 PM
Most writers struggle with one genre, clinging to familiar territory like medieval serfs bound to their feudal plots. But the most successful authors...
4 min read
Writing Team: Jun 5, 2025 1:07:16 PM
Writers obsess over perfect beginnings, crafting elaborate world-building and character introductions like Victorian novels still ruled the literary...
7 min read
Writing Team: May 27, 2025 9:43:18 AM
The novella occupies literature's sweet spot—long enough to develop complex themes yet short enough to sustain perfect tension throughout. Ian McEwan...
10 min read
Writing Team: May 19, 2025 4:23:45 PM
When a work of literature employs an image or idea in repetition, that image or idea might be a motif. Literary motifs describe noteworthy...
5 min read
Writing Team: May 19, 2025 4:13:18 PM
Learning how to write a poem requires two things: a love of language, and a need for language to communicate more than it currently does. If this...
7 min read
Writing Team: May 19, 2025 4:09:09 PM
Writing a novel is easy. Writing a good novel is hard. That's just life. If it were easy, we'd all be writing best-selling, prize-winning fiction.
4 min read
Writing Team: Apr 14, 2025 4:20:06 PM
A well-crafted setting isn't merely a stage where characters perform—it's the air they breathe, the ground they walk on, the very reality that shapes...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 10, 2025 11:32:21 AM
One of the great pleasures of fiction is its power to transport us into the shadowy corners of human nature—safely. We peer into minds we wouldn’t...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 10, 2025 11:27:28 AM
Story endings can be thrilling, rewarding, and, for many writers, intimidating. A strong ending must provide resolution, deliver emotional impact,...
4 min read
Writing Team: Mar 31, 2025 2:13:18 PM
Setting is far more than just a backdrop for your story. When used strategically, it becomes a powerful tool to increase tension, reveal character,...
2 min read
Writing Team: Mar 24, 2025 11:44:34 AM
Crime fiction offers writers an exciting playground where they can explore human nature, create suspense, and keep readers turning pages well past...
2 min read
Writing Team: Mar 24, 2025 11:37:00 AM
The term "Bildungsroman" might sound intimidating, but chances are you've read and loved several novels in this genre without realizing it. From...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 17, 2025 2:31:14 PM
For seasoned writers, creating atmosphere is more than just setting a scene—it’s about immersing readers so deeply in a story that they feel its...
7 min read
Writing Team: Mar 17, 2025 2:26:59 PM
Modern publishing, high-concept fiction continues to dominate bestseller lists, attract film options, and command impressive advances. As both...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 2, 2025 1:23:21 PM
The term women’s fiction is frequently used within publishing circles, but its definition remains elusive. While readers and booksellers increasingly...
3 min read
Writing Team: Dec 3, 2024 11:44:11 AM
Every great love story starts with a spark of inspiration. Whether you're crafting your first romance novel or your fiftieth, fresh ideas can help...
1 min read
Writing Team: Dec 3, 2024 11:39:42 AM
Is your story drowning in plot twists? Does your novel feel weighed down by excessive subplots? Here's how to diagnose the problem and restore your...
3 min read
Writing Team: Nov 25, 2024 10:16:54 AM
Pacing is a critical element of storytelling, whether you're crafting a novel, short story, screenplay, or even creative nonfiction. The way your...
4 min read
Writing Team: Nov 25, 2024 9:58:54 AM
You’ve likely encountered the term “rising action” and wondered how to use it to craft compelling stories. While it may sound complex, rising action...
2 min read
Writing Team: Nov 11, 2024 3:58:20 PM
The power of foreshadowing lies not in what is said, but in what is promised. Like a master magician who shows you the card before it disappears,...
4 min read
Writing Team: Oct 21, 2024 8:47:17 PM
Crafting authentic dialogue in writing is an art that requires more than just a good ear for how people speak. Psycholinguistics, the study of the...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 30, 2024 9:15:00 AM
Tone in writing is the attitude or emotional character that the author conveys through their words. It's a crucial element that can dramatically...
1 min read
Writing Team: Sep 30, 2024 6:30:00 AM
Cliffhangers are powerful narrative devices that leave audiences on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what comes next. Whether you're...
5 min read
Writing Team: Sep 23, 2024 7:30:00 AM
Naivety is often perceived as a lack of experience or worldly wisdom, characterized by a certain innocence, credulity, or childlike simplicity. In...
3 min read
Writing Team: Sep 20, 2024 12:51:14 PM
Writing a novel while juggling a full-time job can seem daunting, but with the right strategies and dedication, it's entirely achievable. This guide...
4 min read
Writing Team: Sep 16, 2024 10:30:00 AM
In storytelling, the concept of selective perception can play a pivotal role in shaping how readers interpret characters, plot points, and the...
2 min read
Writing Team: Aug 12, 2024 5:30:00 AM
Verb tense affects the narrative distance. This article is on verb tense and how that affects the viewpoint choices we make.
3 min read
Writing Team: Aug 12, 2024 4:45:00 AM
As a novelist, crafting a compelling story that keeps readers engaged from start to finish is your ultimate goal. One of the most powerful tools at...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 3, 2024 12:13:04 PM
If you’re writing a novel, you likely have a solid grasp of your main narrative arc. However, incorporating subplots can be crucial to make your...
5 min read
Writing Team: Jun 7, 2024 4:35:16 PM
In the vast landscape of the writing world, there are many paths to the summit of a completed novel. Some writers prefer the winding, serendipitous...
5 min read
Writing Team: Jun 7, 2024 4:33:17 PM
In the realm of storytelling, death is a constant companion. It stalks the battlefields and hospital wards, lurks in the shadows of dark alleys and...
5 min read
Writing Team: May 24, 2024 2:48:36 PM
The Challenge and the RewardIn storytelling, the protagonist's journey often takes center stage. Readers watch, transfixed, as characters navigate...
4 min read
Writing Team: May 24, 2024 2:44:59 PM
In the tapestry of a character's life, the threads of the past often weave the richest patterns. These threads, these echoes of a life lived before...
3 min read
Writing Team: May 10, 2024 10:18:09 PM
In our zeal to create characters that captivate and inspire, we often fall prey to the temptation of the flawless, the allure of the immaculate. We...
4 min read
Writing Team: May 10, 2024 10:15:33 PM
The protagonist's journey often takes center stage. We watch, transfixed, as they navigate the twists and turns of the plot, their inner landscape...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 27, 2024 11:17:36 AM
In the realm of fiction, conflict reigns supreme. It is the engine that drives the narrative, the spark that ignites the reader's imagination. While...
4 min read
Writing Team: Apr 27, 2024 11:15:14 AM
In the tapestry of a character's life, the threads of the past often weave the most intricate patterns. These threads, these echoes of old pains and...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 12, 2024 8:27:09 PM
In the realm of fiction, character reigns supreme. Readers experience the triumphs and tragedies, the loves and losses, the grand adventures and...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 12, 2024 8:23:52 PM
The craft of creating a protagonist—of birthing a character vivid and fully formed enough to arrest a reader's attention and haunt their...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 29, 2024 2:00:54 PM
Villains are the dark heartbeats that pulse through stories, captivating readers with their sinister allure. From Emperor Palpatine to Lord...
4 min read
Writing Team: Mar 29, 2024 1:58:28 PM
Conflict is the cornerstone of storytelling, but villains aren't always mustache-twirling adversaries. Let's delve into the diverse array of...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 14, 2024 3:49:36 PM
The significance of a well-crafted sidekick in storytelling cannot be overstated. These characters, whether the best friend, sassy co-worker, or...
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:57:27 PM
Have you ever been engrossed in a captivating story only to be let down by lackluster dialogue? Perhaps the characters all seemed to sound the same,...
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:14:19 PM
Crafting a compelling story in documentary filmmaking or fiction is akin to constructing a delicate and intricate mechanism.
1 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:09:03 PM
Understanding the core of your story is a crucial endeavor that delves deep into the heart of human nature and our shared civilization.
1 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 1:10:16 PM
Dialogue breathes life into stories, yet it significantly diverges from real spoken language. While it imparts vital information essential for...
5 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 1:06:34 PM
Few elements can swiftly transform a story as much as altering the narrative perspective from which it unfolds.
1 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 12:55:27 PM
Characters are individuals who want something, and these desires can be categorized into two distinct types: the character's intrinsic wish...
3 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 12:46:30 PM
The concept of "character agency" in fiction revolves around a character's ability to take action and influence the events within a story. It plays a...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 22, 2023 5:00:22 PM
Have you ever found yourself rooting for a character who seems to revel in their own flaws and questionable choices? Welcome to the world of...
3 min read
Writing Team: Sep 4, 2023 11:07:19 AM
Chinese literature is a treasure trove of beautifully crafted stories and tomes. Especially if you are a western-born writer, it's imperative to read...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 4, 2023 10:50:57 AM
In today's blog post, we're diving deep into the insights shared in a captivating video titled "Story Development: The Three Most Important People in...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 4, 2023 10:10:18 AM
In our current era, speed is often celebrated above all else. The internet's emergence has accelerated our lives, turning processes that once took...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 1, 2023 3:41:11 PM
Characters in stories often harbor secrets, hidden facets of their lives or knowledge that can shape the narrative in profound ways.
1 min read
Writing Team: Aug 29, 2023 6:03:09 PM
Are you in the midst of writing a novel and finding that while your main character is fully fleshed out, your supporting characters still need some...
3 min read
Writing Team: Aug 29, 2023 5:57:48 PM
Determining the ideal word count for your novel is a crucial aspect of writing. While your plot, characters, and premise are vital, the question of...
3 min read
Writing Team: Aug 9, 2023 3:44:53 PM
Metafiction, a literary device that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling, offers readers a unique and thought-provoking experience....
2 min read
Writing Team: Aug 7, 2023 4:51:37 PM
Stories have the power to transcend boundaries, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the lives of characters from different worlds. One captivating...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 31, 2023 2:16:57 PM
In storytelling, the first line holds unparalleled power. It is the gateway that entices readers to step into the world you have crafted and sets the...
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