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...
5 min read
Writing Team: May 27, 2025 9:23:03 AM
The opening lines of your autobiography hold more weight than perhaps any other sentences you'll write. They're your handshake with readers, your...
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...
9 min read
Writing Team: May 8, 2025 3:01:33 PM
There's a delicious paradox in devouring nonfiction books about crafting fiction. Like a chef studying cookbooks to create meals that taste nothing...
6 min read
Writing Team: May 8, 2025 2:29:24 PM
In the quietude of a morning, before the world has fully awakened, a novelist sits at her desk. Her fingers hover over the keyboard. She takes a deep...
4 min read
Writing Team: Apr 14, 2025 4:33:42 PM
When we sit down to write, the blank page beckons with infinite possibility—and sometimes, infinite anxiety. We've all experienced that moment of...
3 min read
Writing Team: Apr 10, 2025 11:41:21 AM
If you’re considering writing a memoir or wondering what separates a good life story from a bestselling one, this guide breaks down the key elements...
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,...
6 min read
Writing Team: Mar 31, 2025 2:08:51 PM
As an adult, writing for teenagers can feel somewhat daunting. The vernacular seems to evolve constantly and rapidly, and before you know it, a...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 24, 2025 11:47:37 AM
Self-doubt stalks nearly every writer, regardless of experience or success level. Even those with thriving careers and multiple published works often...
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...
2 min read
Writing Team: Mar 10, 2025 4:29:17 PM
With advancements in artificial intelligence, writing tools like GPT-4 and other generative models can now create entire books, from fiction to...
5 min read
Writing Team: Mar 2, 2025 1:28:04 PM
Situational irony is one of the most powerful tools in a writer's arsenal. You've likely encountered it in Alanis Morissette's lyrics or in countless...
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...
5 min read
Writing Team: Feb 9, 2025 2:11:58 PM
When crafting memorable characters, the devil is in the details. A character's small habits, unconscious gestures, and distinctive traits can...
3 min read
Writing Team: Feb 3, 2025 3:47:38 PM
Ebooks have revolutionized the publishing industry, offering authors an accessible way to share their stories or expertise with readers worldwide....
3 min read
Writing Team: Jan 19, 2025 2:15:19 PM
Audiobooks have exploded in popularity, with demand growing for high-quality, professionally narrated recordings. For authors and narrators looking...
3 min read
Writing Team: Jan 19, 2025 2:10:42 PM
The question of whether to use a pen name has been debated by writers for centuries. Pen names, or pseudonyms, have been used for a variety of...
3 min read
Writing Team: Jan 19, 2025 2:04:32 PM
Sudowrite is a nifty tool, especially for professional writers seeking to enhance their productivity, creativity, and overall writing experience....
2 min read
Writing Team: Dec 17, 2024 3:28:47 PM
print on demand (POD) technology has revolutionized how writers can bring their work to market. This comprehensive analysis explores the advantages...
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...
3 min read
Writing Team: Nov 18, 2024 9:30:00 AM
The blank page can feel particularly daunting when your brain works differently from what most writing advice assumes. For neurodivergent writers,...
2 min read
Writing Team: Nov 18, 2024 8:30:00 AM
Rhetorical devices are the tools that transform good writing into great writing. Like a master painter's brushstrokes or a composer's musical...
3 min read
Writing Team: Nov 6, 2024 10:36:12 AM
Just as a hologram contains the complete image within each fragment, holographic narrative design creates stories where every scene, dialogue, and...
5 min read
Writing Team: Nov 6, 2024 10:19:29 AM
Participating in storytelling contests offers writers a platform to showcase their talents, gain recognition, and potentially earn rewards. Here are...
4 min read
Writing Team: Oct 21, 2024 8:51:16 PM
Writers often look to nature for inspiration—whether for metaphors, settings, or character development. But what if we could take inspiration from...
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...
4 min read
Writing Team: Oct 21, 2024 9:00:00 AM
Method actors are renowned for their commitment to fully embodying their characters, often living as them for extended periods. As writers, we can...
3 min read
Writing Team: Oct 21, 2024 8:30:00 AM
Writers and narrative designers are constantly seeking fresh approaches to engage their audiences. One innovative method gaining traction is the...
3 min read
Writing Team: Oct 15, 2024 3:51:05 PM
Storytellers are increasingly turning to neuroscience to enhance their narrative techniques. Neurocinematics, the study of how film and other...
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 8, 2024 7:13:40 PM
Narrative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses the techniques of fiction—such as character development, storytelling, and scene-setting—while...
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...
2 min read
Writing Team: Sep 20, 2024 12:58:29 PM
Scrivener is a powerful tool for writers, offering a wide range of features to help you organize, write, and prepare your book for publication. This...
3 min read
Writing Team: Sep 20, 2024 12:55:09 PM
A book's cover is often the first point of contact between a potential reader and your work. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about conveying the...
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...
5 min read
Writing Team: Sep 16, 2024 2:24:24 PM
When it comes to comedy, social commentary, and wordplay, few names stand as tall as George Carlin. His sharp wit, observational humor, and deep...
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: Sep 10, 2024 11:23:07 AM
Fear, a primal emotion deeply ingrained in the human psyche, has been a central theme in literature throughout history. This article explores the...
4 min read
Writing Team: Sep 6, 2024 2:13:05 PM
Goofus and Gallant is a beloved and enduring feature of Highlights for Children, a children’s magazine that has been around since 1946. The feature,...
4 min read
Writing Team: Sep 6, 2024 2:09:34 PM
Publishing a book is a dream for many writers, but the journey from manuscript to printed work can seem daunting. Whether you’re aiming for...
2 min read
Writing Team: Aug 26, 2024 5:45:00 AM
Each book has a central idea or theme that carries the story. This idea may be something abstract like love, faith, freedom, truth, or adventure. As...
3 min read
Writing Team: Aug 19, 2024 5:30:00 AM
Dialogue is easy to spot because it has those nifty little quotation marks, but not all text that isn’t dialogue can be lumped together. 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: Aug 6, 2024 6:54:17 PM
Imagine watching a thrilling movie that ends abruptly at the climax, leaving you hanging without any closure. Frustrating, right? This scenario made...
3 min read
Writing Team: Aug 5, 2024 5:33:51 PM
Imagine you're reading a novel, and suddenly, you come across a sentence that seems to go on forever, each phrase connected by "and" after "and"...
5 min read
Writing Team: Aug 5, 2024 5:30:17 PM
rnest Hemingway's writing is famously concise, powerful, and "true." Let's break down how he achieves this iconic style and explore how you can...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 29, 2024 5:50:56 PM
As seasoned writers, we understand that the art of crafting compelling scenes is at the heart of engaging storytelling. Goal-driven scenes, in...
1 min read
Writing Team: Jul 26, 2024 10:03:53 AM
The concept of archetypes, popularized by Carl Jung in 1959, has long influenced character creation in literature. Among these archetypes, the "Queen...
4 min read
Writing Team: Jul 26, 2024 10:00:19 AM
Being able to write realistic, consistent, multi-dimensional characters is vital to gaining reader interest. Doing so first requires we know a lot...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 22, 2024 5:33:01 PM
Storytelling is a powerful sales tool. Stories engage readers without feeling like a sales pitch. When done well, they lead prospects to convince...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 15, 2024 5:32:48 PM
Portraying a character's embarrassment authentically can add depth and relatability to your storytelling. Here's a guide to help you effectively...
1 min read
Writing Team: Jul 10, 2024 11:54:42 AM
When internal strain becomes too much, rational thought and behavioral control can go out the window. While giving in to big feelings may provide...
7 min read
Joy Youell: Jul 6, 2024 10:31:47 AM
Among the most powerful tools in a writer's arsenal are metaphors and similes. While these two literary devices share similarities, understanding...
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...
2 min read
Writing Team: Jul 3, 2024 12:08:27 PM
In the fascinating world of AI and its integration into creative fields, Joanna Penn recently hosted an insightful interview with Rachelle Ayala, a...
7 min read
Joy Youell: Jun 28, 2024 10:49:03 AM
Have you ever found yourself questioning your storytelling skills? We've all experienced that nagging doubt, that sinking feeling in our stomach when...
5 min read
Joy Youell: Jun 28, 2024 10:39:52 AM
The petal structure, or the daisy structure or radial narrative, is a sophisticated storytelling technique that offers writers a unique way to weave...
2 min read
Joy Youell: Jun 19, 2024 9:53:20 AM
Writing academically can often feel like a dry and arduous task, especially when striving to engage readers with complex ideas and research findings....
2 min read
Writing Team: Jun 19, 2024 9:46:26 AM
Writing fiction can be particularly challenging, as it involves not just putting words on paper but crafting a story that captivates readers from...
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: 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...
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 3:42:45 PM
The role of the main characters can make or break a narrative's success. Breathing life into these characters can be fraught with doubts—are they...
3 min read
Writing Team: Mar 1, 2024 10:41:16 PM
Far beyond a mere formality, the introduction to a book can shape a reader's experience, setting the stage for the following narrative. A...
2 min read
Writing Team: Mar 1, 2024 10:09:22 PM
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldHave you found yourself wondering what the secret is to captivating storytelling? I’ll clue you in: the rising...
2 min read
Writing Team: Feb 9, 2024 8:17:13 PM
Have you ever been told that your story felt bogged down with too much information? Or perhaps you've encountered a fantasy novel where the first...
3 min read
Writing Team: Nov 6, 2023 2:41:31 PM
Have you ever noticed that when you reach the three-quarter mark of a book, putting it down becomes nearly impossible?
2 min read
Writing Team: Nov 6, 2023 2:36:01 PM
Whether you're writing a thrilling action-packed novel or a fantasy epic, the ability to create engaging fights is a valuable asset. In this article,...
3 min read
Writing Team: Nov 6, 2023 2:31:47 PM
What exactly does meaning entail in the realm of storytelling? When can a narrative be deemed meaningful?
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:06:41 PM
As a writer, transporting readers to fantastical realms or gritty cityscapes begins with vivid scene-setting. Rather than dull, generic backdrops,...
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,...
1 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:50:33 PM
Within the intricate tapestry of stories, characters encounter a multitude of obstacles. These hurdles come in diverse forms and intensity levels,...
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:44:22 PM
What exactly is exposition in storytelling, and how can you incorporate backstory while keeping your readers captivated?
3 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:38:25 PM
An internal problem is the crucible for change, diving deep into a character's essence far beyond the surface motivations that drive external...
6 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:33:06 PM
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the daunting task of writing a book? Fear not, for we have a valuable guide to help you break it down into...
5 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 2:25:13 PM
How can you ensure that readers genuinely care about your plot and characters? How do you create the tension that keeps pages turning, leaving your...
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.
2 min read
Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 1:16:59 PM
Whether you're penning a novel, a short story, or even diving into a screenplay or musical, mastering the tempo of your narrative is paramount....
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...
2 min read
Kaitlin Last: Oct 26, 2023 9:44:31 AM
Stories are captivating because characters frequently find themselves confronted with a myriad of challenges.
2 min read
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Angela Wyatt: Oct 26, 2023 9:36:47 AM
Unlocking the Magic of Character Dynamics
2 min read
Angela Wyatt: Oct 26, 2023 9:19:10 AM
Unraveling the Dynamics of Human Interaction and Their Impact on Narratives
3 min read
Kaitlin Last: Oct 25, 2023 4:58:28 PM
Storytelling is a complex journey where characters grapple with three fundamental oppositions: character vs. character, character vs. nature, and...
3 min read
Writing Team: Oct 14, 2023 10:52:33 PM
There's this sense of excitement when you start to brainstorm an idea. You’re getting ready to tell a story no one’s ever told! You sit down, have...
3 min read
Kaitlin Last: Oct 9, 2023 3:42:53 PM
The Symphony of Plots and Subplots
3 min read
Angela Wyatt: Oct 2, 2023 3:55:02 PM
In the world of storytelling, opponents and their various forms give rise to profound conflicts and complications, much like the complexities of SEO....
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