the blog
free writing craft, process, and mindset articles
The Magic of Character Arcs
We've all heard about "character arcs." We know they're important. We know they have to do with a character's journey through the story. But what [...]
Getting to the Heart of Your Cast With Character Interviews
This post was written by our friend Lewis Jorstad, an author and developmental editor [...]
Create Killer Character Goals
Imagine reading a story where the protagonist doesn’t want anything, doesn’t care about [...]
The Magic of Character Arcs
We've all heard about "character arcs." We know they're important. We know they have [...]
Getting to the Heart of Your Cast With Character Interviews
This post was written by our friend Lewis Jorstad, an author and developmental editor [...]
Create Killer Character Goals
Imagine reading a story where the protagonist doesn’t want anything, doesn’t care about [...]
How to Pick the Perfect Protagonist
Stories are about change—specifically, they are about how characters change. Characters are the heart and [...]
Writing What Matters: Starting with your “Why”
Writing a book is really difficult. It takes heart, energy, and lots of time. It's a process of personal creation that often takes deep courage to [...]
How to World Build on the Page
Crafting a fictional story, even if it’s based in the ‘real world,’ requires [...]
Start Your Story Strong
You likely have an idea of what your story is about and what will happen [...]
How to World Build on the Page
Crafting a fictional story, even if it’s based in the ‘real world,’ requires [...]
Start Your Story Strong
You likely have an idea of what your story is about and what will happen [...]
How to Write Act Breaks
Readers are most intrigued by characters that make choices. We’re less interested in what happens [...]
How to Nail Your First and Last Scenes
So many writers obsess over the very first line of their story. If I [...]
WRITING ON THE PAGE
Understanding conflict versus tension
Conflict and tension are two of those craft terms that get thrown around without much actual advice on what they are or how to create them. [...]
The difference between ‘exposition’ and ‘infodump’
We've all heard the 'rule': Exposition is 'good' but Infodumping is 'bad'. But wtf [...]
How to make readers FEEL something
As writers, we yearn for our readers to feel while reading our words. We want [...]
The difference between ‘exposition’ and ‘infodump’
We've all heard the 'rule': Exposition is 'good' but Infodumping is 'bad'. But wtf [...]
How to make readers FEEL something
As writers, we yearn for our readers to feel while reading our words. We want [...]
How to Put Readers in Your Character’s Skin
Readers want to feel what characters feel. In fact, brain science tells us that what [...]
5 Tricks to Write Great Dialogue
Good dialogue often goes unnoticed. When it’s crafted well, a story continues [...]
MINDSET
Can you be ambitious and anti-hustle?
Growing up, I was taught that being ambitious meant hustling. In my mind, hustling became synonymous to working hard. Ambitious meant you wanted to achieve [...]
Is it worth making art when the world is falling apart?
As this article is being written, there’s so much going on— and has been going [...]
Setting Goals Free From Shame
With another year coming to a close, it is that time once again where our [...]
Is it worth making art when the world is falling apart?
As this article is being written, there’s so much going on— and has been going [...]
Setting Goals Free From Shame
With another year coming to a close, it is that time once again where our [...]
Embrace Anti-hustle Culture
Let’s play a game. Has this ever been you?. 👉🏻 felt guilty or anxious [...]
Trusting Your Gut Instinct
As writers, we have to make choices constantly. From the big picture planning of what [...]
WRITING LIFE
Can you be ambitious and anti-hustle?
Growing up, I was taught that being ambitious meant hustling. In my mind, hustling became synonymous to working hard. Ambitious meant you wanted to achieve [...]
Is it worth making art when the world is falling apart?
As this article is being written, there’s so much going on— and has been going [...]
Writing What Matters: Starting with your “Why”
Writing a book is really difficult. It takes heart, energy, and lots of time. It's [...]
Is it worth making art when the world is falling apart?
As this article is being written, there’s so much going on— and has been going [...]
Writing What Matters: Starting with your “Why”
Writing a book is really difficult. It takes heart, energy, and lots of time. It's [...]
Setting Goals Free From Shame
With another year coming to a close, it is that time once again where our [...]
Embrace Anti-hustle Culture
Let’s play a game. Has this ever been you?. 👉🏻 felt guilty or anxious [...]
