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 [...]
Start Your Story Strong
You likely have an idea of what your story is about and what will happen to your characters—a young woman embarks on a quest to save [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
How to Shape a Character Arc Using Pivot Points
Stories are about journeys of change. Readers want to see how your flawed main character [...]
How Plot + Character Intersect
As readers, we’re engaged in a story’s plot because we know what the main character [...]
WRITING ON THE PAGE
How to make readers FEEL something
As writers, we yearn for our readers to feel while reading our words. We want to move them to happiness, sadness, anger, and everything in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
How to Write Powerful Descriptions
When we lose ourselves in novels, it’s as much due to the [...]
How to Write Backstory
This post/page contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through [...]
MINDSET
Toxic positivity in your writing life
Toxic positivity is crippling your writing life. There's a belief becoming more pervasive in the writing community that you must always stay positive and never [...]
You Don’t Need an MFA to Write a Great Book
You want to tell an amazing story, one that grips the hearts of your readers. [...]
Don’t Write Your Book Alone
A few years ago, I learned a hard lesson about writing alone. As an [...]
You Don’t Need an MFA to Write a Great Book
You want to tell an amazing story, one that grips the hearts of your readers. [...]
Don’t Write Your Book Alone
A few years ago, I learned a hard lesson about writing alone. As an [...]
What to Do When ‘Life Happens’
I hate losing momentum in my writing, so much so that I obsessively plan [...]
WRITING LIFE
Feedback should NEVER feel like this
You did it. You sent pages off to your writing group or critique partner or beta reader... and they finally responded. You're both terrified and [...]
6 Tips for NaNoWriMo Success
It’s almost November which means it’s almost time for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or [...]
How to Hire The Right Editor or Coach
Writers need outside eyes on our stories. External feedback will identify what we’re doing [...]
6 Tips for NaNoWriMo Success
It’s almost November which means it’s almost time for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or [...]
How to Hire The Right Editor or Coach
Writers need outside eyes on our stories. External feedback will identify what we’re doing [...]
What kind of editing do you need?
Editing, rather than drafting, is usually the hardest and most time-intensive part of writing a [...]
How to Give Effective Writing Feedback
It is impossible to write a good book alone. Writing can feel like a [...]
