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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Where to Start Your Story
You’ve built out your characters and their backgrounds. You know the major plot points of your story. You’re ready to start drafting the opening scene [...]
Finding Your Ideal Reader (and why it’s important!)
When you’re daydreaming about your book being in your readers’ hands, who do you envision [...]
Top 5 Reasons Stories Fall Flat (+ how to fix them!)
When stories fall flat, it’s often because readers are missing something. Even if they don’t [...]
Top 5 Reasons Stories Fall Flat (+ how to fix them!)
When stories fall flat, it’s often because readers are missing something. Even if they don’t [...]
Understanding conflict versus tension
Conflict and tension are two of those craft terms that get thrown around without much [...]
Writing What Matters: Starting with your “Why”
Writing a book is really difficult. It takes heart, energy, and lots of time. It's [...]
How to World Build on the Page
Crafting a fictional story, even if it’s based in the ‘real world,’ requires [...]
WRITING ON THE PAGE
Using reaction progressions to “show” on the page
Reaction progressions are a four part formula based on the natural order of how humans respond to stimuli. Using this chain of responses as a tool will help make it easier for you to “show” your character’s responses effectively and deepen the impact of your prose.
Writing Dialogue That Feels Natural
Writers often strive to make dialogue sound real. But the truth is that realistic dialogue [...]
Painting Pictures with Description
As writers, we can clearly see our own story in our minds-eye, and it [...]
Painting Pictures with Description
As writers, we can clearly see our own story in our minds-eye, and it [...]
The ‘Show/Tell’ Spectrum
We’ve all heard the adage, “Show, Don’t Tell.” It’s everywhere, a warning to writers that [...]
Understanding conflict versus tension
Conflict and tension are two of those craft terms that get thrown around without much [...]
The difference between ‘exposition’ and ‘infodump’
We've all heard the 'rule': Exposition is 'good' but Infodumping is 'bad'. But wtf [...]
MINDSET
Do writers need ‘thick skin’?
If there’s one piece of writing “advice” that really gets our hackles up, it’s the idea that writers need to have a thick skin. A [...]
Tips For Getting Back Into Writing After a Break
We’ve all been there before. Something comes up in our life, we stop writing, and [...]
Writing Isn’t Always Fun
There’s a reason our online writing program is called Tenacious Writing. We may love writing, [...]
Tips For Getting Back Into Writing After a Break
We’ve all been there before. Something comes up in our life, we stop writing, and [...]
Writing Isn’t Always Fun
There’s a reason our online writing program is called Tenacious Writing. We may love writing, [...]
Overcoming My Fear of the Blank Page
I have spent most of my years as a writer struggling with the blank page. [...]
Can you be ambitious and anti-hustle?
Growing up, I was taught that being ambitious meant hustling. In my mind, hustling [...]
WRITING LIFE
Tips For Getting Back Into Writing After a Break
We’ve all been there before. Something comes up in our life, we stop writing, and when we’re finally ready to open up our manuscript again, we [...]
Overcoming My Fear of the Blank Page
I have spent most of my years as a writer struggling with the blank page. [...]
Can you be ambitious and anti-hustle?
Growing up, I was taught that being ambitious meant hustling. In my mind, hustling [...]
Tips For Getting Back Into Writing After a Break
We’ve all been there before. Something comes up in our life, we stop writing, and [...]
Overcoming My Fear of the Blank Page
I have spent most of my years as a writer struggling with the blank page. [...]
Can you be ambitious and anti-hustle?
Growing up, I was taught that being ambitious meant hustling. In my mind, hustling [...]
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 [...]
