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Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Novelty

March 19, 2019

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Novelty

March 19, 2019

In the first post of my four-part series, I introduced ANTS, my framework for helping storytellers make strategic choices that increase reader engagement. ANTS stands for the effects a storyteller should seek…

Layering Character for Believable Fiction

March 14, 2019

Layering Character for Believable Fiction

March 14, 2019

Layering: the deepest, richest, most compelling aspect of character We hear a lot of talk about “layering” as a storytelling device. The more layers a character has, the more complex and…

Does Every Lead Character Need An Arc?

March 5, 2019

Does Every Lead Character Need An Arc?

March 5, 2019

At a Bouchercon some years ago, Lee Child was part of a panel on characters in thrillers. An audience member asked him a question about character change. “Every character has…

HELP! What Do I Do With My 1st Edition of The Emotion Thesaurus?

February 21, 2019

HELP! What Do I Do With My 1st Edition of The Emotion Thesaurus?

February 21, 2019

As the expanded 2nd edition of The Emotion Thesaurus hits the shelves, we realize we’ve created a conundrum for writers upgrading their copy: what should they do with their first…

New Release: The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression (2nd Edition)!

February 19, 2019

New Release: The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression (2nd Edition)!

February 19, 2019

Today’s the day: The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition) enters the world! Over the years, many of you have written to us about the impact our book has had on your…

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

If you’re like me, you get pretty serious about creating characters who leap off the page. That’s why you’re going to love this new character design tool. At One Stop…

Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In

February 12, 2019

Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In

February 12, 2019

A lot of writers have the tendency to look “backward” when writing. They might use a lot of flashbacks, they might have a character think “back” on things, or they…

A Mother Lode of Resources on Character Emotion

January 29, 2019

A Mother Lode of Resources on Character Emotion

January 29, 2019

As you can imagine, we’re pretty amped that The Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition is here. We hope you find those extra 55 emotions and double the teaching content is a…

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

We’re fascinated by our fellow humans. In fact, we have a profound desire to try and understand the thoughts and feelings bouncing around other people, the characters on TV…the hero…

Announcing The Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition!

January 21, 2019

Announcing The Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition!

January 21, 2019

Keeping secrets are hard, especially keeping happy, year-long ones from the people we care about. So you can imagine how terrific it is to finally share with you that the…