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Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications

June 3, 2025

Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications

June 3, 2025

Unputdownable stories keep readers off balance, as one scene tips into another, and another, and the next. Each scene’s challenge demands a response, and each response spirals into fresh complications.…

Reading Like a Writer

May 20, 2025

Reading Like a Writer

May 20, 2025

We all know that as writers we should be reading a lot. It’s one of the best ways to learn the craft, and Stephen King’s quote on the topic is…

New Writing Resource: A Character Type & Trope Thesaurus + Save 25%

May 17, 2025

New Writing Resource: A Character Type & Trope Thesaurus + Save 25%

May 17, 2025

In 2024, Becca and I began exploring character tropes and archetypes with one goal in mind: to create a resource that helps writers better use tropes by providing each one’s…

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

When I set out to write Book 2 in my Fountain series, I made the common mistake of thinking it would be easier than the first one, which took me…

Writing Tips from a Neurodivergent Brain

May 6, 2025

Writing Tips from a Neurodivergent Brain

May 6, 2025

Last fall, when I wrote about writing a novel “scene by scene” as someone neurodivergent, I received a ton of interesting feedback. Most of it was a variation on these…

Before You Pay Thousands to Publish Your Book, Read This

May 1, 2025

Before You Pay Thousands to Publish Your Book, Read This

May 1, 2025

If you’re thinking about paying a company thousands of dollars to publish your book, please stop and read this first. I have a stern warning for you! My $5,000 Publishing…

Build These Seven Growth Milestones into Your Character’s Arc

April 29, 2025

Build These Seven Growth Milestones into Your Character’s Arc

April 29, 2025

While there are many kinds of stories, most of them today are about a protagonist navigating a change or growth arc. In this model, the character undergoes a personal journey…

Using a Character’s Personality Traits to Generate Conflict

April 10, 2025

Using a Character’s Personality Traits to Generate Conflict

April 10, 2025

When it comes to generating conflict, your character’s personality can help ensure that sparks fly, especially when their traits clash with someone else’s. When people grate on one another their…

Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem

April 8, 2025

Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem

April 8, 2025

We’ve all heard the writing advice that we need to throw rocks at our protagonists. More obstacles, more tough choices, and more loss test them and force them to grow…

I Tried a BookBub Featured Deal—Here’s What Happened

April 3, 2025

I Tried a BookBub Featured Deal—Here’s What Happened

April 3, 2025

I’d always heard that landing a Bookbub deal could really help with marketing your book. I’d tried a couple of times before with no luck. But recently, I submitted my…