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Writing Craft

Strengthen Your Story by Throwing Rocks at Your Characters

July 30, 2026

Strengthen Your Story by Throwing Rocks at Your Characters

July 30, 2026

If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that life is stressful. Each day, we’re bombarded with obstacles, challenges, and upsets. We navigate what we can, go to bed, and…

Last Chance to Grab the Phobias & Triggers Mini Guide

July 28, 2026

Last Chance to Grab the Phobias & Triggers Mini Guide

July 28, 2026

Have you ever read a story where a phobia is a plot device for why a character can’t do something (say, travel by boat), or conveys comedic irony (a building…

How to Amp Up a “Boring” Story Setting

July 23, 2026

How to Amp Up a “Boring” Story Setting

July 23, 2026

Taking the time to choose the right setting for each scene is one of the best ways to ensure our writing has impact. Why? Because the setting touches everything. It…

Writing Fantasy: What Not To Do

July 21, 2026

Writing Fantasy: What Not To Do

July 21, 2026

Fantasy is my first love, full stop. You need to know this, because otherwise you might think I sound a bit cranky. Many elements are in play in a well-written…

Use Literary Devices to Propel Readers Past Chapter Endings

July 16, 2026

Use Literary Devices to Propel Readers Past Chapter Endings

July 16, 2026

In my last post, I discussed why chapter endings can be tricky (because they provide a natural stopping point for readers) and how to counteract that. By using a variety…

Making the Most of Your Word Processing Tools

July 14, 2026

Making the Most of Your Word Processing Tools

July 14, 2026

Standard Manuscript Format for Writers Last month, I shared my tips for How to Use Scrivener (Without Anxiety). But as I mentioned in that post, the industry standard for publishing…

Win Feedback on 5 Pages!

July 9, 2026

Win Feedback on 5 Pages!

July 9, 2026

Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw,…

How to Write Unique, Memorable Character Voices

July 7, 2026

How to Write Unique, Memorable Character Voices

July 7, 2026

Your character’s voice is the reader’s guide through your story. Readers hear your character in their head before they see them in their mind’s eye. A well-developed character voice stays…

Will Your Story Keep Readers Hooked?

July 2, 2026

Will Your Story Keep Readers Hooked?

July 2, 2026

I’m reading a novel right now. It started out okay, but somewhere around chapter five, I noticed I was skimming—just moving my eyes across the page as fast as I…

How to Use Scrivener (Without Anxiety)

June 30, 2026

How to Use Scrivener (Without Anxiety)

June 30, 2026

When I tell writers how much I love using Scrivener to write my novels, I often get some version of “I bought it, but I’ve never used it because it’s…