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Writing Craft

Five Reasons to Identify Your Character’s Wounding Event

June 29, 2023

Five Reasons to Identify Your Character’s Wounding Event

June 29, 2023

As human beings, we’re all products of our past; good and bad, our experiences have formed us into who we are. The same should be true of our characters. One…

Positive Traits Can Have Drawbacks, and Flaws Aren’t All Bad

June 27, 2023

Positive Traits Can Have Drawbacks, and Flaws Aren’t All Bad

June 27, 2023

I was watching Gone with the Wind the other night—because, you know, it was on TV and I had four hours to kill. As a teen, this was the first “grown-up” book…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Lover

June 24, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Lover

June 24, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

June 22, 2023

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

June 22, 2023

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest ? This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the…

How to Build Sizzling Sexual Tension in Your Novel

June 20, 2023

How to Build Sizzling Sexual Tension in Your Novel

June 20, 2023

Writing Sexual Tension Are you tired of writing boring and uneventful romance scenes? Do your readers seem disinterested or even put off by the lack of chemistry between your characters?…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Rebel Archetype

June 17, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Rebel Archetype

June 17, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Writing About Emotional Trauma Without Triggering Readers

June 15, 2023

Writing About Emotional Trauma Without Triggering Readers

June 15, 2023

Trigger warnings are often debated in the writing world. Some opine that readers should be warned if something potentially harmful is included in a book, and others feel the audience…

Story vs. Plot vs. Theme: Know Your 5Ws and H

June 13, 2023

Story vs. Plot vs. Theme: Know Your 5Ws and H

June 13, 2023

Journalism writing often uses the 5W1H structure. The first few paragraphs of a news article should answer 6 basic questions (which start with 5 Ws and an H): Who, What,…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Orphan Archetype

June 10, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Orphan Archetype

June 10, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Using Talents and Skills to Reveal Hidden Layers

June 8, 2023

Using Talents and Skills to Reveal Hidden Layers

June 8, 2023

When you’re creating a well-rounded and realistic character, there are many factors to consider: their backstory, personality traits, fears, desires…the list goes on. Each is important because it plays a…