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Writing Craft

Writing About Pain: Taking an Injury from Bad to Worse

September 21, 2023

Writing About Pain: Taking an Injury from Bad to Worse

September 21, 2023

When we put characters in dangerous or unfamiliar situations, they can get hurt, and when they do, things become harder to do. Injuries can mean reduced mobility, pain makes it…

How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain

September 19, 2023

How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain

September 19, 2023

Writing A Psychological Thriller Whether you’re a fan of the genre or looking to try your hand at writing one, a psychological thriller can be fun to both read AND…

Writing About Pain: Factors that Help or Hinder the Ability to Cope

September 16, 2023

Writing About Pain: Factors that Help or Hinder the Ability to Cope

September 16, 2023

We know that pain is an unfortunate part of life. And if you’re doing your job as an author, your character will be put through the wringer, experiencing many painful…

Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition

September 14, 2023

Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition

September 14, 2023

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly critique contest. This month, we have a HUGE prize. 3 winners will receive feedback on 20 pages from a professional editor.…

Writing Techniques: Use and Abuse of “Lampshading”

September 12, 2023

Writing Techniques: Use and Abuse of “Lampshading”

September 12, 2023

As storytellers, we usually want to keep readers immersed in our story. However, we’ve probably all written lines that we worry will break readers’ suspension of disbelief, such as with…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Loner

September 9, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Loner

September 9, 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 Pain: Invisible Injuries and Conditions

September 7, 2023

Writing About Pain: Invisible Injuries and Conditions

September 7, 2023

In this series on pain, we’ve covered everything from minor injuries to major and mortal injuries. But there’s another source of pain that can push our characters to the edge…

Strategies for Smooth Scene Openings

September 5, 2023

Strategies for Smooth Scene Openings

September 5, 2023

If the opening line of a scene is the doorway to the party, what follows is the welcoming handshake and introductions that draw readers into the mix. Effective scene openings…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Christ Figure

September 2, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Christ Figure

September 2, 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 Pain: Describing Major & Mortal Injuries

August 31, 2023

Writing about Pain: Describing Major & Mortal Injuries

August 31, 2023

As you may be aware, we’re smack dab in the middle of a series of posts on writing a character’s pain, and today’s is a doozy. Our last post explored…