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5 Innovative Strategies That Could Help You Win a Writing Contest

July 11, 2019

5 Innovative Strategies That Could Help You Win a Writing Contest

July 11, 2019

If you’ve ever participated in a writing contest, you’ll know that it’s one of the most exhilarating, motivating, and overall craft-stimulating experiences you can have as a writer. Indeed, what…

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: A Deadline Being Moved Up

July 6, 2019

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: A Deadline Being Moved Up

July 6, 2019

Conflict is very often the magic sauce for generating tension and turning a ho-hum story into one that rivets readers. As such, every scene should contain a struggle of some…

Digging Deep: The Psychology of a Layered Story

July 2, 2019

Digging Deep: The Psychology of a Layered Story

July 2, 2019

Humans like complexity: puzzles, questions, layers. It fascinates us. My guess it’s because there are so many complex systems in nature that our brain needs to navigate successfully. Ecosystems, weather…

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Taking Advice from the Wrong Person

June 29, 2019

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Taking Advice from the Wrong Person

June 29, 2019

Conflict is very often the magic sauce for generating tension and turning a ho-hum story into one that rivets readers. As such, every scene should contain a struggle of some…

What is a Conflict Thesaurus?

June 25, 2019

What is a Conflict Thesaurus?

June 25, 2019

What elevates a story from good to great? CONFLICT. A car breakdown in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. A jealous ex who is interfering with the hero’s new relationship.…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Conductor

June 22, 2019

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Conductor

June 22, 2019

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Tension

June 18, 2019

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Tension

June 18, 2019

This is the third post in my four-part series on ANTS, my framework for understanding what a story needs to keep readers engaged. Previously, I’ve covered attachment and novelty. Now…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Professional Athlete

June 15, 2019

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Professional Athlete

June 15, 2019

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Story Goals: Are They Slowing Your Story’s Pace?

June 11, 2019

Write what is in your heart, not to trends

Story Goals: Are They Slowing Your Story’s Pace?

June 11, 2019

If we’ve spent any time learning about story craft, we know the importance of goals in our story. They affect every aspect of our story: Stories are about a problem…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Nurse (RN)

June 8, 2019

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Nurse (RN)

June 8, 2019

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…