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Writing Lessons

Tips for Writing a Successful Story Climax

November 2, 2023

Tips for Writing a Successful Story Climax

November 2, 2023

Escalation is an important element of story structure. The opening pages are often quiet as key players are introduced, the setting is established, and readers are given a glimpse of…

Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool

October 24, 2023

Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool

October 24, 2023

Boredom is a common reason why a reader DNFs a book. Genre is irrelevant. If the reader isn’t engaged with the storyline, they will set aside your book for another…

Three Ways to Make Readers Care About Secondary Characters

October 17, 2023

Three Ways to Make Readers Care About Secondary Characters

October 17, 2023

A common mistake I see in client manuscripts is a cast of secondary characters that simply exist to help or to outright block the protagonist. They’re either ready, willing, and…

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

No one in the real world is perfect, and so characters shouldn’t be either. To seem as real as you or me, they should have flaws and strengths, and these…

How to Create Mood Effectively in Your Fiction

October 7, 2023

How to Create Mood Effectively in Your Fiction

October 7, 2023

By C. S. Lakin Every person or character, at any given time, is in a particular mood. Generally, mood is a person’s state of mind, but it’s more than that.…

Want to Show Your Character’s Pain? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

October 5, 2023

Want to Show Your Character’s Pain? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

October 5, 2023

For the better part of two months, Becca and I have been exploring pain, and how to write about it in fiction. It’s been enlightening for us, and we hope…

Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 3, 2023

Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 3, 2023

Let the good times roll…One Stop for Writers‘ BIRTHDAY WEEK is here! It’s hard to believe Becca and I have been helping writers grow into confident storytellers at One Stop…

Writing About Pain: Best Practices for Great Fiction

September 28, 2023

Writing About Pain: Best Practices for Great Fiction

September 28, 2023

Are you enjoying this series on writing your character’s pain? That’s a weird and slightly sadistic statement—even more so when we say how much we’ve enjoyed writing about pain. But…

Writing About Pain: Everyday Ways A Character Could Be Hurt

September 26, 2023

Writing About Pain: Everyday Ways A Character Could Be Hurt

September 26, 2023

We’ve covered many aspects of pain so far in this experience, such as the different categories of pain and how to write the discomfort associated with minor, major, and invisible…

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…