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Writing Lessons

Historical Fiction: The Story Comes First

November 15, 2022

Historical Fiction: The Story Comes First

November 15, 2022

As writers of historical fiction, we might be tempted to believe our job is to teach readers about a certain event or era. While that might be part of what…

How to Uncover Your Character’s Inner Conflict

November 10, 2022

How to Uncover Your Character’s Inner Conflict

November 10, 2022

Conflict is a powerful element within the story and can be loosely categorized as either Outer (external) Conflict or Inner (internal) Conflict. The difference is that outer conflict is something…

7 Ways to Find Telling in Your Writing

November 8, 2022

7 Ways to Find Telling in Your Writing

November 8, 2022

I’ve been obsessed with the concept of Show, don’t Tell for years. I could geek out about it all day long, and don’t get me started if I find a…

The Role of Failure (and Conflict) in Character Arc

November 3, 2022

The Role of Failure (and Conflict) in Character Arc

November 3, 2022

The change arc. The process whereby, over the course of a story, the protagonist becomes aware of their weakness and evolves in whatever way is necessary for them to achieve…

Less Is More—When It Comes to Describing Setting

October 15, 2022

Less Is More—When It Comes to Describing Setting

October 15, 2022

By C. S. Lakin If you’re writing fiction, it’s your job to create rich, descriptive settings in which your characters live and breathe. The challenge—as any seasoned fiction writer can…

The Key to a Successful NaNoWriMo? Using October Wisely

October 13, 2022

The Key to a Successful NaNoWriMo? Using October Wisely

October 13, 2022

Are you one of tens of thousands of intrepid writers participating in NaNoWriMo? If so, know this: you’re a rock star. Writing a novel is something many people talk about…

The Skeleton of Your Story

October 11, 2022

The Skeleton of Your Story

October 11, 2022

Think of Milestones (aka story beats) as a human skeleton. The skull, spine, sternum (breastbone), scapula, ribs, and pelvis are vital for life. Without these large bones in place, we’d…

Themes and Symbols Go Together Like Peas and Carrots

October 6, 2022

Themes and Symbols Go Together Like Peas and Carrots

October 6, 2022

So…symbolism. We’re pretty familiar with this storytelling element, and I’m guessing most of us have experimented with the use of symbols in our writing. In a nutshell, you take an…

Happy 7th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 4, 2022

Happy 7th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 4, 2022

It’s hard to believe another year has passed, but it’s birthday time again. One Stop for Writers is seven!Over the years, Becca and I have stuffed this web app with…

How to Reveal a Character’s Internal Conflict

September 27, 2022

How to Reveal a Character’s Internal Conflict

September 27, 2022

If you’ve been on the writing trail long enough, you’ve heard plenty of talk surrounding conflict and the role it plays in storytelling. Whatever form it takes—annoying neighbors, quarrels with…