Want a Stronger Manuscript? Read It Aloud
Want a Stronger Manuscript? Read It Aloud
Editing freaks a lot of people out. Drafting is creative and inspirational, and every writer LIVES for that moment when you get into the groove and the words just flow.…
Read more…Everything That Makes a Compelling Story
Everything That Makes a Compelling Story
We know that when it comes to a writer giving out the coveted red rose, plot and character are first to receive one. But guess what? Alone, they won’t get…
Read more…Everything You Need to Know About Characters
Everything You Need to Know About Characters
Characters are not a part of your story…they are the story. Readers have a lot of choice when it comes to books, and they are looking to spend time with characters who…
Read more…Writing Process vs. Product: Do You Focus on the Doing or the Having?
Writing Process vs. Product: Do You Focus on the Doing or the Having?
Which is more important—the process of writing or the product that results? It’s not something we think much about, but as creatives, one of these two things is typically motivating…
Read more…11 Techniques for Transforming Clichéd Phrasings
11 Techniques for Transforming Clichéd Phrasings
One of the things that pumps me up the most when I’m reading a book is when the author phrases things in a way I’ve never seen before. It could…
Read more…Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Business Partners
Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Business Partners
Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it’s important to craft them carefully. But characters don’t usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story,…
Read more…The Author’s Guide to Redeeming Villains
The Author’s Guide to Redeeming Villains
Have you ever fallen in love with a story villain? Or at least found yourself liking him or her somewhat against your will? Seems a little weird, experiencing all the…
Read more…7 Ways Deep POV Creates Emotional Connections With Readers
7 Ways Deep POV Creates Emotional Connections With Readers
Deep POV (point of view) is a popular (and lately, divisive) writing style to employ. Many blogs about deep pov will list out the same four or six foundational tools…
Read more…Writing Better Dialogue
Writing Better Dialogue
Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where the dialogue has been so beautifully written that you are in that moment, experiencing the character’s emotions and hanging…
Read more…Stuck in No-Man’s-Land: Your Novel’s Middle
Stuck in No-Man’s-Land: Your Novel’s Middle
If you have hit the point in your draft where you’re looking out at the vast landscape of your novel with no idea where to go next, congratulations…you’ve probably made…
Read more…Why You Should Side-Write Your Protagonist’s Origin Scene
Why You Should Side-Write Your Protagonist’s Origin Scene
Side writing: Any exploratory piece of writing that helps a writer get to know elements of their story but isn’t intended to make its way into a draft in its entirety.…
Read more…4 Ways to Fix a Boring Story
4 Ways to Fix a Boring Story
Is your story boring? Would you know or acknowledge it if it was? No one wants to admit that their story is slow, lackluster, or zzzzz. But hey, that’s what…
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