For many of us, writing is one of the most important things in our lives. And yet, it can be all too easy to let that “most important thing” end up at the bottom of our to-do list. If yet another day has passed in which you haven’t been able to write—or a day in […]
November 20, 2023 by 7 Comments NewsHappy Thanksgiving, Wordplayers!
Hey, Wordplayers! This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the U.S. It’s also the last day of the month-long writing retreat I gave myself in the beautiful Berkshires. I am sharing the holiday with my youngest brother, then the follow day I’m flying back home (wish me luck with the holiday traffic!). This is just a note […]
November 13, 2023 by Leave a Comment Uncategorized25% Off All Books, Courses, Software, and Meditations for Black Friday
This holiday season, I am doing something I’ve never done for Black Friday before. I’m offering 25% off every product I’ve ever created! This means that for a limited time (November 13-27th), you can grab every book and product I sell here on my site at this special holiday price. The discount has already been […]
November 6, 2023 by 59 Comments CharactersViolence in Fiction: 6 Archetypes
From KMW: The dictionary tells us the definition of violence is: “Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.” By that definition, we can recognize that violence in fiction is a staple. Almost every story features some example, even if it’s “just” verbal aggression. Certain genres, such as mysteries and […]
October 30, 2023 by 83 Comments Podcast“There and Back Again”: The Lord of the Rings and the Power of Despair in Fiction
Someone asked me recently what I thought made an original story. One piece of my answer was that I don’t believe audiences so much seek original premises as original emotional experiences. We want to experience stories that evoke emotion and create catharsis. We don’t just want a comedy that makes the corner of our mouths crinkle; we […]
October 23, 2023 by 28 Comments CharactersWrite Better Action Scenes: Make It About the Characters
[From KMW: Since I am traveling this week, I’m offering up a shorter post today about how to write better action scenes. For my birthday, I gave myself a month-long “writing retreat” in the mountains! I’ll be posting regular content again next week, and you can check Instagram for some peeks into my adventures.] As […]
October 16, 2023 by 26 Comments Structuring Your NovelFigure Out Your Story’s Magic System Using Story Structure
From KMW: If you’ve ever written a story that falls into the broad genre of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, and all their many many subgenres), then you may have faced one of the main challenges of the genre: creating a magic system. A magic system can be anything from a thoroughly elaborate high concept […]
October 9, 2023 by 8 Comments CharactersHow to Use Archetypes in a Series
One of the most common questions I receive is how to use archetypes in a series. The short answer is: however you want! Archetypes are endlessly adaptable. However, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Most have to do with understanding the shape of the story you’re going to be telling over the […]
October 2, 2023 by 14 Comments PodcastHow Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story
As writers, it often seems we are channeling our stories more than creating them. So it should be no surprise to learn the tool of meditation can inspire your next story. I have often thought of writing as something of a meditation. When we’re really in the zone, it can feel like an altered state. […]
September 25, 2023 by 155 Comments CharactersAnnouncing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway)
All this summer, I have been working hard on a secret project that combines two of my favorite things: archetypes and guided meditation. Today, I’m thrilled to announce I am releasing six Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! Based on the six transformational character arcs that I shared in my book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs, these meditations […]
