Need a writing buddy? A critique partner? A beta reader? Here’s your stop! Earlier this year, I posted a “writing buddy linkup,” which opened the comments to anyone looking for a critique partner or accountability partner for their writing. The post was wildly popular and continued to receive entries throughout the year. At last count, […]
August 28, 2023 by 31 Comments CharactersHot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character
Character relationships are at the heart of most stories. Few protagonists successfully exist in a vacuum. Most will be contextualized by their supporting cast. More than that, the relationships between characters are often the single most interesting and entertaining element in any story. When asking me about my own fiction, people sometimes wonder where I […]
August 21, 2023 by 64 Comments PodcastHow to Rediscover the Joy of Writing
It’s something of an irony that most of us come to writing because we love it—and, yet, it’s actually really freaking hard. Only somewhat tongue in cheek, I will often advise that if “you can not be a writer, then don’t.” And yet it is abundantly clear that more humans than not need to write. (And […]
August 14, 2023 by 24 Comments Plotting Your NovelWhat Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious)
What are plot devices? Basically, they’re exactly what they sound like: events that maneuver the plot in particular directions. All stories are built on plot devices. In truth, everything that happens in a story is a plot device. Story structure beats are plot devices. Character arc beats are plot devices. Plot devices are the little […]
August 7, 2023 by 4 Comments Plotting Your NovelThe Two Most Important Tricks for How to Build Suspense
Perhaps the greatest skill necessary to keep readers glued to your pages is learning how to build suspense. Whether you’re writing a thriller or a quiet romance, suspense of one type or another is what makes readers race to the end of your story. Suspense comes in many different flavors, everything from the threat of […]
July 31, 2023 by 25 Comments PodcastHow to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips
With so much emphasis in fiction writing put upon the importance of conflict, a seemingly apt question is, “How can you write interesting happy scenes?” This was the question recently posed to me by Elena Singleterry, who wrote: If possible, I would like to ask a question about writing a happy scene. In my book, […]
July 24, 2023 by 23 Comments Podcast8 Different Types of Scenes
Any story will require many different types of scenes. Some of this variety will come from content (romance vs. action vs. humor vs. tragedy). However, much of the variety in types of scenes will arise from the needs of pacing. Authors can find great value in understanding some of the different types of scenes, so […]
July 17, 2023 by 14 Comments ForeshadowingHow to Use Misdirection in Your Story for Greater Impact
[Just a short post today, so I can put some energy into a super-secret project I can’t wait to share with you all. Hint? It has to do with two of my favorite things: dreamzoning and archetypal character arcs. Stay tuned! I hope to do the big reveal no later than October.] At first glance, […]
July 10, 2023 by 23 Comments CharactersHow to Discover What Your Character Fears
At the root of all character motivations are a handful of deeply primal drivers. Love and hate, desire and fear. Fear is a big one. As the appointed protector of our survival, fear undergirds many of our reasons and motives in life. Therefore, understanding what your character fears can offer significant insights into your story and […]
July 3, 2023 by 30 Comments CharactersA New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes
One of the simplest entry points to understanding how story works is the Lie the Character Believes. It is the fulcrum of any character arc or thematic discussion within a story. It’s also the gasoline in the engine of a character’s inner conflict—and, by extension, it can either power the outer conflict or at least […]
