Note From KMW: I’ve been delighted to hear that so many of you have enjoyed the “Genre Tips” we’ve been exploring these past five weeks. Today, I’m happy to share a surprise post to finish off the series! Welcome to “How to Write Horror.” As you may remember, I crafted the series around the five […]
March 6, 2023 by 32 Comments How to Become a WriterGenre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction
What exactly is literary fiction? Although the term often means many different things to different people, the general consensus is that literary fiction encompasses dramatic stories that consciously focus on existential themes and artistic prose. Naturally, these elements can appear in any type of story, so deciding you want to learn how to write literary […]
February 27, 2023 by 34 Comments How to Become a WriterGenre Tips: How to Write Mystery
Following closely on the heels of romance, mystery is one of the most popular fiction genres of all time. At its simplest, the genre is a puzzle for audiences and characters to figure out together. At its most complex, mystery offers a deep-dive into humanity’s most pressing existential questions and threats. Populated by manifold subgenres, […]
February 20, 2023 by 41 Comments How to Become a WriterGenre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction
All fiction is a contemplation of human existence. This is perhaps nowhere more obvious than in the historical genre, which purposefully looks back in time and seeks to create context for and find meaning in the events that have already happened to the human race. Learning how to write historical fiction requires all the usual […]
February 13, 2023 by 54 Comments How to Become a WriterGenre Tips: How to Write Romance
Romance makes the world go ’round. In many respects, it makes the book world go ’round too. Romance consistently remains one of the bestselling of all fiction genres, so it’s no surprise so many people write it—both out of personal enjoyment and because, when it hits the sweet spot, it can be extremely lucrative. Learning […]
February 6, 2023 by 44 Comments How to Become a WriterGenre Tips: How to Write Fantasy
Genre is an important consideration for any writer. Not only can identifying your story’s genre (and perhaps subgenre) help you create cohesion and resonance amongst your plot, character arcs, and theme, it will also be a crucial piece of information when it comes time to market your story to readers. Today, I’m opening a five-part […]
March 7, 2022 by 38 Comments How to Become a WriterHow to Write a Book When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing
I want to write a book. You remember when this big idea first hit, right? Maybe you were browsing for books, waiting for an author’s autograph, or sitting in stupefied awe after finishing a great novel. The idea took root and then, bam, you’re rushing to a stationary store to gear up, buying all the […]
August 17, 2020 by 43 Comments How to Become a Writer5 Exercises for Honing Your Story Instincts
How strong are your story instincts? This abstract and sometimes elusive concept rests at the very bottom of a writer’s toolkit. Your story instincts determine how successful your storytelling is, and whether you are able to offer readers the all-important “it” factor. Your story instincts are the foundation onto which you build with all the […]
October 28, 2019 by 40 Comments How to Become a WriterHow to Know Which Parts of Your Story Readers Will Like Best (It Isn’t Always What You Think)
You want readers to like your story. You want to give them something to love on every single page. But it’s so much easier said than done. How can you know—really know—which parts of your story readers will like and which will have them yawning and skipping ahead? So many stories, in all mediums, hit […]
May 27, 2019 by 95 Comments How to Become a Writer4 Challenges of Writing for a Modern Audience
Sometimes I think everything I learned about life I learned from The Andy Griffith Show. For instance, in the episode “Andy Discovers America,” when Andy is incredulous about the new school teacher “starting them awful young for history,” Aunt Bea just sighs, “Well, maybe they have to. There’s more of it these days.” If that idea was […]
