These days, it’s easier than ever to write stories that look like stories. I’m talking about stories follow beat sheets, mimic bestselling formulas, and say all the “right” things. But more and more, I see authors tempted to make creative choices based on convenience rather than imagination or integrity. When that happens, we have to […]
February 17, 2025 by 21 Comments Writer's Help5 Proven Ways to Conquer Self-Doubt in Writing
Self-doubt is one of the biggest obstacles a writer will ever face. It creeps in at the worst moments—undermining confidence, stalling progress, and making you question whether your stories are even worth telling. Conquering self-doubt in writing isn’t about eliminating it altogether; it’s about learning to work with it. The key is recognizing self-doubt for […]
February 10, 2025 by 63 Comments Writing ResourcesExploring the Impact of AI on Fiction Writing: Opportunities and Challenges
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we do just about everything these days, and the impact of AI on fiction writing is no exception. As a writer who cherishes the creative process, I have spent the last few years grappling with both the possibilities and pitfalls this new technology brings. On the one hand, AI […]
January 27, 2025 by 66 Comments Writing ResourcesMaster List of Answers to Most Asked-For Writing Topics on This Site
You who read this site and participate in its discussions on all the writing topics are an endless source of inspiration to me. This is true in many ways, but most literally in that when you ask deeply insightful questions, you often give me great ideas for posts about writing topics! A few months ago, […]
June 3, 2024 by 40 Comments Podcast5 Strategies for Writing the Parts You Don’t Like
For all writers, there inevitably comes a time when we encounter aspects of the craft that, for one reason or another, we just don’t like. Whether it’s meticulously constructing a setting, creating the intricacies of dialogue, or grappling with a specific writing style, we all encounter elements that trigger a sense of dislike or resistance. […]
October 30, 2023 by 86 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 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 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 […]
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 […]
