Balancing the pursuit of creative writing with the demands of daily life is a nuanced challenge. Juggling life and writing isn’t easy without strategies that can help us maintain creative focus amid life’s myriad distractions. Whether you’re dealing with the pressures of work, familial responsibilities, or the never-ending lure of digital devices, writers everywhere face […]
June 3, 2015 by 63 Comments ForeshadowingWhy Authors Can’t Afford to Dupe Their Readers (or Why Hawkeye Ruined Age of Ultron)
This week’s video talks about why a certain plot twist in Age of Ultron made me really, really, really mad—and how you can do better in your own stories. Video Transcript: So if you’ve been watching me for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out I’m a major Marvel fan. But I’m just going […]
June 1, 2014 by 58 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 30: Describing Character Movements
Incorrectly describing character movements ranks surprisingly high among common writing mistakes. Within the confines of a story, a character can do only three things: he can think, he can talk, and he can move. Out of the three, the first two lend themselves most gracefully to written literature, since words are their very foundation. Movement, […]
April 13, 2014 by 28 Comments CharactersCreating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The First Half of the Second Act
In the structure of character arcs, the First Half of the Second Act is where your character ventures (or is thrust) into uncharted territory—and gets lost. He may not quite see it that way himself, but this is where he begins to discover that the old rules (the Lie He Believes) no longer apply. This […]
March 23, 2014 by 55 Comments CharactersCreating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The First Act
The First Act is one of my favorite parts of any story. Why? On the surface, the First Act seems to be the slowest part of the story—and it often is. It’s just setup, after all, right? True enough, except for that one little word just. It isn’t “just” setup; it’s SETUP! It sets up […]
August 25, 2013 by 35 Comments ProseThe One Rule for Choosing Your Story’s Tone
Choosing your story’s tone can make or break your book. It will affect every single page you write. Tone guides readers in figuring how they’re supposed to view a story. Funny? Serious? Edgy? Sarcastic? Wielded with understanding, tone will help you create a more cohesive story and will pull readers that much deeper into the […]
August 18, 2013 by 27 Comments Characters6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters
Dynamic, realistic, relatable characters pull readers in, open their eyes, and steal their hearts. Many a poor plot has been forgiven thanks to its amazing characters. You probably don’t start writing until getting to know your characters a little bit. But how can you make sure these characters will also be adored by your readers? […]
