In the beginning of the month, I wrote an article on what not to do when writing a love triangle. I went through many of the common pitfalls and difficulties that come up when writers include a love triangle in their story carelessly. But it’s completely possible to avoid those traps and write a love…
Love triangles have been written in all kinds of stories. They’re immensely popular not only in the young adult and romance genres, but also across fiction in general. And while there is definitely a time and a place for love triangles, too many authors include them when they aren’t necessary, assume they’re quick and low-effort…
Last year, we went through how to establish a theme for your book during the initial stages of outlining it. We walked through exactly how important themes are and how they are fundamental to every story. But a lot of people aren’t just starting a new book. Many writers are half way through or even…
We’ve talked a lot about tone on the blog lately. Whether you’re trying to manage a darker, more serious story without being overly violent, or if you want to balance a lighter story with higher stakes, managing your story’s tone is a multifaceted topic that requires a combination of several tools to do well. Although…
Last summer, I wrote about how the majority of stories to fall into two general categories — cast-focused and protagonist-focused. In a more in-depth article, we explored the strengths and weaknesses of both kinds and how they change your story. Mixing the two types happens occasionally, but it has to be done intentionally or it…
Certain stories bring with them an almost tangible brightness. It’s hard to describe, but something about them just seems unbeatably optimistic, even if the characters themselves face challenges, heartache, and even grief. These stories are heartwarming and often glorify adventure, romance, or friendship, using these elements to brighten the story. Despite the darker themes and…
Migration has almost everything you’d look for in a family-centered comedy: well-developed but humorous characters, hilarious gags, and its stunning visuals are truly unique, balancing the unique dynamic of classic 2D animation with three-dimensional depth. It highlights family themes, sibling relationships, and a call to adventure all within a refreshingly simple premise and plot. For…
For most writers, character backstories are pretty simple: kill off the protagonist’s parents so that they can have a tragic origin and aren’t held back by a family that cares about them. In many books, backstories fill a basic role as a history that makes the character seem both experienced with grief or suffering and…
This week the Story Fortress is taking a break for Christmas! We’ll be enjoying the holiday with our family and friends, but you can expect a new article bright and early next Friday morning. Thanks for sticking with us, and have a Merry Christmas! — Mara and Sophia
When I first read a story where the protagonist switched goals, I was irritated. The entire book had revolved around a certain goal. It had formed the central conflict of the entire story, the focal point of the protagonist’s development and internal conflict. And yet by the end the characters just… abandoned it. The story…