I think we can all acknowledge that no story is perfect. Even the very best fiction has some element that could be stronger, or at the very least a criticism that we can understand, even if we don’t agree with it. As writers, our own work is no different. No matter how many books on…
Writers of all types — whether fiction or nonfiction, poets or journalists — have struggled with the seemingly insurmountable challenges that come with writer’s block. Sometimes, we have no idea how to proceed with our story. Other times, we are discouraged because we spotted an unexpected plot hole. Perhaps most frustratingly, there are times when…
I used to struggle a lot with character deaths. I would have a wide cast of characters spread out before me, know it was unrealistic to have them all make it out of the story alive, and then force myself to kill one or two of them in the climax. But I always second-guessed myself….
The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that there aren’t enough sad moments in fiction, especially when a character has died and the rest of the cast is dealing with the grief. We might get a short glimpse of their funeral, or even a line or two of dialogue that shows the…
Unfortunately we’ve both been crazy busy this week and don’t have an article ready for today. Sophia and I have been working hard all week to get one polished and ready for you guys, so you can expect one next Friday for sure. In the meantime, keep reading and writing and let us know in…
It’s hard to share things that are close to your heart. It can be even harder to write them. It’s difficult to write scenes when your characters cry or share their deepest fears, because it’s the most vulnerable moment in your entire book. If your readers relate to their most passionate thoughts and secrets, your…
At this point, enough fantasy characters have traveled through magical portals to reach far-away worlds. That trope — a magic circle with teleportation properties — a has become cliched and predictable, with many readers asking for more creative devices to transport protagonists between two worlds. But coming up with a brand-new method of transportation can…
There is so much good that could be said about Honor Among Thieves. It might be the best movie that came out of 2023. I’ve known I want to write a blog post about it for months, but most of what makes the story so good is just its strength in the foundational aspects storytelling…
The middle of our stories can often be the hardest to master. Even plotters like myself, with extensive planning done beforehand and a crystal-clear vision of the scenes just a few steps ahead, can get stuck in the middle. Sometimes the plot seems predictable or the characters are repeating themselves or you need to add…
The premise of most stories includes some type of a fish-out-of-water situation. If it didn’t, and the characters stayed safely tucked away in their comfort zones, it wouldn’t make for an interesting story. Although sometimes other elements, events, or even characters intrude into their world and make it uncomfortable, very often a character is forced…