No matter how fantastical or how realistic, every fictional world has its own set of rules characters must follow.
Read moreA Little Too Convenient? Managing Coincidence in Fiction
Sometimes we just need a little help from fate to see our stories all the way through. And that’s ok. But there are more effective ways to set up those coincidences than dropping them in right at the critical moment.
Read moreWhat Is a Book Editor’s Job?
I break down what it is, exactly, that book editors do and do not do for our clients.
Read moreWhy Books on Writing Can Be Your Best Tools or Your Biggest Obstacles
“If one would employ a book such as this most usefully, let him determine to begin writing immediately.” - Samuel Selden, An Introduction to Playwriting
Read moreWhy Every Author Needs a Commonplace Book — And What to Put in It
A commonplace book can be a great tool for just about anybody, and it can be particularly useful for authors as a repository for inspiration, ideas, and notes that can help us win our battles with writer’s block.
Read moreThe “I Want” Song: What Musicals Can Teach Authors about Character Development
This song comes early in the show and spells out, in no uncertain terms, the protagonist’s most heartfelt desires. And it can teach us a lot about developing character objectives for our own novels.
Read moreWhat "How I Met Your Mother" Can Teach Us About Developing Character Backstory
Whatever else happened in season 9, the creators delivered a crash course in backstory creation.
Read more6 Ways to Brainstorm Bingeworthy Characters
Learn how to develop engaging characters from the inside out and from the outside in.
Read moreShort on Time? Try Writing in Bursts
Writing time doesn’t have to be perfectly curated — you can get words down anywhere, any time.
Read moreWhat Is Your Book About?
It’s a surprisingly difficult question, isn’t it?
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