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 more5 Ways to Choose Character Names for Your Novel
What really goes in to naming characters? Well, it turns out, quite a bit.
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?
Read moreStory Structure: Back to Basics
Occasionally as we write, we find ourselves getting bogged down in the details of story structure.
Read moreTwelve Questions to Ask to Find the Right Book Editor or Writing Coach
Finding the right editor can be overwhelming, but take your time and be persistent.
Read moreTalking Characters: How to Write Better Dialogue
We use terrible grammar in real life, we interrupt our sentences with fillers, and we often let our thoughts trail off before we get to the point. Let your characters’ dialogue be messy like that.
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