Sensory Stories: Building Immersive Settings & Vivid Scenes

How do you translate everything you know about the world where your story takes place into scenes that evoke the senses while revealing more about your novel’s characters and themes?

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Writing Self-Love in Fiction

I’d guess that your protagonist doesn’t have a fully developed sense of philautia on page one — or, if she does, it’s about to get seriously challenged.

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Obsessive Love: Writing Mania in Fiction

Think of mania like too much eros and not enough philautia and/or ludus. The result can be destructive.

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Six Love Stories: Building Relationships in Fiction

My new craft guide, Six Love Stories, takes a deep dive into each type of love and what to consider when you’re weaving it into your fiction in order to develop more authentic and compelling characters and plots.

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3 Steps to Prioritize Your Writing

I challenge you: Do you enjoy writing? Does it fill your cup? If yes, it deserves to be a priority—not only for the sake of your work but for your happiness and wellbeing.

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How World-Building Shapes Character Development in Fiction

The environment you create for your characters and readers is more than a backdrop for your narrative; it actively influences your characters' identities, motivations, and growth.

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World-Building Basics for Fiction Writers

With 50 exercises and prompts designed to help you build your fictional world — and then put it on the page — The Inkwell’s latest craft guide is designed to be practical and accessible for new and seasoned novelists alike.

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Crafting Conflict in Fiction

Conflict is what holds characters back from achieving their objectives — and it’s also what propels our stories forward and makes them resonate deeply with readers.

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Practical Tips for Plotting Your Novel

What can the Cheshire Cat teach us about writing a novel?

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Four Types of Conflict to Drive Your Story

At its simplest, conflict consists of the obstacles your protagonist faces in her quest to achieve her objective. Without it, your story would be super short and not so fulfilling.

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