Podcasts by Helping Writers Become Authors

Ep. 646: How to Market a Book: 6 Steps From a Full-Time Author from 2023-12-11T08:00

Knowing how to market a book starts with identifying your personal marketing ethos. After that, take these six steps to connect with readers.

Ep. 645: 14 Do's and Don'ts of Time Management for Writers (from a Recovering Over-Achiever) from 2023-11-27T08:00

Time management for writers starts with practical steps for aligning your daily schedule to your vision for your writing life.

Ep. 644: "There and Back Again": The Lord of the Rings and the Power of Despair in Fiction from 2023-10-30T08:00

To create fiction that offers life-changing hope, authors must be willing to also embrace the power of despair in fiction. Here are 5 tips.

Ep. 643: How to Use Archetypes in a Series from 2023-10-09T08:50

Consider the following four approaches to how to use archetypes in a series so you can determine which feels most resonant for your story.

Ep. 642: How Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story from 2023-10-02T08:00

Whether you're using a guided approach or just freewheeling, here are five ideas for how meditation can inspire your next story idea.

Ep. 641: Announcing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway) from 2023-09-25T08:10

Based on six transformational character arcs, these Archetypal Character Guided Meditations will help writers brainstorm even better stories.

Ep. 640: What Are Antagonistic Proxies? And How Can They Help Your Story? from 2023-09-18T08:00

Here are four tips for how to use antagonistic proxies to your advantage, depending on your story's needs, without complicating your story.

Ep. 639: Where Should You Start Plotting Your Story? from 2023-09-11T08:00

An overview of the main concerns when deciding where to start plotting a story, depending on where it makes the most sense for you.

Ep. 638: Hot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character from 2023-08-28T08:00

One of the best tricks for writing memorable character relationships is to think of each relationship as an entity of its own. Here's how.

Ep. 637: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing from 2023-08-21T08:00

What happens when you lose the joy? Learn how to rediscover the joy of writing you experienced way back at the beginning of your journey,

What Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious) from 2023-08-14T08:00

Learning how to identify plot devices and fully support them on every page of your story is a huge step toward writing cohesive and resonant fiction.

Ep. 635: How to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips from 2023-07-31T08:00

Six tips for how to write interesting happy scenes that will become some of your readers favorite moments in the story.

Ep. 634: 8 Different Types of Scenes from 2023-07-24T08:00

Understanding some of the main types of scenes can help you recognize which choice is right for your story at any particular moment.

Ep. 633: How to Discover What Your Character Fears from 2023-07-10T08:00

Understanding what your character fears can offer significant insights into your story and its underlying themes.

Ep. 632: A New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes from 2023-07-03T08:00

Learn how the Lie the Character Believes is a gauge of the character's relationship with reality--and how to use it to upgrade character arcs.

Ep. 631: What Does Your Character Want? Desire vs. Plot Goal vs. Moral Intention vs. Need from 2023-06-26T08:00

Writers can find value and nuance by digging deeper into the functionality of these four terms in answering: "What does your character want?"

Ep. 630: What's the Difference? Your Character's Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness from 2023-06-19T08:00

All four terms--Ghost vs. wound vs. Lie vs. weakness--refer to a pain point for your character. Here's how to understand the nuances.  

Ep. 629: The Daily Routine of a Full-Time Writer from 2023-06-12T08:00

Join me for a peek into my daily routine as a full-time writer!

Ep. 628: Imposter Syndrome for Writers Is a Real Thing (+ the Key to Slaying It) from 2023-06-05T08:00

How to transform imposter syndrome for writers from an enemy into a tool for growing yourself throughout the journey of the writing life.

Ep. 627: 5 Ways to Use Your Character's Shadows to Power Your Story from 2023-05-29T08:00

Here are five places in your story where you can use your character's shadows to create amazing complexity and thematic resonance.

Ep. 626: How to Create Insanely Complex Characters Using "Shadow Theory" from 2023-05-21T19:11

"Shadow theory" is one of the most intuitive tools a writer can use to identify the contrasting elements that create complex characters.

Ep. 625: Why There's No Such Thing as "Just a Story" from 2023-05-15T08:00

Four reasons why the dismissive statement "it's just a story" is not only erroneous, but one of humanity's most the dangerous lies.

Ep. 624: Tips on Hiring and Working with a Book Cover Designer (And New Cover Reveal for Dreamlander!) from 2023-05-08T08:20

Step-by-step guide to finding the right book cover designer, preparing for the design process, and achieving an effective collaboration.

Ep. 623: The Backstory Drip (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 3 of 3) from 2023-05-01T08:00

Discover the versatile and effective technique of the backstory drip by learning four techniques for revealing backstory in your story.

Ep. 622: Backstory-as-Story vs. Alternating Timelines (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 2 of 3) from 2023-04-24T08:00

Backstory techniques are crucial to the success of any story. Backstory-as-story and alternating timelines are two possible approaches.

Ep. 621: Prologues vs. Flashbacks (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 1 of 3) from 2023-04-17T09:00

Learn how to use four specific backstory techniques to share character histories with your audience, starting with prologues and flashbacks.

Ep. 620: How Archetypes Changed My Life and My Writing from 2023-03-27T08:00

When "good writing" strikes its steel upon the flint of archetypes, there is a sudden unity of truth between author and reader.

Ep. 619: Here Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes from 2023-03-20T08:00

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Ep. 618: Genre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction from 2023-03-06T09:00

Learning how to write literary fiction can be helpful not only in writing the genre itself, but in raising the vibration on any type of story.

Ep. 617: Genre Tips: How to Write Mystery from 2023-02-27T09:00

Learning how to write mystery stories involves the most impressive trick of all: outsmarting readers while still playing fair with the clues.

Ep. 616: Genre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction from 2023-02-20T09:00

Learning how to write historical fiction requires the skills to a well-drawn story, with the added responsibility of evoking times gone by.

Ep. 615: Genre Tips: How to Write Romance from 2023-02-13T09:00

Learning how to write romance requires both strong technique and the courage to write vulnerably about this integral part of life.

Ep. 614: Genre Tips: How to Write Fantasy from 2023-02-06T09:50

Fantasy combines imagination and innovation with deep roots in archetype and myth. Here are five tips for how to write fantasy.

Ep. 613: 5 Tips for How to Return to Writing After a Long Break from 2023-01-30T09:00

Making a return to writing after a long time away can feel overwhelming or even bewildering. Here are five tips to set you up for success.

Your Story Isn't Working? Here Are 6 Problems to Troubleshoot from 2023-01-23T09:00

If you currently feel your story isn't working, double-check you've ticked these six important boxes in writing a cohesive story that works.

6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer's Block from 2023-01-16T09:00

Long-term writer's block can be scary and confusing. Here are six important lessons to help you through the experience.

Ep. 610: Looking Back on 2022: 5 Reflections on a Year of Healing from 2023-01-02T09:00

I share with you 5 gifts from a year of healing, in hopes you may also find them healing or inspiring in your own journey into the New Year.

Ep. 609: 15 of My Favorite Books in 2022 from 2022-12-12T09:00

Check out some of my favorite books from 2022 in three categories: Fiction, Writing How-To, and General Non-Fiction.

Ep. 608: What Are the Best Places to Write? 15 Tips to Create the Perfect Writing Space from 2022-12-05T09:00

Discover important ingredients, ideas, and tools to help you tell your stories even in situations that may not be the best places to write.

Ep. 607: 8 Tips for Dealing With Negative Reviews of Your Book from 2022-11-07T09:50

Examines why negative reviews of your book may be impacting you and how to re-center your perspective afterwards.

Ep. 606: Top 14 Tips and Tools for Creating Unique Character Voices from 2022-10-31T08:00

Creating unique character voices is one of the great challenges of writing fiction. Here are nine considerations and five tips for creating yours.

Ep. 605: 9 Negative Character Arcs in the Enneagram from 2022-10-17T08:00

Explores nine negative character arcs in the Enneagram personality theory, including the thematic Truths the characters are missing.

Ep. 604: 9 Positive Character Arcs in the Enneagram from 2022-10-10T08:00

Explore nine positive character arcs in the Enneagram personality theory, including the Lie each character starts out believing.

Ep. 603: Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something? from 2022-09-05T08:00:30

Do you need personal experience to write about something? Turns out there are four ways to "know" something, and experience is just one.

Ep. 602: 7 Tips for How to Add Complexity to Your Story from 2022-08-29T08:00:31

Here are seven tips for how to add complexity to your story without crossing the line into unwanted complications.

Ep. 601: Is Your Story Too Complicated? Here Are 9 Signs from 2022-08-22T08:00:13

You want your story to be complex, not complicated. Is your story too complicated? Here are nine important things to think about.

Ep. 600: How to Write Emotional Scenes (Without Making Them Cringey) from 2022-08-15T08:00:44

One of the most important keys to creating good fiction is understanding how to write emotional scenes in a way that feels genuine.

Ep. 599: How Perfect Does Your Story's Structural Timing Have to Be? from 2022-08-08T08:00:35

A closer look at the mechanics of structural timing. What is it? Why is it important? And how precise does it have to be?

Ep. 598: 13 Rules to Be a Better Beta Reader from 2022-08-01T08:00:45

Not all beta readers are created equal. Just as you can learn to be a better writer, you can also learn to be a better beta reader.

Ep. 597: How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters? from 2022-07-25T08:00:19

How you structure a story with multiple main characters will depend on which type of plot you're working with.

Ep. 596: 7 Tips for Opening Your Story In Medias Res from 2022-07-18T08:00:58

Discover the pros and cons of opening your story in medias res (or "in the middle" of action) and use these tips to refine your use of it.

Ep. 595: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions About In Medias Res from 2022-07-11T08:00:10

Is opening your story in medias res compatible with the Three-Act Structure? The secret is in understanding how the First Act functions.

Ep. 594: 8 Ways to Avoid Cardboard Characters (and Plot Contrivances While You're At It) from 2022-06-27T08:00:47

If your story suffers from cardboard characters, it probably also suffers from plot contrivances. Good news: if you fix one, you fix both.

Ep. 593: Understanding the New Normal World of a Story's Resolution from 2022-06-20T08:00:36

In many ways, the New Normal World of a story's Resolution is what successfully completes the context of the entire story.

Ep. 592: Understanding the Underworld of a Story's Third Act from 2022-06-13T08:00:09

The Underworld of a Story's Third Act is symbolically important for creating powerful and realistic change with your characters and plot.

Ep. 591: Understanding the Adventure World of a Story's Second Act from 2022-06-06T08:00:11

Writers can use the metaphoric Adventure World of a story's Second Act to better understand this crucial part of story structure.

Ep. 590: Understanding the Normal World of a Story's First Act from 2022-05-30T08:00:42

Authors need to understand the four "worlds" represented within a story's structure, the first of which is the Normal World of the First Act.

Ep. 589: Deepening Your Story's Theme With the Thematic Square from 2022-05-23T08:00:37

If you want to deepen the complexity of your story's theme, one tool you can employ is Robert McKee's thematic square.

Ep. 588: 6 Ways to Find Your Best Ideas Before You Start Writing from 2022-05-16T08:00:53

Use these six ways to find your best ideas for writing your book, as you cultivate, channel, and honor your deeper inspiration.

Ep. 587: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 2 of 2 from 2022-05-09T08:00:36

Examines the role of the antagonist in the second half of a story's structure--the Second Pinch Point through the Resolution.

Ep. 586: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 1 of 2 from 2022-05-02T08:00:39

The major plot beats in a story are interwoven with the protagonist's journey. But what is the role of the antagonist in story structure?

Ep. 585: Do You Have to Write Every Day? 10 Pros and Cons from 2022-04-25T08:00:12

Should writers make it a habit to write every day? Here are five pros of writing every day, as well as five potential cons.

Ep. 584: The 6 Challenges of Writing a Second Novel from 2022-04-18T08:00:46

Writing a second novel can often be surprisingly harder than the first one. Check out six challenges sophomore writers often face.

Ep. 583: 14 Tips for Dealing With the Passage of Time in a Story from 2022-04-11T08:00:36

Ask these important questions to make sure the passage of time in a story is strengthening rather than weakening its narrative power.

Ep. 582: 6 Ways to Craft Spectacular Set-Piece Scenes from 2022-03-28T08:00:28

Here are six important considerations to keep in mind when amping up your story's most important scenes--its set-piece scenes.

Ep. 581: How to Know When You're a Successful Author? from 2022-03-14T08:00:33

The question of "how to know when you're a successful author?" offers some obvious answers--and yet the subject is far more complex.

Ep. 580: Should You Take a Break From Writing? 5 Red Flags from 2022-02-28T09:00

When should you take a break from writing? And once you've taken that step, what in heaven's name are you going to do with yourself?

Ep. 579: 9 Ways to Approach Relationship Dynamics in Fiction from 2022-02-21T09:00:26

Creating an amazing supporting cast that can offer important relationship dynamics in fiction will also help develop your protagonist.

Episode #578: Archetypes and Story Structure: How They're Connected from 2022-02-14T09:00:37

Learn how archetypes and story structure mirror each other in any individual book and can be used to further strengthen your story.

Ep. 577: Making Story Structure Your Own from 2022-02-07T09:00

Here are a five important questions you, as a writer of fiction, can ask yourself to help you in making story structure your own.

Ep. 576: Conflict in Fiction: What It Really Is and Why It's Important to Plot from 2022-01-31T09:00:02

There’s nothing incorrect in using confrontation to create conflict in fiction. But to understand conflict as only confrontation is too narrow a definition.

Ep. #575: The Writer's Inner Critic: 10 Ways to Tell if Yours Is Healthy from 2022-01-24T09:00:08

Learn how to increase the health and effectiveness of the writer's inner critic while diminishing toxic effects.

Ep. 574: A Writer's New Year Reflections: The 6 Gifts I Gave Myself in 2021 from 2022-01-10T09:00

Here are this writer's New Year reflections, focusing on six "gifts" I gave myself and why I believe they were profoundly life-changing.

Ep. 573: The Two Halves of the Climactic Moment from 2021-12-13T09:00

The two halves of the Climactic Moment require the story's final sequence to offer two very specific beats: Sacrifice and Victory/Failure.

Ep. 572: The Two Halves of the Third Plot Point from 2021-12-06T14:00

The two halves of the Third Plot Point work together to create a scene arc that moves from the False Victory to the Low Moment.

Ep. 571: The Two Halves of the Midpoint from 2021-11-29T09:00

The halves of the Midpoint are unique in story structure in that they mark the dividing line between the two halves of the entire story arc.

Ep. 570: The Two Halves of the First Plot Point from 2021-11-15T09:00

The First Plot Point is often referred to as a threshold, a visual metaphor representing the native two-sidedness of all structural beats.

Ep. 569: The Two Halves of the Inciting Event from 2021-11-08T09:00

A series examining the two important "halves" in each of story structure's major beats, beginning with the Inciting Event in the First Act.

Ep. #568: 6 Questions to Help You Avoid Repetitive Scenes from 2021-10-25T08:00

Find out what defines repetitive scenes, as well as strategies for recognizing and avoiding them in your fiction.

Ep. 567: Archetypal Antagonists for the Mage Arc: Evil and the Weakness of Humankind from 2021-10-11T08:00

The archetypal antagonists for the Mage Arc often manifest subtly--not  in obvious "evil," but in an ordinary person's weakness.

Ep. 566: Archetypal Antagonists for the Crone Arc: Death Blight and Tempter from 2021-10-04T08:00

The archetypal antagonists for the Crone Arc are represented as a Death Blight and as the subtle Tempter who would lure her from the Truth.

Ep. 565: Archetypal Antagonists for the King Arc: Cataclysm and Rebel from 2021-09-27T08:00

The archetypal antagonists for the King Arc are the Cataclysm and the Rebel, both of which challenge the King to culminate his rule.

Ep. 564: Archetypal Antagonists for the Queen Arc: Invader and Empty Throne from 2021-09-20T08:00

Usually the archetypal antagonists for a Queen Arc are represented by the Invader in the outer conflict and the Empty Throne in the inner conflict.

Ep. 563: Archetypal Antagonists for the Hero Arc: Dragon and Sick King from 2021-09-13T08:00

The antagonists for the Hero Arc can be seen archetypally as both the Dragon and the Sick King.

Ep. 562: Archetypal Antagonists for the Maiden Arc: Authority and Predator from 2021-09-06T08:00

The antagonists for the Maiden Arc can be seen archetypally as both her Authority Figures and a frightening Predator.

Ep. 561: Archetypal Antagonists for Each of the Six Archetypal Character Arcs from 2021-08-30T08:00

A series looking at the archetypal antagonists inherent within each of the six main archetypal "life arcs."

Ep. 560: The Main Reason Your Story's Premise Is Important from 2021-08-23T08:00

How can you tell what your story's premise is telling readers? Here are four questions you can ask about your story's premise.

Ep. 559: 3 Things to Know About the Ending of a Story from 2021-08-09T08:00

The tremendous (but sometimes misunderstood) significance of the Climactic Moment in the ending of a story.

Ep. 558: How the Antagonist Functions in Different Types of Character Arcs from 2021-08-02T08:00

The role of the antagonist varies depending on the nature of the protagonist's character arc.

Ep. 557: Should You Edit As You Go? from 2021-07-26T08:00

Should you edit as you go? The best choice has much to do with a writer's personality, strengths, weaknesses, and even lifestyle demands.

Ep. 556: Why Everyone Should Write (Even if You Think You Stink) from 2021-07-19T08:00

The world needs us all to be writers and creators. It needs the next Pulitzer winner, and it needs the scribbled poem forgotten on a napkin in a cafe.

Ep. 555: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 22: How to Use Archetypal Character Arcs in Your Stories from 2021-07-05T08:00

How can you apply archetypal character arcs in a practical way to your own stories? Here are five considerations for choosing archetypes.

Ep. 554: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 21: The Flat Archetype of the Mentor from 2021-06-28T08:00

The final Flat archetype of the Mentor is one of the most significant within human storytelling.

Ep. 553: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 20: The Flat Archetype of the Elder from 2021-06-21T08:00

The Flat archetype of the Elder provides crucial guidance for enacting important change in surrounding characters.

Ep. 552: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 19: The Flat Archetype of the Ruler from 2021-06-13T19:38:39

The Flat archetype of the Ruler represents the potential period in a person’s life in which he or she is in a position of leadership.

Ep. 551: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 18: The Flat Archetype of the Parent from 2021-06-07T08:00

We don’t often think of the Flat archetype of the Parent with the same enthusiasm as we do the Hero. And yet they are intrinsically linked.

Ep. 550: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 17: The Flat Archetype of the Lover from 2021-05-31T08:00

A deeply nuanced archetype that evolves with us for most of our lives, the Flat archetype of the Lover is inherent and integral.

Ep. 549: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 16: The Flat Archetype of the Child from 2021-05-24T08:00

The archetype of the Child is necessarily an archetype of deep vulnerability and surprisingly powerful impact upon other characters.

Ep. 548: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 15: Introduction to the 6 Flat Archetypes from 2021-05-17T08:00

Flat archetypes are often seen teaching other characters some of the same lessons they just learned in their own previously completed arcs.

Ep. 547: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Mage’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-05-10T08:00

Will the character triumph--or succumb in the end to the powerful temptations of either of the Mage's shadow archetypes, the Miser or the Sorcerer?

Ep. 546: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Crone’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-05-03T08:00

If the character cannot powerfully transition into the final act of life, the risk is that of sliding into the Crone's shadow archetypes.

Ep. 545: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The King’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-04-26T14:00

Whether this powerful character brings life to the Kingdom depends on if he is in the grip of the King's shadow archetypes of Puppet and Tyrant.

Ep. 544: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Queen’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-04-19T08:00

The Queen’s shadows have the potential to block her possibility for a positively transformative archetypal character arc.

Ep. 543: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Hero’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-04-12T08:00

The Hero’s shadow archetypes of Coward and Bully are especially important (and cautionary) due to the pervasiveness of the Hero’s Journey.

Ep. 542: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The Maiden’s Shadow Archetypes from 2021-04-05T08:00

Out of fear and egoism, the Maiden's shadow archetypes would prevent her from embracing a new perspective and completing her journey.

Ep. 541: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 8: Introduction to the 12 Shadow Archetypes from 2021-03-29T08:00

Each positive character archetype inherently represents a struggle with related shadow archetypes--one passive and one aggressive.

Ep. 540: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The Mage Arc from 2021-03-22T08:00

The powerful and mysterious Mage Arc--the final archetypal character arc--turns its attention to questions of power and surrender.

Ep. 539: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Crone Arc from 2021-03-15T08:00

The Crone Arc begins the final act of the “life arcs” by presenting an inevitable and imperative Underworld Journey.

Ep. 538: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The King Arc from 2021-03-08T09:00

Although the plot in a King Arc can be absolutely epic, it is a fundamentally spiritual arc--more so than any that have preceded it.

Ep. 537: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 4: The Queen Arc from 2021-03-01T09:00

The majestic Queen Arc builds upon the lessons learned in the Hero's Journey to create an archetypal character arc that offers a worthy sequel.

Ep. 536: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Hero Arc from 2021-02-21T22:49:22

The Hero Arc is the story of the conquering champion--the ingenuous but perhaps immodest youth setting out to do a great deed.

Ep. 535: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc from 2021-02-15T09:00

As the "youngest" of the archetypal character arcs, the Maiden Arc represents the quintessential coming-of-age story.

Ep. 534: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 1: A New Series from 2021-02-08T09:00

For a writer, one of the most exciting explorations of archetype can be found within specific archetypal character arcs--or journeys.

Ep. 533: An Introduction to Archetypal Stories from 2021-02-01T09:00

Why are archetypal stories so important and what does this mean for you as a writer attempting to channel these deep patterns of existence?

Ep. 532: Story Theory and the Quest for Meaning from 2021-01-25T09:00

It is not too simplistic or idealistic a statement to say that storytelling--and therefore story theory--is a quest for meaning.

Ep. 531: 3 Character Arcs in the Karpman Drama Triangle from 2021-01-18T09:00

Pairing the Karpman Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle offers a fantastic tool for creating solid character arcs.

Ep. 530: 7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020 from 2021-01-04T09:00

Seven writing lessons to inspire, ground, and encourage you in moving forward into the wide new frontier of 2021.

Ep. 529: What Is Dreamzoning? (7 Steps to Finding New Story Ideas) from 2020-11-29T21:46:54

Every writer knows about daydreaming. But what about dreamzoning? How can it help you cultivate inspiration for your storytelling?

Ep. 528: 7 Steps to Stop Overthinking Your Writing from 2020-11-23T09:00

The problem of overthinking your writing is really part of the larger challenge of learning how to live a truly creative lifestyle.

Ep. 527: 5 Questions About Scene Sequences from 2020-11-16T09:00

Scene sequences bring together a series of individual scenes into a distinct narrative section, united by focus, location, and/or theme.

Ep. 526: Are You Growing as a Writer? (Here's the Only Way to Tell) from 2020-11-09T09:00

Growing as a writer is not merely about mastering a skill, but also, and more pertinently, about our growth as human beings.

Ep. 525: The Power of Chiastic Story Structure (Especially in a Series) from 2020-11-02T09:00

An overview of chiastic story structure itself, along with four tips to employ this technique over the longer work of an entire series.

Ep. 524: The Midpoint as the Swivel Point of Your Story's Linked Structure from 2020-10-26T08:00

How can you keep your pacing tight and the story interesting over the long haul of the Second Act? The simplest answer: Mind the Midpoint.

Ep. 523: The Link Between Your Story's Pinch Points from 2020-10-12T08:00

Learn to identify and leverage several important story structure similarities between your story’s Pinch Points.

Ep. 522: The Link Between Your Story's First Plot Point and Third Plot Point from 2020-10-05T08:00

Deepen your understanding of story structure by examining the parallel functions of the First Plot Point and the Third Plot Point.

Ep. 521: The Link Between Your Story's Hook and Resolution from 2020-09-28T08:00

You can think of the link between your story’s Hook and Resolution in four different ways. Ask these questions to help in brainstorming.

Ep. 520: The Crucial Link Between Your Story's Inciting Event and Climactic Moment from 2020-09-14T08:00

Structurally speaking, the Inciting Event initiates the story's conflict, while the Climactic Moment fully resolves it.

Episode #519: 15 Steps to Self-Publish Your Book from 2020-09-07T08:00

Once you've decided in favor of the indie route, what are the actual steps to self-publish your book? Use this actionable list.

Episode #518: 7 Considerations for Your Antagonist's Motivations (Which Will Save You SOOO Much Trouble) from 2020-08-31T08:00

Your antagonist's motivations can make or break your story. If they are weak, unconvincing, or complicated, your story suffers in key areas.

Ep. 517: Afraid to Let Anyone Read Your Writing? 5 Steps to Move Past Fears from 2020-08-24T08:00

Once you understand why you are afraid to let anyone read your writing, you can come up with a successful plan to mitigate the fears.

Ep. 516: 5 Exercises for Honing Your Story Instincts from 2020-08-17T08:00

Your story instincts and your ability to tap into them clearly will define how much "talent" you may have as a writer.

Ep. 515: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Sequel Scenes That Grip Readers from 2020-08-10T08:00

Learning how to write sequel scenes is a specialized technique that will allow you to grip readers' attention on every page.

Ep. 514: 5 Ways to Help Writers During the Pandemic (+Giveaways to Get You Started) from 2020-08-02T21:21:14

Want to help writers during the pandemic? Here are five ideas--along with giveaways to help you get started in bolstering the writing community.

Ep. 513: 7 Misconceptions About Being a Writer from 2020-07-26T17:19:32

The more lightly we grab hold of certain misconceptions about being a writer, the more easily we can discard them when they're no longer of use to us.

Ep. 512: 4 Questions to Prevent Plot Holes from 2020-07-20T08:00

Whether you're outlining or editing, here are four questions you can ask to help identify, rectify, or prevent plot holes.

Ep. 511: How to Get Stuff Done as a Writer (or How This INTJ Leverages Her Te) from 2020-07-05T21:44:23

Sooner or later, procrastination is stumbling block for most of us. As an INTJ, here are my top four tips for how to get stuff done as a writer.

Ep. 510: The 3 Acts of a Writer's Life--Or How Your Age Affects Your Writing from 2020-06-29T09:00

Writing looks a little different in every stage of a writer's life. Here's a look at the way your age affects your writing in the Three Acts of your life.

Ep. 509: Using All Four Cognitive Functions as a Writer from 2020-06-22T08:00

How to better understand the four cognitive functions as a writer by consciously developing them--Intuition, Sensing, Thinking, and Feeling.

Ep. 508: 11 Exercises to Enhance Your Visual Thinking from 2020-06-01T06:00

To help you improve your writing and storytelling, here are eleven exercises you can use to consciously access your visual thinking and creativity.

Ep. 507: Editing Your Novel Q&A from 2020-05-24T17:19:36

Have questions about editing your novel? The best way to find good answers is to ask good questions. Here are eight excellent questions about editing.

Ep. 506: Creativity vs. Distraction: 13 Tips for Writers in the Age of the Internet from 2020-05-18T06:00

Controlling and cutting down on distraction is the first step in reclaiming our full creative capacity. Here are 13 tips to get started!

Ep. 505: 7 Possible Hooks for Your Opening Chapter from 2020-05-11T00:07:30

In order to grab readers, you'll need to consider several specific types of hooks for your opening chapter. You may want to use one--or all of them.

Ep. 505: 15 Productive Tasks You Can Still Do Even When You Don't Feel Like Writing from 2020-04-27T00:00:58

If you find you don't feel like writing right now, here's a list of 15 important writing tasks you may be more in the mood for.

Ep. 503: 4 Ways Writing Improves Your Relationship With Yourself from 2020-04-20T01:17:33

The more you learn to listen to the self that appears on the page, the more writing improves your relationship with yourself in an ever-deepening journey.

Ep. 502: How to Get Some Writing Done: Discipline vs. Enthusiasm from 2020-04-13T06:00

Sometimes the hardest part of getting some writing done is just... doing it. Here are 10 tips for cultivating discipline and renewing enthusiasm.

Ep. 501: 7 Ways Writing Saves Us When Life Is Hard from 2020-04-06T07:00

Writing and stories have the power to help all of us--but especially writers. Here are seven ways writing can help us keep going in times of uncertainty.

Ep. 500: 8 Challenges (and Solutions) When Writing From Home from 2020-03-30T00:39:50

If you're writing from home (or honestly, trying to accomplish just about anything from home), here are eight tips for maximizing your daily routine.

Ep. 499: The Power of Hopeful Stories in a Stressful Time from 2020-03-22T21:37:18

Want to put something good into the world right now? Here are five ways the power of hopeful stories can create change in a positive way.

Ep. 498: 5 Questions About How to Balance Multiple POVs in Your Story from 2020-03-15T22:07:06

Knowing your story's ending will help you know the right answer to almost any POV question. Let's look at 5 questions about using multiple POVs.

Ep. #497: Critique: 6 Tips for Introducing Characters from 2020-03-08T21:43:29

Your goal in introducing characters should be to do so with the least amount of info possible while still making the characters memorable. Here's how!

Ep. 496: Creativity vs. the Ego (Or, the Value of Unpublishable Stories) from 2020-03-01T22:56:26

When creativity becomes a servant of the ego, rather than the other way around--we can get confused about what we're doing and why.

Ep. 495: The Professional Writing Resources I Use for All Parts of the Writing and Publishing Processes from 2020-02-23T17:38:44

Here are fourteen professional writing resources to help with all parts of authorpreneurship: writing, editing, blogging/podcasting, book formatting, marketing.

Ep. 494: Thoughts on How to Be Critical of Stories in a Way That Makes a Difference from 2020-02-17T01:19:31

Learn how to be critical of stories in a way that turns the potential for negativity into a positive force that drives your own creativity.

Ep. 493: 6 Steps to Create Realistic (and Powerful) Scene Dilemmas from 2020-02-04T21:55:57

Of all the many aspects of scene structure, scene dilemmas are among the most powerful but also the most overlooked. Here are six steps to acing yours.

Ep. 492: 2 Different Types of the Lie Your Character Believes from 2020-01-20T04:00

Ep. 491: 3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year from 2020-01-13T04:00

Ep. 490: My Top Books of 2019 from 2020-01-06T04:00

Ep. 489: Critique: Supporting Characters and Theme: 6 Important Questions to Ask About Your Story from 2019-12-16T04:00

Ep. 488: Critique: 10 Ways to Write a Better First Chapter Using Specific Word Choices from 2019-12-09T04:00

Ep. 487: How to Choose the Right Antagonist for Any Type of Story from 2019-11-25T04:00

Ep. 486: How to Overcome Fear as a Writer and Embrace Your Profound Courage from 2019-11-18T04:00

Ep. 485: 23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office from 2019-11-04T04:00

Ep. 484: How to Know Which Parts of Your Story Readers Will Like Best from 2019-10-28T04:00

Ep. 483: A Writer's Guide to Understanding People from 2019-10-21T04:00

Ep. 482: This Is How to Transform Info Dumps Into Exciting Plot Reveals from 2019-10-14T04:00

Ep. 481: A Challenge to Write Life-Changing Fiction from 2019-10-07T04:00

Ep. 480: 5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Theme from 2019-09-30T04:00

Ep. 479: Are You Struggling to Be Creative? This Might Be Why from 2019-09-23T04:00

Ep. 478: Critique: 10 Ways to Write Excellent Dialogue from 2019-09-16T04:00

Ep. 477: Creating Your Character's Inner Conflict: Want vs. Need from 2019-09-02T04:00

Ep. 476: How to Use a Truth Chart to Figure Out Character Arc from 2019-08-26T04:00

Ep. 475: How to Tell if Your Story Has Too Much Plot, Not Enough Character from 2019-08-19T04:00

Ep. 474: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 2: The 3 Negative Arcs from 2019-08-05T04:00

Ep. 473: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 1: The 2 Heroic Arcs from 2019-07-29T04:00

Ep. 472: How to Make Your Plot a Powerful Thematic Metaphor from 2019-07-22T04:00

Ep. 471: Taking Your Writing to the Next Level: Whole-Life Art from 2019-07-01T04:00

Ep. 470: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Gripping Internal Narrative from 2019-06-24T04:00

Ep. 469: 5 Ways to Earn Audience Loyalty from 2019-06-17T04:00

Ep. 468: 6 Requirements for Writing Better Character Goals from 2019-06-10T04:00

Ep. 467: How to Write Interesting Scenes from 2019-06-03T04:00

Ep. 466: 4 Challenges of Writing for a Modern Audience from 2019-05-27T04:00

Ep. 465: Helping Authors Become Artists from 2019-04-22T04:00

Ep. 464: How to Use Your Outline When Writing Your First Draft from 2019-04-15T04:00

Ep. 463: What Is the Relationship Between Plot and Theme? from 2019-04-08T04:00

Ep. 462: 5 Ways to Use Theme to Create Character Arc (and Vice Versa) from 2019-04-01T04:00

Ep. 461: 4 Pacing Tricks to Keep Readers' Attention from 2019-03-25T04:00

Ep. 460: How to Find Your Thematic Principle from 2019-03-18T04:00

Ep. 459: Plot, Character, and Theme: The Greatest Love Triangle in Fiction from 2019-03-11T04:00

Ep. 458: 7 Things to Try When Writing Is Hard from 2019-02-25T04:00

Ep. 457: How to Use Paragraph Breaks to Guide the Reading Experience from 2019-02-11T04:00

Ep. 456: 10 Advantages of Writing a Single-POV Story from 2019-02-04T04:00

Ep. 455: My 9 Writing Goals for the New Year from 2019-01-28T04:00

Ep. 454: How to Create the Perfect Writing Process for You from 2019-01-21T04:00

Ep. 453: My Top Books of 2018 from 2018-12-17T04:00

Ep. 452: The 10-Step Checklist to Writing an Above-Average Novel from 2018-12-10T04:00

Ep. 451: The 10 Rules of Writing Large Casts of Characters from 2018-12-03T04:00

Ep. 450: How to Choose Your Story's Plot Points from 2018-11-19T04:00

Ep. 449: 5 Ways to Successfully Start a Book With a Dream from 2018-11-12T04:00

Ep. 448: When Writing, How Do You Know When Enough Is Enough? from 2018-11-05T04:00

Ep. 447: 5 Lessons From a Lost Novel from 2018-10-29T04:00

Ep. 446: Words Are Radical! (or, How to Cherish Language) from 2018-10-15T04:00

Ep. 445: Story Structure Q and A: 6 Outstanding Questions About Structure from 2018-10-01T04:00

Ep. 444: 3 Tips for Improving Show, Don't Tell from 2018-09-24T04:00

Ep. 443: Do You Have Sloppy Writing Habits? (And 4 Things to Do About It) from 2018-09-03T04:00

Ep. 442: 5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters from 2018-08-27T04:00

Ep. 441: Writer's Envy--And 3 Thoughts on What to Do About It from 2018-08-20T04:00

Ep. 440: How to Market Your Book When You Hate Marketing from 2018-08-13T04:00

Ep. 439: 4 Ways to Choose a Better Theme for Your Book from 2018-08-06T04:00

Ep. 438: 4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks from 2018-07-23T04:00

Ep. 437: How to Write Unique Themes from 2018-07-16T04:00

Ep. 436: Never Let Anybody Tell You How to Write: 8 Tips for Learning Responsibly from 2018-07-09T04:00

Ep. 435: Judge Yourself Less, Trust Yourself More, and Write Better Stories from 2018-07-02T04:00

Ep. 434: Writing as the Art of Thinking Clearly: 6 Steps from 2018-06-25T04:00

Ep. 433: How to Intertwine Plot, Character, and Theme in Every Scene from 2018-06-18T04:00

Ep. 432: 5 Steps to Writing Great Character Chemistry from 2018-06-11T04:00

Ep. 431: 4 Ways to Write a Better Antagonist from 2018-06-04T04:00

Ep. 430: How the Truth Your Character Believes Defines Your Theme from 2018-05-28T04:00

Ep. 429: How to Grow as a Writer: 5 Logical Steps from 2018-05-21T04:00

Ep. 428: 5 Lies Writers Believe That Are Holding Them Back from 2018-05-14T04:00

Ep. 427: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 64: POV Problems from 2018-05-07T04:00

What Should Your Characters Talk About? from 2018-04-30T04:00

Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 3: Introducing the Story from 2018-04-23T04:00

Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 2: Writing the Opening Chapter from 2018-04-16T04:00

Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 1: Hooking Readers from 2018-04-09T04:00

How to Decide Between Plain Prose and Beautiful Prose from 2018-04-02T04:00

Learn 5 Ways to Take Risks With Your Writing from 2018-03-19T04:00

How to Spot and Avoid Self-Indulgent Writing from 2018-03-12T04:00

Don't Write Scenes--Write Images from 2018-02-26T04:00

Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance! from 2018-02-12T04:00

4 Tips for Writing to the Right Audience from 2018-02-05T04:00

4 Ways for Writers to Become Better Readers from 2018-01-29T04:00

The Words That Changed Your Life: Discovering What Made You a Writer from 2018-01-22T04:00

4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write from 2018-01-15T04:00

The 5 Secrets of Good Storytelling (That Writers Forget All the Time) from 2018-01-08T04:00

4 Life-Changing New Year's Lessons for Writers from 2018-01-01T04:00

My Top Books of 2017 from 2017-12-11T04:00

How to Write Funny from 2017-11-27T04:00

Tips for How to Choose the Right Sentences from 2017-11-20T04:00

5 (Not-So-Little) Additions to the Great Novel-Writing Checklist from 2017-11-13T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 63: Purple Prose from 2017-11-06T04:00

The Great Novel-Writing Checklist from 2017-10-30T04:00

4 Ways to Prevent Formulaic Story Structure from 2017-10-23T04:00

The Only Good Reason to Write from 2017-10-16T04:00

4 Reasons You're Confused About Scene Structure (With Examples) from 2017-10-09T04:00

6 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Protect Creativity from 2017-09-25T08:00

Life creates art, but life also devours art. Learn how important it is for committed artists to take steps to protect creativity.

5 Tips for Organizing Subplots from 2017-09-18T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 62: Head-Hopping POV from 2017-09-04T04:00

7 Ways to Write Thematically-Pertinent Antagonists from 2017-08-28T04:00

4 Questions You Should Never Ask About Your Book from 2017-08-21T04:00

4 Ways to Write a Thought-Provoking Mentor Character from 2017-08-14T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 61: 5 Types of Clunky Dialogue from 2017-08-07T04:00

5 Tips for Writing a Likable "Righteous" Character from 2017-07-31T04:00

16 Ways to Make Your Setting a Character in Its Own Right from 2017-07-24T04:00

Writing Voice: 6 Things You Need to Know to Improve It from 2017-07-17T04:00

How to Ace the First Act in Your Sequel from 2017-07-10T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 60: Flat Plots from 2017-07-03T04:00

How to Calculate Your Book's Length Before Writing from 2017-06-26T04:00

Learn How to Make the Most of the 5 Stages of the Writing Process from 2017-06-19T04:00

5 Ways to Write a Perfect First Draft (or Nearly) from 2017-06-12T04:00

Are You a Writer or a Storyteller? from 2017-06-05T04:00

5 Misconceptions About Writing That I Used to Believe from 2017-05-22T04:00

When Does Writing Get Easier? The 4 Steps to Mastery from 2017-05-15T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 59: Overly Complex Plots from 2017-05-01T04:00

3 Ways to Make Your Writing More Visual from 2017-04-24T04:00

3 Ways to Test Your Story's Emotional Stakes from 2017-04-17T04:00

How to Benefit From the Biggest Reason for Storytelling from 2017-04-10T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 58: Too Much Description from 2017-04-03T04:00

The 7 Stages of Being a Writer (How Many Have You Experienced?) from 2017-03-27T04:00

9 Tips for How to Write Opening and Closing Lines Readers Will Love to Quote from 2017-03-20T04:00

5 Rules for How to Write a Sequel to Your Book from 2017-03-13T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 57: Dead-End Relationships from 2017-03-06T04:00

The Lazy Author's 6-Question Guide to Writing an Original Book from 2017-02-27T04:00

Learn How to Pace Your Story (and Mind-Control Your Readers) in Just 8 Steps from 2017-02-20T04:00

8 Ways to Troubleshoot a Scene--and 5 Ways Make It Fabulous from 2017-02-13T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 56: Unfulfilled Foreshadowing from 2017-02-06T04:00

How to Find Exactly the Right Story Hook from 2017-01-30T04:00

How to Outline a Series of Bestselling Books from 2017-01-16T04:00

Top 10 Ways to Rivet Readers with Plot Reveals from 2017-01-09T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 55: Beginning Your Story Too Late from 2017-01-02T04:00

Deepen Your Story With Character Misdirection from 2016-12-26T04:00

The #1 Way to Write Intense Story Conflict from 2016-12-19T04:00

A New Way to Think About Scene Structure from 2016-12-12T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 54: Story Events That Don't Move the Plot from 2016-12-05T04:00

How to Write a Scene Outline You Can Use (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 9) from 2016-11-28T04:00

Making the Most of Character Interviews (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 8) from 2016-11-21T04:00

How to Structure Your Story's Outline (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 7) from 2016-11-14T04:00

3 Tips for Weaving Together Your Story's Pieces (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 6) from 2016-11-07T04:00

4 Ways to Write Backstory That Matters (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 5) from 2016-10-31T04:00

How to Find and Fill All Your Plot Holes (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 4) from 2016-10-24T04:00

3 Steps to Find the Heart of Your Story (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 3) from 2016-10-17T04:00

Start Your Outline With These 4 Questions (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 2) from 2016-10-10T04:00

How to Outline for NaNoWriMo: Should You Outline Your Novel? from 2016-10-03T04:00

7 Questions You Have About Scenes vs. Chapters from 2016-09-26T04:00

The Secret to Writing Dynamic Characters: It's Always Their Fault from 2016-09-19T04:00

The Only 5 Ingredients You Need for Story Subtext from 2016-09-12T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 53: No Contractions in Dialogue from 2016-09-05T04:00

6 Reasons You Need to Make Way More Writing Mistakes from 2016-08-29T04:00

How to Find the Right Critique Partner: The 6-Step Checklist from 2016-08-15T04:00

15 More Reasons Writing Is Important (in Your Own Words) from 2016-08-08T04:00

How to Use Scrivener to Edit Your Novels from 2016-08-01T04:00

5 Reasons Writing Is Important to the World from 2016-07-25T04:00

4 Ways to Verify Your Story Concept Is Strong Enough from 2016-07-18T04:00

7 Reasons You Need Story Theory from 2016-07-11T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 52: Stagnant Story Conflict from 2016-07-04T04:00

5 Secrets of Complex Supporting Characters from 2016-06-27T04:00

How to Plot a Book: Start With the Antagonist from 2016-06-20T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 51: One-Dimensional Characters from 2016-06-13T04:00

6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel's Edits from 2016-05-29T17:00

How to Write Faster (and Why Maybe You Shouldn't) from 2016-05-15T17:00

Planning Your Story: What George Lucas Can Teach You (Not) to Do from 2016-05-08T17:00

6 Tips to Help You Finish Your Book from 2016-05-01T17:00

Do You Have a Writing Superpower? (And Why You Shouldn't) from 2016-04-24T17:00

Everything You Need to Know About Writing a 3rd-Person POV from 2016-04-17T17:00

Novel Research: 12 Ways to Ace Your Book from 2016-04-10T17:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 50: Info Dumps from 2016-04-03T17:00

How to Know When to Write The End from 2016-03-27T17:00

5 (More) Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 2 of 2 from 2016-03-20T17:00

5 Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 1 of 2 from 2016-03-14T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 49: Weak Conjunctions from 2016-03-07T04:00

How to Create Awesome Scene Arcs That Surprise Readers from 2016-02-28T17:00

5 Important Ways Storytelling Is Different in Books vs. Movies from 2016-02-15T04:00

How Being an OCD Writer Nearly Killed My Career from 2016-02-08T04:00

The 4 Tweaks to Writing Truly Original Stories and Characters from 2016-02-01T17:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 48: No Conflict Between Characters from 2016-02-01T04:00

Your NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book from 2016-01-25T04:00

The Re-Readability Factor: Does Your Book Have It? 5 Ways to Make It Happen from 2016-01-11T04:00

Most Common Mistakes Series, Pt. 47: Ineffective Setting Descriptions from 2016-01-04T04:00

How to Study Plot and Character in Your Favorite Stories: 5 Easy Steps from 2015-12-28T04:00

Coincidences in Fiction: What You're Doing Wrong from 2015-12-21T04:00

Not Feeling Creative? 4 Ways to Reignite the "Wonder" in Your Writing from 2015-12-14T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 46: Anticlimactic Endings from 2015-12-07T04:00

How to Choose the Right POV (What I Learned Writing Storming) from 2015-11-30T04:00

How to Write Multiple Antagonists (What I Learned Writing Storming) from 2015-11-23T04:00

How to Write Can't-Look-Away Chapter Breaks (What I Learned Writing Storming) from 2015-11-16T04:00

6 Steps to Create a Fantastic Narrative Voice (What I Learned Writing Storming) from 2015-11-09T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 45: Avoiding "Said" from 2015-11-02T04:00

How to Win NaNo Using Totally Doable Daily and Weekly Writing Goals from 2015-10-26T04:00

7 Ways to Keep Writing During NaNo When You Only Want to Watch Football from 2015-10-19T04:00

6 Tasks You'll Love Yourself for Checking Off Your NaNo Pre-Writing List from 2015-10-12T04:00

7 Ways to Use NaNoWriMo to Make You a Better Writer All Year Long from 2015-10-05T04:00

Your Fiction May Be Failing for One Simple Reason: You're Not Being Honest from 2015-09-28T04:00

How to Edit Fiction: Watch Me Correct My Own Story in Real Time from 2015-09-21T04:00

8 Paragraph Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making from 2015-09-14T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 44: Too Many Participle Phrases from 2015-09-07T04:00

How to Write a Sequel That's BETTER Than the First Book from 2015-08-31T04:00

Protagonist and Main Character- Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story! from 2015-08-24T04:00

New Story Ideas Distracting You From Your Book? Find Out What You Should Do from 2015-08-17T04:00

4 Methods to Invigorate Your Prose With Surprising Sentences from 2015-08-09T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 43: Too Many Exclamation Points! from 2015-08-02T04:00

4 Ways to Write a Likable Protagonist at the Start of His Character Arc from 2015-07-26T04:00

Whom Should You Be Writing For? Yourself or Your Readers? from 2015-07-19T04:00

The Hardest Part of Writing Good Character Arcs-and How You Can Make It Look Easy! from 2015-07-12T04:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 42: When Your Story Stakes Aren't High Enough from 2015-07-05T04:00

3 Ways to Make Writing Your Novel Easier from 2015-06-28T04:00

Ep. 266: What Every Writer Ought to Know About the Omniscient POV from 2015-06-21T20:22:36

What's the problem with omniscient POV? Why are so many authors confused about it? And why are so many editors delivering digital hand slaps because of it?

Ep. 255: Never Confuse the Key Event and the First Plot Point in Your Book Again! from 2015-06-14T20:20:27

Did you know a full understanding of the Key Event, its role in story structure, and its timing will help you write stronger First Plot Points?

Ep. 254: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters' Thoughts from 2015-06-07T20:17:58

Is your narrator killing subtext by inferring other characters' thoughts too accurately? Find out in this latest of the Most Common Writing Mistakes!

Ep. 256: A Reactive Protagonist Doesn't Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference from 2015-05-31T20:08:11

One of the stickiest questions any writer is likely to face is: What's the difference between a reactive protagonist and a passive protagonist?

Ep. 255: Stories That Matter: 5 Necessary Factors for Weighty Fiction from 2015-05-24T19:58:25

Can you identify the five most important factors in creating weight and substance in stories that matter?

Ep. 254: How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action from 2015-05-17T20:05:46

When your story's Midpoint properly facilitates the all-important shift in the middle of your story, your conflict is sure to progress in a powerful way.

Ep. 253: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 40: Unnecessary Scenes from 2015-05-03T19:51:57

Discover four types of unnecessary scenes that may be sinking your book - and three ways to find them and kill them.

Ep. 252: Find Out if Your Prologue Is Destroying Your Story’s Subtext from 2015-04-26T23:08:13

Take a look at how poor prologues sap stories, how no prologue can strengthen stories, and how to determine if your story is one of the exceptions.

Ep. 251: My Writing Process, Pt. 2 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Write My First Drafts from 2015-04-19T22:54:21

Here's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.

Ep. 250: My Writing Process, Pt. 1 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels from 2015-04-12T19:33:37

Today, I'm offering a sneak peek under the hood of my writing process when using Scrivener - and how you can use Scrivener to up your writing game.

Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment from 2015-04-05T19:27:16

The Climactic Moment is the reason your story is even being told in the first place. Needless to say, it's pretty important you get it right. Find out how!

Ep. 248: What Are Pinch Points? And How Can They Make Your Book Easier to Write? from 2015-03-29T20:02:14

What are pinch points? Of all the important moments in your story, they are most likely to be neglected. But they're crucial to your story structure.

Ep. 247: Your Book’s Inciting Event: It’s Not What You Think It Is from 2015-03-22T19:53:54

The trouble with identifying the Inciting Event is that the term is applied rather wildly to half a dozen different moments in the story. Which is right?

Ep. 246: Want to Know More About the Structure of Your Favorite Books and Movies? Announcing the Story Structure Database! from 2015-03-15T19:36:30

Today, I'm excited to put an end to the guessing about the "Big Secret" and unveil a new resource for authors. The official Story Structure Database.

Ep. 245: For Writers on the Verge of Writing Spectacularly Complex Characters from 2015-03-08T19:28:21

The ironic thing about about complex characters in fiction is that the essence of what makes them so wonderfully complicated is actually incredibly simple.

Ep. 244: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name from 2015-03-01T19:20:22

In the time it takes to write two words, you might distance readers from your narrative. Luckily, this one of our common writing mistakes is an easy fix.

Ep. 243: Do You Know the 6 Must-Have Elements of a "Wow" Story Premise? from 2015-02-22T20:14:03

Discover how a good story premise can help you eliminate structural weaknesses and create a valuable tool for outlining and pitching your novel.

Ep. 242: The Crucial Way to Figure Out How Much Time Your Story Should Cover from 2015-02-15T20:05

The length of the timeline is an important factor in any story. Take a moment to consider just how much time your story should cover.

Ep. 241: The 5 Secrets of Choosing the Right Setting for Your Story's Climax from 2015-02-08T19:56

What makes a great climactic setting? Consider five important techniques for making the most of the setting in your story's climax.

Ep. 240: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 38: Irrelevant Book Endings from 2015-02-01T19:51:22

One of the easiest writing mistakes to fall into in your book endings is actually one that has much to do with book beginnings--and, indeed, the entirety of your book.

Ep. 239: The Lazy Author's Way to Identify and Overcome Writing Weaknesses from 2015-01-25T19:33

Go beyond the vague sense that's something wrong with your story and use these five tips to figure out what your writing weaknesses are.

Ep. 238: Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once and For All from 2015-01-18T19:30:31

If you can identify on-the-nose dialogue and learn how to replace it with rich undercurrents of subtext, you're on your way to becoming a master author.

Ep. 273: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 37: Unnecessary Filler from 2015-01-04T19:22:30

As we continue to discuss the most common writing mistakes, we'd be remiss to leave out the all-too-prevalent faux pas of unnecessary filler or padding.

Ep. 275: How to Pitch Your Novel: What's the Difference Between Your Story's Hook and Your Story's Heart? from 2014-12-28T19:36:17

When figuring out how to pitch your novel, you may realize your story's hook and its heart might not be compatible within such a short description.

A Quick Guide to Beta Reader Etiquette from 2014-12-21T04:00

What's the Difference Between Your Story's Theme and Its Message? from 2014-12-14T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 36: Too Much Introspection, Not Enough Interaction from 2014-12-07T05:00

Want a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil's Advocate! from 2014-11-23T05:00

What Is the Role of Theme in a Story's Climax? from 2014-11-23T05:00

Don't Know Your Story's Theme? Take a Look at Your Character's Arc from 2014-11-16T05:00

How Much Realism Does Your Novel REALLY Need? from 2014-11-09T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 35: Random Story Elements from 2014-11-02T05:00

Why Your Character's Goal Needs to Be 1 of These 5 Things from 2014-10-26T05:00

Story Concept and Story Premise: Do You Know the Crucial Difference? from 2014-10-19T05:00

FAQ: How to Write Character Arcs in a Series from 2014-10-12T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 34: Repetitive Dialogue from 2014-10-05T05:00

What if Your Story Has No Character Arc? from 2014-09-28T05:00

You've Been Writing Sentences Wrong All Your Life! Find Out Why from 2014-09-21T05:00

How to Use Rewards and Punishments to Get Your Character to Change from 2014-09-14T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 33: Telling Important Scenes, Instead of Showing from 2014-09-07T05:00

Should All Your Minor Characters Have Arcs? from 2014-08-31T05:00

The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One from 2014-08-24T05:00

Can a Character's Arc Be a Subplot? from 2014-08-17T05:00

How to Figure Out WHAT Your Character's Arc Should Be from 2014-08-10T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 32: Boring Opening Lines from 2014-08-03T05:00

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act from 2014-07-27T05:00

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act from 2014-07-20T05:00

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act from 2014-07-13T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 31: One-Dimensional Conflict from 2014-07-06T05:00

Why Every Story You Write Is a Guaranteed Failure from 2014-06-29T05:00

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act from 2014-06-22T05:00

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act from 2014-06-15T05:00

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act from 2014-06-08T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 30: Describing Character Movements from 2014-06-01T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 15: The Resolution from 2014-05-25T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Climax from 2014-05-18T05:00

Crafting Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Third Act from 2014-05-11T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The Third Plot Point from 2014-05-04T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Second Half of the Second Act from 2014-04-27T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Midpoint from 2014-04-20T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The First Half of the Second Act from 2014-04-13T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 8: The First Plot Point from 2014-03-30T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The First Act from 2014-03-23T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Normal World from 2014-03-16T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The Characteristic Moment from 2014-03-09T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost from 2014-03-02T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Your Character Needs from 2014-02-23T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Lie Your Character Believes from 2014-02-16T05:00

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 1: Can You Structure Character? from 2014-02-09T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes: Stories That Begin Too Early from 2014-02-02T05:00

Warning Signs! Your Character Is Acting Out of Character from 2014-01-26T05:00

How Minor Characters Help You Discover Theme from 2014-01-19T05:00

How to Successfully Kill a Character: The Checklist from 2014-01-12T05:00

Eight and a Half Character Archetypes You Should Be Writing from 2013-12-22T05:00

How the Antagonist Affects Character Arc from 2013-12-15T05:00

Most Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice from 2013-12-01T05:00

How to Double Your Story's Conflict in Seconds from 2013-11-24T05:00

Top 25 Ways to Write an Awesome Book from 2013-11-17T05:00

7 Ways to Decide Which Story Idea You Should Write Next from 2013-11-10T05:00

Most Common Mistakes: Under-Explaining from 2013-11-03T05:00

3 Signs You Should Give Up on Your Story from 2013-10-27T05:00

5 Signs You're Hiding Behind Your Writing - and 5 Ways to Use It as a Mirror Instead from 2013-10-20T05:00

Most Common Mistakes: Characters Who Lack Solid Story Goals from 2013-10-06T05:00

The Evolution of a Scene: From Outline to First Draft from 2013-09-29T05:00

10 Ways to Make Readers Loathe Your Antagonist from 2013-09-22T05:00

How Not to Be a Writer: 15 Signs You're Doing It Wrong from 2013-09-15T05:00

Most Common Mistakes: Animate Body Parts from 2013-09-08T05:00

Have You Chosen the Wrong Tone for Your Story? from 2013-08-25T05:00

6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters from 2013-08-18T05:00

Is Your Prose Too Complex? from 2013-08-04T05:00

5 Ways to Write a Killer Plot Twist from 2013-07-28T05:00

How Story Cartel Gave Me 50-Plus Honest Reviews from 2013-07-21T05:00

Crowdsourced Editing: The Future of Self-Publishing? from 2013-07-14T05:00

When Your Scene Focuses on What Isn't Happening from 2013-07-07T05:00

8 Promises You're Making to Readers - and Then Breaking from 2013-06-30T05:00

Exclusive Dialogue: When Readers Don't Know What Your Characters Are Talking About from 2013-06-23T05:00

Are You Over-Thinking Your First Draft? from 2013-06-16T05:00

How I Self-Edit My Novels: 15 Steps From First Draft to Publication from 2013-06-09T05:00

A Surefire Sign You're Over-Explaining from 2013-06-02T05:00

What if Your Antagonist Isn't a Person? from 2013-05-26T05:00

5 Reasons You Should Stop Writing from 2013-05-19T05:00

17 Steps to a Reader-Grabbing Title from 2013-05-12T05:00

The Do's and Don'ts of Dialect from 2013-05-05T05:00

How to Use Foreshadowing from 2013-04-28T05:00

Be a Better Writer: Get Organized from 2013-04-21T05:00

Why "Suddenly" Is a Four-Letter Word from 2013-04-07T05:00

Why You Need to Be Excited About Every Single Thing You Write from 2013-03-31T05:00

Why the Reader Is Your Co-Writer from 2013-03-24T05:00

Top 10 Sentence Slip-Ups from 2013-03-17T05:00

Motivation-Reaction Units: Cracking the Code of Good Writing from 2013-03-10T05:00

Incidents and Happenings: Scenes That Aren't Actually Scenes from 2013-03-03T05:00

Frequently Asked Questions About Scene Structure from 2013-02-24T05:00

Variations on the Sequel from 2013-02-17T05:00

Options for Decisions in a Sequel from 2013-02-10T05:00

Options for Dilemmas in a Sequel from 2013-02-03T05:00

Options for Reactions in a Sequel from 2013-01-27T05:00

The Three Building Blocks of the Sequel from 2013-01-20T05:00

Variations on the Scene from 2013-01-13T05:00

Options for Disasters in a Scene from 2013-01-06T05:00

Options for Conflict in a Scene from 2012-12-30T05:00

Options for Goals in a Scene from 2012-12-23T05:00

The Three Building Blocks of the Scene from 2012-12-16T05:00

Mastering the Two Different Types of Scene from 2012-12-09T05:00

6 Types of Courageous Characters from 2012-11-25T05:00

Why Non-Writers Give the Best Critiques from 2012-11-18T05:00

Why Writers Should Never Hit Delete from 2012-11-11T05:00

Your Must-Have Book Checklist: From Idea to Publication from 2012-11-04T05:00

10 Stories With (Brilliant) Loose Ends from 2012-10-28T05:00

How to Tell if Your Book Is a Success from 2012-10-21T05:00

What's Your Writing Personality? from 2012-10-14T05:00

Are You Skipping the Best Parts? from 2012-10-07T05:00

Professional Resources for Writers from 2012-09-30T05:00

Why Story Beginnings and Endings Must Be Linked from 2012-09-23T05:00

Why Your Story's Conflict Isn't Working from 2012-09-16T05:00

10 Excuses for Not Writing - and How to Smash Them from 2012-09-09T05:00

Most Common Mistakes Series: Does Your Character Lack Purpose? from 2012-09-02T05:00

5 Ways You're Preventing Readers From Suspending Disbelief from 2012-08-26T05:00

Add Muscle to Your Fiction With Unity and Contrast from 2012-08-19T05:00

6 Ways to Pull off Dual Timelines in Your Novel from 2012-08-12T05:00

How You May Be Killing Your Story's Tension from 2012-08-05T05:00

5 Reasons to Write Your Scenes in Order (and 3 Not to) from 2012-07-29T05:00

What's the Purpose of Your Scene? from 2012-07-22T05:00

10 Questions Your Readers Shouldn't Have to Ask from 2012-07-15T05:00

Talent vs. Learning: Do You Have to Be Born a Writer? from 2012-07-08T05:00

Why Do Bad Books Get Published? from 2012-07-01T05:00

Are You Writing Your Novel Too Fast? from 2012-06-24T05:00

The Top 25 Ways to Blow a Book from 2012-06-17T05:00

How to Spot and Fix Non-Reactive and Over-Reactive Characters from 2012-06-10T05:00

The Two Conflict-Creating Needs of Every Character from 2012-06-03T05:00

How Routines Save (and Ruin) Your Writing from 2012-05-27T05:00

Why Self-Conscious Writers Are Doomed from 2012-05-20T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12: Your Questions Answered from 2012-05-13T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 11: The Resolution from 2012-05-06T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 10: The Climax from 2012-04-29T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 9: The Third Act from 2012-04-22T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 8: The Second Half of the Second Act from 2012-04-15T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7: The Midpoint from 2012-04-08T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 6: The First Half of the Second Act from 2012-04-01T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 5: The Inciting Event and the Key Event from 2012-03-25T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 4: The First Plot Point from 2012-03-18T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 3: The First Act from 2012-03-11T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 2: The Hook from 2012-03-04T05:00

The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 1: Why Should Authors Care? from 2012-02-26T05:00

A Wordplayer's Manifesto from 2012-02-19T05:00

The Writer's Guide to Punctuation from 2012-02-12T05:00

The Case of the Vanishing Setting from 2012-02-05T05:00

Why I Hate Grammar Nazis - And Why Am One from 2012-01-29T05:00

Don't Let Multiple-Character Scenes Run Away With You from 2012-01-22T05:00

How I Learned to Write - And How You Can Too from 2012-01-15T05:00

Don't Drown Your Readers in Explanations from 2012-01-08T05:00

12 Writing Resolutions for the 12 Months of 2012 from 2012-01-01T05:00

The Christmas Gifts I'm Most Thankful For This Year from 2011-12-25T05:00

How Do You Decide Which Story You Should Write? from 2011-12-18T05:00

25 "Under $25" Christmas Gifts for Writers from 2011-12-11T05:00

Are Your Flashbacks Flashy or Flabby? from 2011-12-04T05:00

Action/Reaction - The Pistons Powering Your Story from 2011-11-27T05:00

4 Reasons to Mimic the Masters - and 4 Reasons Not to from 2011-11-20T05:00

How Do You Know Which Rules to Break? from 2011-11-13T05:00

Do Readers See Your Characters the Way You Want Them To? from 2011-11-06T05:00

10 Fear Busters for Writers from 2011-10-30T05:00

5 Elements of a Resonant Closing Line from 2011-10-23T05:00

5 Fun and Easy Ways to Lengthen Your Word Count from 2011-10-16T05:00

The Dangers of Character Overload from 2011-10-02T05:00

What Elements Make a Good Book? from 2011-09-25T05:00

5 Elements of a Riveting First Line from 2011-09-18T05:00

Why Your Hero Absolutely Must Pet a Dog from 2011-09-11T05:00

Most Common Mistakes Series: Is Nothin' Happening in Your Scene? from 2011-09-04T05:00

Why Your Protagonist and Antagonist Should Be Stuck Like Glue from 2011-08-28T05:00

Captain America's 10-Step Guide to the Likable Hero from 2011-08-21T05:00

10 Stylistic Mistakes Sabotaging Your Story from 2011-08-14T05:00

7 Ways to Make Family and Pets Respect Your Writing Time from 2011-08-07T05:00

Why You Should Kick Your Story Aside and Write a Different One from 2011-07-31T05:00

What The Story Knows Best Really Means from 2011-07-24T05:00

Deus Ex Machina: Latin for Don't Do This in Your Story from 2011-07-17T05:00

The Fast and Easy Guide to Writing Characters of the Opposite Gender from 2011-07-10T05:00

Is Your Opening Line Lying to Your Readers? from 2011-07-03T05:00

Why There's No Such Thing as a Writing Expert - And Why That's a Good Thing from 2011-06-26T05:00

Save Your Readers From Boredom: Five Fool-Proof Preventatives from 2011-06-19T05:00

4 Tricks for Picking the Perfect Word from 2011-06-12T05:00

Is Your First-Person Narrator Overpowering Your Story? from 2011-06-05T05:00

Are Happy Endings a Must? from 2011-05-29T05:00

The Kung Fu Panda Guide to Writing Action Scenes from 2011-05-22T05:00

The Secret Ingredient of Original Stories from 2011-05-15T05:00

Ideas for Constructing Your Own Writing Routine from 2011-05-08T05:00

Understanding - and Accepting - the Reasons You Write from 2011-05-01T05:00

What Is a 50-Page Edit... and Why Will It Rock Your Story? from 2011-04-24T05:00

How Not to Use Speaker Tags and Action Beats from 2011-04-17T05:00

3 Traits Your Hero and Villain Should Share from 2011-04-10T05:00

4 Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Writer's Solitude from 2011-04-03T05:00

Why Writers Should Take Their Own Advice from 2011-03-27T05:00

Why Vague Writing Is Weak Writing from 2011-03-20T05:00

Are You Asking These Important Questions About Your Fantasy Setting? from 2011-03-13T05:00

What I Love Lucy Can Teach You About Writing Tics from 2011-03-06T05:00

8 Signs Your Writing Is Stuck in a Rut - And Why You Should Care from 2011-02-13T05:00

Are You Confusing Readers With Poor Cause and Effect? from 2011-02-06T05:00

The Good News? Writing Never Gets Any Easier from 2011-01-23T05:00

Why You Should Read the Type of Stories You Write from 2011-01-23T05:00

10 Steps for Getting Past the "This Stinks" Blues from 2011-01-16T05:00

Are You Using "There" as a Crutch? from 2011-01-09T05:00

10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill from 2011-01-02T05:00

7 Reasons Weather Is a Writer's Friend from 2010-12-26T05:00

Are Your Verbs Showing or Telling? from 2010-12-19T05:00

8 Reasons to Let Your Story Ripen from 2010-12-12T05:00

What Kind of Writer Are You? from 2010-12-05T05:00

Description: Friend or Foe? from 2010-11-28T05:00

Why Are You Writing This Story? from 2010-11-14T05:00

Are You Dating Your Fiction? from 2010-11-07T05:00

Juxtaposition: The Power of the Unexpected in Fiction from 2010-10-31T05:00

Use Motion to Spice up Your Scenes from 2010-10-24T05:00

Love Your Characters - Or Else! from 2010-10-17T05:00

Is Your Dialogue Pulling Its Weight? from 2010-10-10T05:00

The Worst Writing Advice from 2010-10-03T05:00

The Best Writing Advice from 2010-09-26T05:00

Are You a Writer? from 2010-09-19T05:00

Research: When in Doubt, Make It Up from 2010-09-12T05:00

Is Your Story Mysterious Enough? from 2010-09-05T05:00

Should You Edit As You Go? from 2010-08-29T05:00

Are You Benefiting From the Intimacy of Pronouns? from 2010-08-15T05:00

5 Steps to Dazzling Minor Characters from 2010-08-08T05:00

Whap! Pow! Zing! - How Can You Tell if Your Story Has Emotional Resonance? from 2010-07-25T05:00

Why Your Character's Motive Matters from 2010-07-18T05:00

6 Reasons a Premise Sentence Strengthens Your Story from 2010-07-11T05:00

Is the Thesaurus Your Friend? from 2010-07-04T05:00

Should Stories Be Soapboxes? from 2010-06-27T05:00

Why No Writer Knows What He's Doing from 2010-06-20T05:00

Change is the Key to Powerful Character Arcs from 2010-06-13T05:00

Maximize Your Story's Inciting Event from 2010-06-06T05:00

8 Ways Writing Longhand Frees Your Muse from 2010-05-30T05:00

Generality Is the Death of the Novel from 2010-05-23T05:00

Creating a Functional Writing Station from 2010-05-16T05:00

Improve Yourself, Improve Your Writing from 2010-05-09T05:00

When Your Story Doesn't Turn Out Like You Planned from 2010-05-02T05:00

10 Ways to Write Skinny Sentences from 2010-04-25T05:00

Why Character Stereotypes Are a Good Thing from 2010-04-18T05:00

Daydream or Die! from 2010-04-11T05:00

Are You Using Too Many Settings? from 2010-04-04T05:00

Does Your Story Have the Extraordinary Factor? from 2010-03-28T05:00

What a Mouse Can Teach You About Story Arc from 2010-03-22T05:00

Rewriting Made Easy from 2010-03-14T05:00

15 Lessons From the Masters from 2010-03-07T05:00

Three Words That Kill Writing Procrastination from 2010-02-28T05:00

Why You Should Steal From Other Authors from 2010-02-21T05:00

Strengthen Your Story by Writing the Perfect Review from 2010-02-14T05:00

Plot vs. Character: Which Is More Important? from 2010-02-07T05:00

Are You Using Setting to Deepen Your Characters? from 2010-01-31T05:00

Embrace Your Internal Editor from 2010-01-24T05:00

Are You Called to Be a Writer? from 2010-01-17T05:00

Why Word Count Goals Can Be Destructive from 2010-01-10T05:00

10 Habits of Successful Authors from 2010-01-03T05:00

11 Killer Chapter Breaks from 2009-12-27T05:00

Are Your Characters Talking Heads? from 2009-12-20T05:00

How Music Will Make You a Better Writer from 2009-12-13T05:00

Why You Should Write More Than One Genre from 2009-12-06T05:00

4 Reasons I Quit Writing Exercises from 2009-11-29T05:00

How to Kill a Character - And Avoid Hate Mail from 2009-11-22T05:00

Top 7 Reasons Readers Stop Reading from 2009-11-15T05:00

6 Reasons Not to Listen to Your Critique Partner from 2009-11-08T05:00

11 Dichotomous Characters - And Why They Work from 2009-11-01T05:00

Emotional Connection: Punch Your Readers in the Gut! from 2009-10-25T05:00

Should You Outline Backwards? from 2009-10-18T05:00

Why You Should Be Writing Scared from 2009-10-11T05:00

Good Writers Are So Lazy, They Make Readers Do All the Work! by Jason Black from 2009-10-04T05:00

How You Can Take Advantage of Art's Subjectivity from 2009-09-27T05:00

Should You Write for a Specific Audience? from 2009-09-20T05:00

9 Ways to Strengthen Your Beginnings from 2009-09-13T05:00

Angst, Mental Illness, and Creativity by Carolyn Kaufman from 2009-09-06T05:00

It's What Your Characters Do That Defines Them from 2009-08-30T05:00

Why Genre Writing Could Kill Your Career from 2009-08-23T05:00

Backstory: The Importance of What Isn't Told from 2009-08-16T05:00

Choosing Your Character's Career With Care from 2009-08-09T05:00

Sticking With a Story from 2009-08-02T05:00

yWriter Software Tutorial from 2009-07-26T05:00

Making Cliches Work for You from 2009-07-19T05:00

5 Ways to Pace Your Story from 2009-07-12T05:00

Details: Bringing Fiction to Life from 2009-07-05T05:00

Characters: Likability Is Overrated from 2009-06-28T05:00

Don't Let the Big Words Die from 2009-06-21T19:00

Eliciting Emotion from 2009-06-14T19:00

Branded: Negotiating Consumerism in Fiction from 2009-06-07T19:00