Helping Writers Become Authors

Mysteries, clues, and plot twists are great for hooking readers--as long as they are not powered by info dumps. Here are 5 principles for creating exciting plot reveals

Five thoughts on why and how to take up the challenge to start (or continue) to write life-changing fiction.

You know you are choosing a protagonist who is thematically pertinent when you can answer these five important questions.

Struggling to be creative? Learn the primary creativity block, how to get past it, and four ways you may be more creative right now than you think you are.

Because it is so important to take full of advantage of dialogue, take a look at a ten ways to write excellent dialogue.

Learn how a character's inner conflict is framed around a nuanced struggle between the Thing the Character Wants and the Thing the Character Needs.

Figure out character arc using the Truth Chart--a fast, one-page beat sheet designed to help you develop theme and character.

What happens when your story is unbalanced by either too much character or too much plot? Here are five problems to watch out for.

Writing a tragedy or dark story? Here is a beat-by-beat look at the three Negative Arcs--the Disillusionment Arc, the Fall Arc, and the Corruption Arc.

Learn the five primary types of character arc. This two-part series starts with a beat-by-beat view of the heroic arcs: Positive-Change Arc and Flat Arc.

To discover what thematic metaphor your plot is offering from amid its entertaining adventures, all you have to do is ask the right questions.

Here are five ways you can embrace the beauty and power of your art so that it reaches beyond the page to inform every part of your life.

Take a close look at how your use of internal narrative will affect every sentence in your story, as well as how strong internal narrative can be one of your best bets for convincing readers to trust you as an author.

Five examples of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe earned appreciation of its fanbase and what you can learn about how to earn audience loyalty.

Check out six qualities you need in order to write character goals intense enough to power a blah plot into a compellingly dimensional story.

Interesting stories are the result of interesting scenes. Here are ten ways to create a gripping story from the scene level up.

Modern authors writing for a modern audience must be aware of four unique challenges to connecting with current readers and viewers.

What are the differences between a writer, an author, and an artist? Consider these seven thoughts on how writers can elevate their craft to the next level.

Check out my top tips for how to organize and how to use your outline notes, however few or many they may be, while writing your first draft.

Here are five crucial questions you can use to gut-check yourself about whether or not you have successfully married your plot and theme.