Helping Writers Become Authors

Here are 6 tricks to making the most of the final outlining step. You've been waiting for it a long time, and here it is: how to write a scene outline!

Character interviews increase both the ease of writing a new character and his success in driving your plot. Grab my master list of interview questions!

Once you've discovered a general idea of your plot, you can use these three steps to figure out how to structure your story's outline.

It's impossible to figure out how to outline any one aspect of your story in isolation. Instead, learn 3 ways to "bob and weave" from one to the next.

Backstory influences plot events, character motives, and thematic subtext. Here are the only 4 questions you need to find your best backstory.

When you approach plot holes purposefully during your outline, filling them in can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire writing process.

Can you outline the theme of your story? If you start by asking yourself these three questions, you will be able to find the heart of your story every time.

Where do you start your outline? Right here! Use these these four questions to discover the big-picture skeleton of your story.

Should you outline your novel before the first draft? And, if you do, how much is the right amount for you? Get ready for NaNoWriMo with this new series!

Take a look at seven important questions about scenes vs. chapters, which will help you better understand and control your narrative.

It's a joke among writers: we are so mean to our characters! But your pursuit of conflict can trip you up in writing dynamic characters. Learn why!

Learn how to create story subtext in everything you write using five simple but crucial principles.

Find out why contractions in dialogue need to find a place in your writing---along with a few exceptions, in which it is actually best to avoid them.

It's time to stop beating yourself up over writing mistakes. Here are 6 ways to embrace them as one of the most rewarding parts of the writing process.

Grab the 6-step checklist for vetting your fellow writers to help you figure out how to find the right critique partner on your way to success.

Turns out I am not the only one who believes writing is important. You do too! Here are the top 15 things you have taught me about the importance of writing.

Scrivener does more than help writers outline and draft; it's great for editing too. Here are 6 tips for how to use Scrivener to edit a better story.

As writers, are we helping or hurting the world we live in? Are we wasting our time? I say no. Here are the 5 reasons I believe writing is important.

Many a cool story concept has turned into a wasted story. But that's not going to be you! Vet your your story ideas with this simple 4-question process.

What's story theory? It's creative instinct actualized. It's talent transformed into skill. Here are 7 more reasons every author must learn story theory.