Richard Thomas

Storyville: The Intersection Between Plotting and Pantsing

Finding the intersection between plotting and pantsing.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Unreliable Narrators

What is an unreliable narrator and how can it affect your writing?
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Building Up Your Horror Story Before You Tear It Down

Tips on how to build up your horror story before you tear it all down.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: What Makes Your Stories Uniquely You?

Tap into the formative experiences that made you and apply them to your fiction.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Story Dissection — "In His House"

Richard dissects his epistolary horror story, "In His House."
Richard Thomas

Storyville: What Do You Have the Authority to Write?

Experience vs. research: What stories are yours to tell?
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Advanced Storytelling Techniques

Tips for how to execute some advanced storytelling techniques.
Fred Venturini

All Hail the Slasher: The Rise and Legacy of an Iconic Subgenre of Horror

Freddy. Michael. Jason. How did slasher films dominate the horror genre in the 70's and 80's? Let's examine the rise of the subgenre and it's legacy as pure cinematic experience.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Sympathy for the Devil

In order for your bad guys to truly resonate, we need to care about them, and feel strong emotions. Even if that emotion is hate.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Horror Story vs. Horror Novel

How do you know if your horror project is a story, novella, or novel? Some quick tips.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Eight New, Mashed Up Sub-Genres

Some new hybrid narratives to breathe life into your writing.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Young Protagonists—MG vs. YA vs. Adult

Some advice for writing young protagonists for Middle Grade, YA, and adult fiction.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Leaving Room for the Reader in Your Fiction

Thoughts and advice on how to leave room for your readers when writing fiction.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Playing With Point of View

Perspective and point of view in fiction is often slippery and elusive.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: 10 Ways to Fool Your Readers

Ten tips for the best ways to fool your readers.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Writing a Novel Without Plotting it Out

Tips on how to write a novel without plotting it out.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Writing About Taboo Subjects

When writing about taboo subjects, be careful how you do it.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Dissecting "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates

One of the most talked about, published and taught stories, I dissect "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Fiction As Film—Writing Scenes That Are Visual

How can your fiction be as visual and engrossing as a film? Here are some suggestions.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: 15 Unconventional Story Methods

Here are 15 unconventional methods of telling a story. Why not stretch yourself?
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Ten Ways to Avoid Cliches and Stereotypes

Ten tips to avoid clichés and stereotypes in your fiction.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Dissecting "Fireflies"

Dissecting my story, "Fireflies," I shine a light on my first attempt at magical realism — craft, process, and structure.
Stephen Graham Jones

This is Not a Checklist: How to Write a Story

Some things to have taken into consideration while writing your story. Not rules, just after-the-fact guidelines.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Story Dissection - Maker of Flight

Richard dissects another of his short stories, this time, the contest winning, "Maker of Flight."