Three Exercises for Improved Character Development
If you want your characters to be as deep and nuanced as your narrative, here are three things you can do.
Engage Your Readers By Putting Them To Work
By Joshua Isard
As writers, then, we want to ask our readers to do the right kind of work, the kind that helps them engage with our stories as much as possible.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Noah Webster, the Inventor of American English
In:
Grammar
Happy 260th Birthday to the man whose name is synonymous with “Go Look It Up!” (Which is the pre-cursor to today’s “Google It!”)
Is Crosstalk Killing Your Feedback?
By Peter Derk
In:
Workshop
What is crosstalk, and how is it ruining your workshop?
7 Ways to Prepare for NaNoWriMo Right Now
In:
Character
Want to write a novel but don't know where to start? NaNoWriMo 2018 might be the perfect opportunity — here's 7 ways you can prepare for it now.
Analyzing the Three-Act Structure in Tolkien's 'Fellowship of the Ring'
In:
Structure
To celebrate the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring on July 29, 1954, we’re looking at how Tolkien used an enduring story structure to create an enduring trilogy.
Folding Real-Life Detail into a Fictional Narrative
In:
Character
Is there an ethical line when it comes to incorporating real-life details into fiction? And if so, where does that line exist?
5 Essential Character Traits For Ourselves, Not Our Creations
By Joshua Isard
In:
Character
It’s important to develop the kind of personal character that’ll help us get through everything the writing life throws our way.
10 Tips to Help You Write Believable Dialogue
In:
Dialogue
Dialogue can make or break a novel. Here are some pointers to help you write better dialogue.
Taking the Stage: How Storytellers Saved My Ambition to Write
The story of how I fell into a hole with my writing career, and the strategy I developed to climb back out.
When To Utilize An Ensemble Cast and How To Do It Well
By Joshua Isard
Would your story benefit from multiple POVs? And does it have the scope to sustain them?
Writing Emotions Effectively
By Repo Kempt
In:
Character
A guide to portraying emotions in your fiction.
Bearskin: A Fast Read 20 Years in the Making
The story of a fifty-four year old’s debut novel. Twenty-plus years of writing, revising, letting it sit, then rewriting and re-revising some more.
Storyville: Creating Tension in Your Fiction
How do you create tension in your fiction? Here are some tips.
Make Your Characters More Interesting With Lies
By Peter Derk
Ask yourself: When's the last time I had one of my characters tell a real whopper?
When it's Okay to be Uncertain
In:
Literary Devices
A look at when uncertainty can make fiction stronger.
Don't Go Back: Avoid Spinning Your Wheels on Old Stories
In:
Rewriting
While it's tempting to revisit old stories that never quite got off the ground, it can be harmful to your progress as a writer.
The Three Times Your Novel is Finished
In:
Rewriting
Ask an author how long it took them to write a book, and the answer is always different. Here are three times a novel is finished, and how they each relate to author mindset.
Hurdles and a Pyramid: Plotting Your Short Story
By Joshua Isard
In:
Structure
Make Freytag's Pyramid work for you, not the other way around.
Writing the Crime Scene: Blood
By Repo Kempt
In:
Research
A guide to writing realistic crime and horror fiction when your manuscript involves blood.
Research Isn't Writing
In:
Research
Research is important, but you don't want to become a researcher. Learn how to research as a writer instead of writing as a researcher.
The Second-Draft Slump: How to Get Through Edits
In:
Rewriting
The first draft always feels like the hardest part to finish...until you start the second draft. Get through the second-draft slump with these tips.
How to Hide Exposition Through Action
In:
Literary Devices
"Show, don't tell," they say. But telling is necessary. It's just a matter of doing it right. Hide your exposition through action.
The Two Lukes: Comparing and Contrasting 'Dark Empire' and 'The Last Jedi'
By Bart Bishop
In:
Character
A look back at the portrayal of Luke Skywalker in 'Dark Empire' as compared to 'The Last Jedi.'
