All Episodes
Helping Writers Become Authors — 515 episodes
Ep. 561: Archetypal Antagonists for Each of the Six Archetypal Character Arcs
Ep. 560: The Main Reason Your Story's Premise Is Important
Ep. 559: 3 Things to Know About the Ending of a Story
Ep. 558: How the Antagonist Functions in Different Types of Character Arcs
Ep. 557: Should You Edit As You Go?
Ep. 556: Why Everyone Should Write (Even if You Think You Stink)
Ep. 555: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 22: How to Use Archetypal Character Arcs in Your Stories
Ep. 554: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 21: The Flat Archetype of the Mentor
Ep. 553: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 20: The Flat Archetype of the Elder
Ep. 552: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 19: The Flat Archetype of the Ruler
Ep. 551: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 18: The Flat Archetype of the Parent
Ep. 550: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 17: The Flat Archetype of the Lover
Ep. 548: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 15: Introduction to the 6 Flat Archetypes
Ep. 545: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The King's Shadow Archetypes
Ep. 544: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Queen's Shadow Archetypes
Ep. 543: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Hero's Shadow Archetypes
Ep. 523: The Link Between Your Story's Pinch Points
Ep. 521: The Link Between Your Story's Hook and Resolution
Ep. 520: The Crucial Link Between Your Story's Inciting Event and Climactic Moment
Episode #519: 15 Steps to Self-Publish Your Book
Episode #518: 7 Considerations for Your Antagonist's Motivations (Which Will Save You SOOO Much Trouble)
Ep. 517: Afraid to Let Anyone Read Your Writing? 5 Steps to Move Past Fears
Ep. 516: 5 Exercises for Honing Your Story Instincts
Ep. 515: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Sequel Scenes That Grip Readers
Ep. 514: 5 Ways to Help Writers During the Pandemic (+Giveaways to Get You Started)
Ep. 513: 7 Misconceptions About Being a Writer
Ep. 512: 4 Questions to Prevent Plot Holes
Ep. 511: How to Get Stuff Done as a Writer (or How This INTJ Leverages Her Te)
Ep. 510: The 3 Acts of a Writer's Life--Or How Your Age Affects Your Writing
Ep. 509: Using All Four Cognitive Functions as a Writer
Ep. 508: 11 Exercises to Enhance Your Visual Thinking
Ep. 507: Editing Your Novel Q&A
Ep. 506: Creativity vs. Distraction: 13 Tips for Writers in the Age of the Internet
Ep. 505: 7 Possible Hooks for Your Opening Chapter
Ep. 505: 15 Productive Tasks You Can Still Do Even When You Don't Feel Like Writing
Ep. 503: 4 Ways Writing Improves Your Relationship With Yourself
Ep. 502: How to Get Some Writing Done: Discipline vs. Enthusiasm
Ep. 501: 7 Ways Writing Saves Us When Life Is Hard
Ep. 500: 8 Challenges (and Solutions) When Writing From Home
Ep. 499: The Power of Hopeful Stories in a Stressful Time
Ep. 498: 5 Questions About How to Balance Multiple POVs in Your Story
Ep. #497: Critique: 6 Tips for Introducing Characters
Ep. 496: Creativity vs. the Ego (Or, the Value of Unpublishable Stories)
Ep. 495: The Professional Writing Resources I Use for All Parts of the Writing and Publishing Processes
Ep. 494: Thoughts on How to Be Critical of Stories in a Way That Makes a Difference
Ep. 493: 6 Steps to Create Realistic (and Powerful) Scene Dilemmas
Ep. 492: 2 Different Types of the Lie Your Character Believes
Ep. 491: 3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year
Ep. 490: My Top Books of 2019
Ep. 489: Critique: Supporting Characters and Theme: 6 Important Questions to Ask About Your Story
Ep. 488: Critique: 10 Ways to Write a Better First Chapter Using Specific Word Choices
Ep. 487: How to Choose the Right Antagonist for Any Type of Story
Ep. 486: How to Overcome Fear as a Writer and Embrace Your Profound Courage
Ep. 485: 23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office
Ep. 484: How to Know Which Parts of Your Story Readers Will Like Best
Ep. 483: A Writer's Guide to Understanding People
Ep. 482: This Is How to Transform Info Dumps Into Exciting Plot Reveals
Ep. 481: A Challenge to Write Life-Changing Fiction
Ep. 480: 5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Theme
Ep. 479: Are You Struggling to Be Creative? This Might Be Why
Ep. 478: Critique: 10 Ways to Write Excellent Dialogue
Ep. 477: Creating Your Character's Inner Conflict: Want vs. Need
Ep. 476: How to Use a Truth Chart to Figure Out Character Arc
Ep. 475: How to Tell if Your Story Has Too Much Plot, Not Enough Character
Ep. 474: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 2: The 3 Negative Arcs
Ep. 473: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 1: The 2 Heroic Arcs
Ep. 472: How to Make Your Plot a Powerful Thematic Metaphor
Ep. 471: Taking Your Writing to the Next Level: Whole-Life Art
Ep. 470: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Gripping Internal Narrative
Ep. 469: 5 Ways to Earn Audience Loyalty
Ep. 468: 6 Requirements for Writing Better Character Goals
Ep. 467: How to Write Interesting Scenes
Ep. 466: 4 Challenges of Writing for a Modern Audience
Ep. 465: Helping Authors Become Artists
Ep. 464: How to Use Your Outline When Writing Your First Draft
Ep. 463: What Is the Relationship Between Plot and Theme?
Ep. 462: 5 Ways to Use Theme to Create Character Arc (and Vice Versa)
Ep. 461: 4 Pacing Tricks to Keep Readers' Attention
Ep. 460: How to Find Your Thematic Principle
Ep. 459: Plot, Character, and Theme: The Greatest Love Triangle in Fiction
Ep. 458: 7 Things to Try When Writing Is Hard
Ep. 457: How to Use Paragraph Breaks to Guide the Reading Experience
Ep. 456: 10 Advantages of Writing a Single-POV Story
Ep. 455: My 9 Writing Goals for the New Year
Ep. 454: How to Create the Perfect Writing Process for You
Ep. 453: My Top Books of 2018
Ep. 452: The 10-Step Checklist to Writing an Above-Average Novel
Ep. 451: The 10 Rules of Writing Large Casts of Characters
Ep. 450: How to Choose Your Story's Plot Points
Ep. 449: 5 Ways to Successfully Start a Book With a Dream
Ep. 448: When Writing, How Do You Know When Enough Is Enough?
Ep. 447: 5 Lessons From a Lost Novel
Ep. 446: Words Are Radical! (or, How to Cherish Language)
Ep. 445: Story Structure Q and A: 6 Outstanding Questions About Structure
Ep. 444: 3 Tips for Improving Show, Don't Tell
Ep. 443: Do You Have Sloppy Writing Habits? (And 4 Things to Do About It)
Ep. 442: 5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters
Ep. 441: Writer's Envy--And 3 Thoughts on What to Do About It
Ep. 440: How to Market Your Book When You Hate Marketing
Ep. 439: 4 Ways to Choose a Better Theme for Your Book
Ep. 438: 4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks
Ep. 437: How to Write Unique Themes
Ep. 436: Never Let Anybody Tell You How to Write: 8 Tips for Learning Responsibly
Ep. 435: Judge Yourself Less, Trust Yourself More, and Write Better Stories
Ep. 434: Writing as the Art of Thinking Clearly: 6 Steps
Ep. 433: How to Intertwine Plot, Character, and Theme in Every Scene
Ep. 432: 5 Steps to Writing Great Character Chemistry
Ep. 431: 4 Ways to Write a Better Antagonist
Ep. 430: How the Truth Your Character Believes Defines Your Theme
Ep. 429: How to Grow as a Writer: 5 Logical Steps
Ep. 428: 5 Lies Writers Believe That Are Holding Them Back
Ep. 427: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 64: POV Problems
What Should Your Characters Talk About?
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 3: Introducing the Story
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 2: Writing the Opening Chapter
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 1: Hooking Readers
How to Decide Between Plain Prose and Beautiful Prose
Learn 5 Ways to Take Risks With Your Writing
How to Spot and Avoid Self-Indulgent Writing
Don't Write Scenes--Write Images
Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance!
4 Tips for Writing to the Right Audience
4 Ways for Writers to Become Better Readers
The Words That Changed Your Life: Discovering What Made You a Writer
4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write
The 5 Secrets of Good Storytelling (That Writers Forget All the Time)
4 Life-Changing New Year's Lessons for Writers
My Top Books of 2017
How to Write Funny
Tips for How to Choose the Right Sentences
5 (Not-So-Little) Additions to the Great Novel-Writing Checklist
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 63: Purple Prose
The Great Novel-Writing Checklist
4 Ways to Prevent Formulaic Story Structure
The Only Good Reason to Write
4 Reasons You're Confused About Scene Structure (With Examples)
5 Tips for Organizing Subplots
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 62: Head-Hopping POV
7 Ways to Write Thematically-Pertinent Antagonists
4 Questions You Should Never Ask About Your Book
4 Ways to Write a Thought-Provoking Mentor Character
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 61: 5 Types of Clunky Dialogue
5 Tips for Writing a Likable "Righteous" Character
16 Ways to Make Your Setting a Character in Its Own Right
Writing Voice: 6 Things You Need to Know to Improve It
How to Ace the First Act in Your Sequel
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 60: Flat Plots
How to Calculate Your Book's Length Before Writing
Learn How to Make the Most of the 5 Stages of the Writing Process
5 Ways to Write a Perfect First Draft (or Nearly)
Are You a Writer or a Storyteller?
5 Misconceptions About Writing That I Used to Believe
When Does Writing Get Easier? The 4 Steps to Mastery
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 59: Overly Complex Plots
3 Ways to Make Your Writing More Visual
3 Ways to Test Your Story's Emotional Stakes
How to Benefit From the Biggest Reason for Storytelling
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 58: Too Much Description
The 7 Stages of Being a Writer (How Many Have You Experienced?)
9 Tips for How to Write Opening and Closing Lines Readers Will Love to Quote
5 Rules for How to Write a Sequel to Your Book
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 57: Dead-End Relationships
The Lazy Author's 6-Question Guide to Writing an Original Book
Learn How to Pace Your Story (and Mind-Control Your Readers) in Just 8 Steps
8 Ways to Troubleshoot a Scene--and 5 Ways Make It Fabulous
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 56: Unfulfilled Foreshadowing
How to Find Exactly the Right Story Hook
How to Outline a Series of Bestselling Books
Top 10 Ways to Rivet Readers with Plot Reveals
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 55: Beginning Your Story Too Late
Deepen Your Story With Character Misdirection
The #1 Way to Write Intense Story Conflict
A New Way to Think About Scene Structure
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 54: Story Events That Don't Move the Plot
How to Write a Scene Outline You Can Use (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 9)
Making the Most of Character Interviews (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 8)
How to Structure Your Story's Outline (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 7)
3 Tips for Weaving Together Your Story's Pieces (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 6)
4 Ways to Write Backstory That Matters (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 5)
How to Find and Fill All Your Plot Holes (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 4)
3 Steps to Find the Heart of Your Story (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 3)
Start Your Outline With These 4 Questions (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 2)
How to Outline for NaNoWriMo: Should You Outline Your Novel?
7 Questions You Have About Scenes vs. Chapters
The Secret to Writing Dynamic Characters: It's Always Their Fault
The Only 5 Ingredients You Need for Story Subtext
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 53: No Contractions in Dialogue
6 Reasons You Need to Make Way More Writing Mistakes
How to Find the Right Critique Partner: The 6-Step Checklist
15 More Reasons Writing Is Important (in Your Own Words)
How to Use Scrivener to Edit Your Novels
5 Reasons Writing Is Important to the World
4 Ways to Verify Your Story Concept Is Strong Enough
7 Reasons You Need Story Theory
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 52: Stagnant Story Conflict
5 Secrets of Complex Supporting Characters
How to Plot a Book: Start With the Antagonist
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 51: One-Dimensional Characters
6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel's Edits
How to Write Faster (and Why Maybe You Shouldn't)
Planning Your Story: What George Lucas Can Teach You (Not) to Do
6 Tips to Help You Finish Your Book
Do You Have a Writing Superpower? (And Why You Shouldn't)
Everything You Need to Know About Writing a 3rd-Person POV
Novel Research: 12 Ways to Ace Your Book
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 50: Info Dumps
How to Know When to Write The End
5 (More) Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 2 of 2
5 Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 1 of 2
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 49: Weak Conjunctions
How to Create Awesome Scene Arcs That Surprise Readers
5 Important Ways Storytelling Is Different in Books vs. Movies
The 4 Tweaks to Writing Truly Original Stories and Characters
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 48: No Conflict Between Characters
Your NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book
The Re-Readability Factor: Does Your Book Have It? 5 Ways to Make It Happen
Most Common Mistakes Series, Pt. 47: Ineffective Setting Descriptions
How to Study Plot and Character in Your Favorite Stories: 5 Easy Steps
Coincidences in Fiction: What You're Doing Wrong
Not Feeling Creative? 4 Ways to Reignite the "Wonder" in Your Writing
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 46: Anticlimactic Endings
How to Choose the Right POV (What I Learned Writing Storming)
How to Write Multiple Antagonists (What I Learned Writing Storming)
How to Write Can't-Look-Away Chapter Breaks (What I Learned Writing Storming)
6 Steps to Create a Fantastic Narrative Voice (What I Learned Writing Storming)
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 45: Avoiding "Said"
How to Win NaNo Using Totally Doable Daily and Weekly Writing Goals
7 Ways to Keep Writing During NaNo When You Only Want to Watch Football
6 Tasks You'll Love Yourself for Checking Off Your NaNo Pre-Writing List
7 Ways to Use NaNoWriMo to Make You a Better Writer All Year Long
Your Fiction May Be Failing for One Simple Reason: You're Not Being Honest
How to Edit Fiction: Watch Me Correct My Own Story in Real Time
8 Paragraph Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 44: Too Many Participle Phrases
How to Write a Sequel That's BETTER Than the First Book
Protagonist and Main Character- Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story!
New Story Ideas Distracting You From Your Book? Find Out What You Should Do
4 Methods to Invigorate Your Prose With Surprising Sentences
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 43: Too Many Exclamation Points!
4 Ways to Write a Likable Protagonist at the Start of His Character Arc
Whom Should You Be Writing For? Yourself or Your Readers?
The Hardest Part of Writing Good Character Arcs-and How You Can Make It Look Easy!
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 42: When Your Story Stakes Aren't High Enough
3 Ways to Make Writing Your Novel Easier
A Quick Guide to Beta Reader Etiquette
What's the Difference Between Your Story's Theme and Its Message?
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 36: Too Much Introspection, Not Enough Interaction
Want a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil's Advocate!
What Is the Role of Theme in a Story's Climax?
Don't Know Your Story's Theme? Take a Look at Your Character's Arc
How Much Realism Does Your Novel REALLY Need?
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 35: Random Story Elements
Why Your Character's Goal Needs to Be 1 of These 5 Things
Story Concept and Story Premise: Do You Know the Crucial Difference?
FAQ: How to Write Character Arcs in a Series
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 34: Repetitive Dialogue
What if Your Story Has No Character Arc?
You've Been Writing Sentences Wrong All Your Life! Find Out Why
How to Use Rewards and Punishments to Get Your Character to Change
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 33: Telling Important Scenes, Instead of Showing
Should All Your Minor Characters Have Arcs?
The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One
Can a Character's Arc Be a Subplot?
How to Figure Out WHAT Your Character's Arc Should Be
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 32: Boring Opening Lines
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 31: One-Dimensional Conflict
Why Every Story You Write Is a Guaranteed Failure
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 30: Describing Character Movements
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 15: The Resolution
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Climax
Crafting Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Third Act
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The Third Plot Point
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Second Half of the Second Act
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Midpoint
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The First Half of the Second Act
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 8: The First Plot Point
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The First Act
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Normal World
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The Characteristic Moment
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Your Character Needs
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Lie Your Character Believes
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 1: Can You Structure Character?
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Stories That Begin Too Early
Warning Signs! Your Character Is Acting Out of Character
How Minor Characters Help You Discover Theme
How to Successfully Kill a Character: The Checklist
Eight and a Half Character Archetypes You Should Be Writing
How the Antagonist Affects Character Arc
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice
How to Double Your Story's Conflict in Seconds
Top 25 Ways to Write an Awesome Book
7 Ways to Decide Which Story Idea You Should Write Next
Most Common Mistakes: Under-Explaining
3 Signs You Should Give Up on Your Story
5 Signs You're Hiding Behind Your Writing - and 5 Ways to Use It as a Mirror Instead
Most Common Mistakes: Characters Who Lack Solid Story Goals
The Evolution of a Scene: From Outline to First Draft
10 Ways to Make Readers Loathe Your Antagonist
How Not to Be a Writer: 15 Signs You're Doing It Wrong
Most Common Mistakes: Animate Body Parts
Have You Chosen the Wrong Tone for Your Story?
6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters
Is Your Prose Too Complex?
5 Ways to Write a Killer Plot Twist
When Your Scene Focuses on What Isn't Happening
8 Promises You're Making to Readers - and Then Breaking
Exclusive Dialogue: When Readers Don't Know What Your Characters Are Talking About
Are You Over-Thinking Your First Draft?
How I Self-Edit My Novels: 15 Steps From First Draft to Publication
A Surefire Sign You're Over-Explaining
What if Your Antagonist Isn't a Person?
5 Reasons You Should Stop Writing
17 Steps to a Reader-Grabbing Title
The Do's and Don'ts of Dialect
How to Use Foreshadowing
Be a Better Writer: Get Organized
Why "Suddenly" Is a Four-Letter Word
Why You Need to Be Excited About Every Single Thing You Write
Why the Reader Is Your Co-Writer
Top 10 Sentence Slip-Ups
Motivation-Reaction Units: Cracking the Code of Good Writing
Incidents and Happenings: Scenes That Aren't Actually Scenes
Frequently Asked Questions About Scene Structure
Variations on the Sequel
Options for Decisions in a Sequel
Options for Dilemmas in a Sequel
Options for Reactions in a Sequel
The Three Building Blocks of the Sequel
Variations on the Scene
Options for Disasters in a Scene
Options for Conflict in a Scene
Options for Goals in a Scene
The Three Building Blocks of the Scene
Mastering the Two Different Types of Scene
6 Types of Courageous Characters
Why Non-Writers Give the Best Critiques
Why Writers Should Never Hit Delete
Your Must-Have Book Checklist: From Idea to Publication
10 Stories With (Brilliant) Loose Ends
How to Tell if Your Book Is a Success
What's Your Writing Personality?
Are You Skipping the Best Parts?
Professional Resources for Writers
Why Story Beginnings and Endings Must Be Linked
Why Your Story's Conflict Isn't Working
10 Excuses for Not Writing - and How to Smash Them
Most Common Mistakes Series: Does Your Character Lack Purpose?
5 Ways You're Preventing Readers From Suspending Disbelief
Add Muscle to Your Fiction With Unity and Contrast
6 Ways to Pull off Dual Timelines in Your Novel
How You May Be Killing Your Story's Tension
5 Reasons to Write Your Scenes in Order (and 3 Not to)
What's the Purpose of Your Scene?
10 Questions Your Readers Shouldn't Have to Ask
Talent vs. Learning: Do You Have to Be Born a Writer?
Why Do Bad Books Get Published?
Are You Writing Your Novel Too Fast?
The Top 25 Ways to Blow a Book
How to Spot and Fix Non-Reactive and Over-Reactive Characters
The Two Conflict-Creating Needs of Every Character
How Routines Save (and Ruin) Your Writing
Why Self-Conscious Writers Are Doomed
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12: Your Questions Answered
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 11: The Resolution
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 10: The Climax
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 9: The Third Act
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 8: The Second Half of the Second Act
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7: The Midpoint
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 6: The First Half of the Second Act
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 5: The Inciting Event and the Key Event
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 4: The First Plot Point
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 3: The First Act
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 2: The Hook
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 1: Why Should Authors Care?
A Wordplayer's Manifesto
The Writer's Guide to Punctuation
The Case of the Vanishing Setting
Don't Let Multiple-Character Scenes Run Away With You
How I Learned to Write - And How You Can Too
Don't Drown Your Readers in Explanations
12 Writing Resolutions for the 12 Months of 2012
The Christmas Gifts I'm Most Thankful For This Year
How Do You Decide Which Story You Should Write?
25 "Under $25" Christmas Gifts for Writers
Are Your Flashbacks Flashy or Flabby?
Action/Reaction - The Pistons Powering Your Story
4 Reasons to Mimic the Masters - and 4 Reasons Not to
How Do You Know Which Rules to Break?
Do Readers See Your Characters the Way You Want Them To?
10 Fear Busters for Writers
5 Elements of a Resonant Closing Line
5 Fun and Easy Ways to Lengthen Your Word Count
The Dangers of Character Overload
What Elements Make a Good Book?
5 Elements of a Riveting First Line
Why Your Hero Absolutely Must Pet a Dog
Most Common Mistakes Series: Is Nothin' Happening in Your Scene?
Why Your Protagonist and Antagonist Should Be Stuck Like Glue
Captain America's 10-Step Guide to the Likable Hero
10 Stylistic Mistakes Sabotaging Your Story
7 Ways to Make Family and Pets Respect Your Writing Time
Why You Should Kick Your Story Aside and Write a Different One
What The Story Knows Best Really Means
Deus Ex Machina: Latin for Don't Do This in Your Story
The Fast and Easy Guide to Writing Characters of the Opposite Gender
Is Your Opening Line Lying to Your Readers?
Why There's No Such Thing as a Writing Expert - And Why That's a Good Thing
Save Your Readers From Boredom: Five Fool-Proof Preventatives
4 Tricks for Picking the Perfect Word
Is Your First-Person Narrator Overpowering Your Story?
Are Happy Endings a Must?
The Kung Fu Panda Guide to Writing Action Scenes
The Secret Ingredient of Original Stories
Ideas for Constructing Your Own Writing Routine
Understanding - and Accepting - the Reasons You Write
What Is a 50-Page Edit... and Why Will It Rock Your Story?
How Not to Use Speaker Tags and Action Beats
3 Traits Your Hero and Villain Should Share
4 Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Writer's Solitude
Why Writers Should Take Their Own Advice
Why Vague Writing Is Weak Writing
Are You Asking These Important Questions About Your Fantasy Setting?
What I Love Lucy Can Teach You About Writing Tics
8 Signs Your Writing Is Stuck in a Rut - And Why You Should Care
Are You Confusing Readers With Poor Cause and Effect?
The Good News? Writing Never Gets Any Easier
Why You Should Read the Type of Stories You Write
10 Steps for Getting Past the "This Stinks" Blues
Are You Using "There" as a Crutch?
10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill
7 Reasons Weather Is a Writer's Friend
Are Your Verbs Showing or Telling?
8 Reasons to Let Your Story Ripen
What Kind of Writer Are You?
Description: Friend or Foe?
Why Are You Writing This Story?
Are You Dating Your Fiction?
Juxtaposition: The Power of the Unexpected in Fiction
Use Motion to Spice up Your Scenes
Love Your Characters - Or Else!
Is Your Dialogue Pulling Its Weight?
The Worst Writing Advice
The Best Writing Advice
Are You a Writer?
Research: When in Doubt, Make It Up
Is Your Story Mysterious Enough?
Should You Edit As You Go?
Are You Benefiting From the Intimacy of Pronouns?
5 Steps to Dazzling Minor Characters
Whap! Pow! Zing! - How Can You Tell if Your Story Has Emotional Resonance?
Why Your Character's Motive Matters
6 Reasons a Premise Sentence Strengthens Your Story
Is the Thesaurus Your Friend?
Should Stories Be Soapboxes?
Why No Writer Knows What He's Doing
Change is the Key to Powerful Character Arcs
Maximize Your Story's Inciting Event
8 Ways Writing Longhand Frees Your Muse
Generality Is the Death of the Novel
Creating a Functional Writing Station
Improve Yourself, Improve Your Writing
When Your Story Doesn't Turn Out Like You Planned
10 Ways to Write Skinny Sentences
Why Character Stereotypes Are a Good Thing
Daydream or Die!
Are You Using Too Many Settings?
Does Your Story Have the Extraordinary Factor?
What a Mouse Can Teach You About Story Arc
Rewriting Made Easy
15 Lessons From the Masters
Three Words That Kill Writing Procrastination
Strengthen Your Story by Writing the Perfect Review
Plot vs. Character: Which Is More Important?
Are You Using Setting to Deepen Your Characters?
Embrace Your Internal Editor
Are You Called to Be a Writer?
Why Word Count Goals Can Be Destructive
10 Habits of Successful Authors
11 Killer Chapter Breaks
Are Your Characters Talking Heads?
How Music Will Make You a Better Writer
Why You Should Write More Than One Genre
4 Reasons I Quit Writing Exercises
How to Kill a Character - And Avoid Hate Mail
Top 7 Reasons Readers Stop Reading
6 Reasons Not to Listen to Your Critique Partner
11 Dichotomous Characters - And Why They Work
Emotional Connection: Punch Your Readers in the Gut!
Should You Outline Backwards?
Why You Should Be Writing Scared
Good Writers Are So Lazy, They Make Readers Do All the Work! by Jason Black
How You Can Take Advantage of Art's Subjectivity
Should You Write for a Specific Audience?
9 Ways to Strengthen Your Beginnings
Angst, Mental Illness, and Creativity by Carolyn Kaufman
It's What Your Characters Do That Defines Them
Why Genre Writing Could Kill Your Career
Backstory: The Importance of What Isn't Told
Choosing Your Character's Career With Care
Sticking With a Story
yWriter Software Tutorial
Making Cliches Work for You
5 Ways to Pace Your Story
Details: Bringing Fiction to Life
Characters: Likability Is Overrated
Don't Let the Big Words Die
Eliciting Emotion
Branded: Negotiating Consumerism in Fiction