Competence Tempered by Flaws
The key to an appealing, relatable protagonist: competence tempered by flaws. Without flaws, you get a Mary-Sue paragon of virtue.
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
Fourteen Questions About Setting
If writing fiction is all about answering questions, then there are fourteen questions about setting you better have the answers
The Dictionary Trap
Ever had to dig yourself out of the Dictionary Trap? Top writing coaches want to to vary your vocabulary, to
Big Plot versus little plot
Sanderson’s lecture series makes much of Big Plot versus little plot. What’s the difference and why does it matter?
Five First Draft Mistakes
There are more than five first draft mistakes you can make in a novel. But I read through editor Ellen
Decode the Publisher’s Book Description
How do you decode the publisher’s book description – you know, those tag-lines on the front and back cover? You
ProWritingAid’s AI Critique Report
ProWritingAid‘s AI Critique Report is a relatively new feature that you can run against your text. Harnessing the power of
Romancing the Sub-plot
If the main character believes in destiny, are we still romancing the sub-plot? There’s a core problem with the main
A Time and Place for Humour
There’s a time and place for humour. From the darkest Grimdark gallows humour to Kafka’s satirical take on faceless bureaucracy,
The ‘Reading Aloud’ Stage
Writing coaches tell you before you finish editing, you have to go through the ‘reading aloud’ stage. Newsflash: Book One