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 […]
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
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
Simplifying Prose in the Edit
The latest pass through Book One finds me simplifying prose in the edit. I write genre fiction; it’s all about
Character Stories Driven by Angst
Why are readers so fascinated by character stories driven by angst? No matter the genre, from Romance to Crime to
Wrestling with the YA genre
Despite starting as an adult fantasy writer, I have to acknowledge I’m wrestling with the YA genre. Listen to the
A Myth About A Shark
There’s a myth about a shark in the movie Jaws; how the constant breakdowns of the mechanical shark forced Spielberg
Clarify Nothing until Act Two
“Clarify nothing until Act Two,” says the host of Escape the Plot Forest, Daniel David Wallace. According to writer and
Hidden Secrets of Engaging Scenes
To understand the basic unit of storytelling, the author must know the hidden secrets of engaging scenes. The novel simply
Four Types of World-Building
Whatever the genre, sub-genre or story type, the four types of world-building are key to credible and immersive tales. Every