ProWritingAid’s Not Fit for Fiction
The bad news is ProWritingAid’s not fit for fiction. This subjective review of ProWritingAid’s paid version covers the basic text […]
Six Essential Elements of Story
The closest I can give you to a writer’s cheat sheet: the six essential elements of story. Among the many
Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 1
Book covers have to fit in before they stand out. The tone, genre and story type need to be clear
Plot, Character and Second Sight
Why take the easy route when you can smash together plot, character and Second Sight? My fantasy series centers on
How Many Drafts?
How many drafts does it take to finish a book? Is there an ideal number? And what counts as a
It’s All in the Edit
That old adage, ‘it’s all in the edit;’ it’s totally true. As book four of my loosely connected series nears
Every Scene a Story
Perhaps the most valuable writing lesson I’ve learned: make every scene a story. That means purpose, shape and structure.
Murphy’s Twenty-four Chapters
Derek Murphy’s twenty-four chapters hold all my novels all together. Of all the story structures from the seven key scenes
National Year of Reading 2026
Inspired or desperate: the UK declares a National Year of Reading 2026. Aiming to curtail a ‘reading crisis’ among children
Three foundations of plot: Promises, Progress and Payoffs
Three foundations of plot: Promises, Progress and Payoffs. These are Brandon Sanderson’s three P’s from his 2020 BYU writing course