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 […]
how-to
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
Fantasy Tropes Readers May Hate
A while back, Book-tuber Merphy Napier presented thirteen fantasy tropes readers may hate; tropes so heinous, readers can’t just put
Weak Verbs and Passive Voice
The editing hell of Book One continues with weak verbs and passive voice. Bear in mind I have two lists
Heroes of their own Stories
It’s easy to forget that your side characters are the heroes of their own stories; that they have their own
Characters Outside their Fictional World
–If you take your characters outside their fictional world, do they still function as compelling, relatable characters? Drop them into
Restoring a Deleted Scene
Editing is a strange process, especially when you find yourself restoring a deleted scene. Listen to the audio version on