WRITING TIPS

Writers, publishers, and English teachers have been annoyed by passive voice for years. And yes, I know I just used it. I could have...

Research is one of those parts of the writing process that nobody thinks about. Nobody, that is, except writers. It’s so essential but...

The old mentor, the quest, the secret heir… These are all examples of common tropes in fantasy. If you’re an avid fantasy reader, you can...

Writing a novel is an incredibly rewarding experience. The ability to say, even if only to yourself, I sent characters on the journey of...

For most novels, a chapter is to a book like a word is to a sentence. Chapters are the building block of your novel and can be used to...

Dialogue, description, action, and narrative—all fiction novels will have some of each, but most writers will use some more than others....

If you have finished the first draft of your novel, congratulations! Take a break. You deserve it. One week later, you come back and read...

Dialogue is a wonderful tool: it can be used for characterization, worldbuilding, advancing the plot, and so much more. Here are some...

Relationship arcs make amazing subplots (or main plots, depending on your genre), especially when done well. First, be sure to take a...

Who is telling your story? You, of course! Well, not really. Unless you’re writing nonfiction, your novel probably has a narrator other...

Many young adult books would have you believing romance is the most important relationship your character will encounter. It is not. Your...

Characters are quite literally the life and blood of your story. Your character’s personality and development can make or break your...

The writing process for professional writers is not very different from the one second graders learn in elementary school. It is...