If you’re looking for novel rewriting tips, you already know one truth of the writing life: the first draft is never the final word. Finishing a draft is a huge achievement—but it’s only the beginning. The real work of shaping…
In an age filled with writing software and digital tools, there’s something timeless—and surprisingly powerful—about notecard novel planning. Mapping your book by hand using physical notecards lets you see your story’s structure in a tactile, flexible way. This low-tech approach…
When it comes to crafting a compelling story, many novelists can learn a lot from filmmakers. Screenwriting techniques focus on clear structure, precise pacing, and vivid storytelling—all essential elements that can elevate your novel to the next level. By borrowing…
Writing the ending first is a technique that many writers overlook, yet it can be a powerful way to bring clarity and focus to your storytelling. Endings are often the hardest part of a story to write because they must…
Eco-fiction is literature that places the environment at the heart of storytelling—not just as a backdrop, but as an essential force. These are novels and short stories that engage directly with ecological themes: climate change, biodiversity, sustainability, and the fraught,…
As writers, we are the architects of worlds, the creators of dreams and nightmares alike. And in the realm of dark fantasy, our pens become the wands that summon forth demons and dragons, witches and warlocks, heroes and antiheroes locked…
The beauty of using sentence and word counts is that these patterns become visible. Instead of relying on vague feelings like “this section feels slow,” you can point to concrete data: “I have twelve consecutive sentences over twenty words in…
But here’s the thing I’ve learned since then, both as a reader and a writer: endings are ridiculously hard to get right. Your final pages carry enormous weight—they’re what readers remember, what they talk about, what makes them either slam…
The magic happens when you stop thinking about writing for an age group and start thinking about writing to real people who just happen to be that age. Kids aren’t small adults, teenagers aren’t dramatic kids, and adults aren’t just…
The best villains aren’t just obstacles to overcome—they’re complex characters who challenge our protagonists in meaningful ways, force growth, and sometimes even make us question our own moral compass. Let me walk you through the essential elements that separate forgettable…
In this post, we’ll walk you through the essentials of devotional writing across different styles—from traditional Bible-based devotionals to spiritually-inspired and personal-themed reflections. This balanced approach will help you decide the style that fits your voice and audience, and give…
Kiss scenes come in many shapes and sizes, and what resonates most depends on your story’s tone, the characters involved, and the emotions at play. Whether it’s tender, fiery, awkward, or transformative, the best kiss scenes fit naturally within your…
Let’s explore essential techniques to help you build dystopian worlds that feel vivid and believable, create characters readers care deeply about, and weave themes that provoke thought long after the final page. By the end of this post, you’ll have…
There’s something about true crime that grips the imagination. Maybe it’s the high-stakes mystery, the dark window into human behavior, or the relentless pursuit of justice… Whatever the draw, learning how to write true crime is not for the faint…
The 1-3-1 Rule offers guidance at every stage of the writing journey, from crafting your initial draft to navigating the publishing landscape. Understanding how to apply this framework effectively can transform a scattered collection of ideas into a cohesive, purposeful…
Most writing advice focuses on familiar models like three-act structure or the hero’s journey, but structure is far more than just a plot template. The right structure acts as a bridge between your story and your reader’s emotions. It can…
Space opera isn’t just science fiction with lasers. It’s a genre all its own—defined as much by tone and scope as setting. While the science can be soft, the stakes are rarely anything less than galactic.
These seven elements—character, plot, setting, point of view, theme, style, and structure—form the bones of any solid narrative. Whether you’re outlining your first draft or deep into revisions, understanding how these components work together can help you craft a more…
Finding your way into writing—whether it’s the first project or the fiftieth—can feel strangely difficult. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the writing itself, but the getting started. What helps most is having a few steady tools, a bit of structure,…
While memoir, middle grade, and YA may not be the most popular genres to write in today, they offer a wealth of opportunity for authors who are willing to take on the challenge. These genres are ripe for fresh voices,…