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  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
    • The 90-Day Memoir®
    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
    • The Rewrite Master Class
    • The 30-Day Outline
    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
    • Class Calendar
  • writing resources
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • editing services
    • books
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    • writing challenge
    • envision
    • write on thursdays
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    • How to Outline a Book
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Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Plot Development: 3 Main Elements

Good plot development doesn’t rush or drag. It doesn’t stumble or take detours, nor does it feel contrived. A good plot builds […]

Alan WattJune 9, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Passive Voice Misuse

You may have heard the conventional wisdom that passive voice misuse means it should be stricken from your writing entirely. While it […]

Alan WattJune 8, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Quote a Poem 

Writers often quote a poem within their own work. This can help to set the tone, build deeper thematic connections, or key […]

Alan WattJune 7, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Memes: Why Writers Love Sharing Them (And What They Secretly Teach Us)

If you spend enough time with writers on social media, you’ll soon learn one thing — we enjoy writing memes. The writer […]

Alan WattJune 6, 2026
Blog, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Character vs. Self Conflict

Character vs. Self is the conflict that strips all else away. There’s no central villain, no evil plot, no natural disaster. This […]

Alan WattJune 5, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

What is a Screenplay?

A screenplay is a script specifically written for film, TV, video games, or any other visual medium. It is not just the […]

Alan WattJune 4, 2026
Blog, Dilemma, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Parts of a Story

“The most important part of a story is the piece of it you don’t know.”– Barbara Kingsolver In this article, I’ll look […]

Alan WattJune 3, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Self-Publish a Book

On the topic of self‑publishing, conversations tend to involve the same handful of outcomes. You might have heard how Andy Weir first […]

Alan WattJune 2, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Blitzkrieg Writing: How to Outrun Your Inner Critic  

Blitzkrieg is not a word typically associated with the quiet, solitary act of writing. It conjures up images of brute force, and […]

Alan WattJune 1, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Universal Themes in Story

While the stories we spin are often deeply personal, they invariably explore themes that are universally relatable. It can feel intimidating to […]

Alan WattMay 31, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Character vs. Nature Conflict

Character vs. Nature strips a story down to its most primal conflict. There’s no evil villain with a dark motive. No institution […]

Alan WattMay 30, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Overcoming Procrastination: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

There’s a quiet moment every writer knows. You sit. Open the page. The cursor blinks . . . waiting. Then your phone […]

Alan WattMay 29, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

How to Outline a Screenplay

Some screenwriters resist outlining. They prefer to follow the story wherever it leads, trusting their instincts over structure, discovery over design. And […]

Alan WattMay 28, 2026
Blog, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Five-Act Structure

The Five-Act Structure is a key aspect of dramatic storytelling. The tradition stretches as far back as the ancient Greeks, and it’s […]

Alan WattMay 27, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Getting Through the Messy Middle

We’ve all been stuck in the messy middle of a story.  Inspiration strikes like raw lightning, bringing a new idea into your […]

Alan WattMay 26, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Common Themes

While every story is unique, the history of literature is populated with reinterpretations of common themes.  Through the lens of different voices […]

Alan WattMay 25, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Rewriting

Copy Editing

Copy editing is a specific type of editing that focuses on both the technical aspects of your writing and the overall flow: […]

Alan WattMay 24, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Redemption Arc

A redemption arc is where an immoral character atones for their wrongdoings and earns their forgiveness. When humans first began telling stories, […]

Alan WattMay 23, 2026
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Workshops

  • the 90-day novel®
  • the 90-day memoir®
  • the 90-day screenplay™
  • story day
  • rewrite master class
  • the 30-day outline
  • siren tales: a women’s writing workshop
  • Tuscany writing retreat
  • envision: creative goal setting
  • writing challenge
  • solo/couples retreat
  • the 90-day novel®
  • the 90-day memoir®
  • the 90-day screenplay™
  • story day
  • rewrite master class
  • the 30-day outline
  • siren tales: a women’s writing workshop
  • Tuscany writing retreat
  • envision: creative goal setting
  • writing challenge
  • solo/couples retreat

Creativity is your birthright. Your sole purpose is to build a body of work.

The written signature of Alan Watt, writing teacher

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alanwatt.com
  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
    • The 90-Day Memoir®
    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
    • The Rewrite Master Class
    • The 30-Day Outline
    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
    • Class Calendar
  • writing resources
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • editing services
    • books
    • videos
    • audio
    • writing challenge
    • envision
    • write on thursdays
    • other free resources
  • retreats
    • Tuscany Retreat
    • Solo Retreats
  • blog
    • How to Outline a Book
    • How to Write a Memoir
    • How to Write a Novel
    • How to Write a Screenplay
    • Story Structure
    • Character Development
    • The Writing Process
    • Writing Techniques
    • Writing Resources & Tools
    • Book Editing
    • How to Publish a Book
    • Writers on Writing
  • meet Alan
  • contact
  • log In
  • log out
  • Join Free
  • ⠀