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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
    • 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
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    • The Writing Process
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    • Writing Resources & Tools
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    • How to Publish a Book
    • Writers on Writing
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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
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

What is Onomatopoeia? How Sound Brings Your Writing to Life 

As a writer, your goal is to keep your readers immersed by drawing them into the world your characters inhabit. One way […]

Alan WattMay 22, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Story Structure

Think of story structure as the skeleton of your tale. We all have different lives, different styles, different appearances. But for the […]

Alan WattMay 21, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

What is a Short Film?

Every screenwriter dreams to one day have their own feature length film on the big screen. Regardless of how grand that goal […]

Alan WattMay 20, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Historical Fiction

If you’ve found yourself enchanted by tales of a bygone era, you’re likely a fan of historical fiction.  In this genre, the […]

Alan WattMay 19, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Write Faster

Every writer at one time or another thinks: I need to write faster. The page is blank. The clock is ticking. And […]

Alan WattMay 18, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Proofreading Marks

Proofreading marks are symbols used to denote corrections to a manuscript. Many editors today use “track changes” features on various software programs […]

Alan WattMay 17, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Pacing in Writing

Many writers struggle to get the pacing right in their stories. We adjust scenes: adding, trimming, and attempting to hike up the […]

Alan WattMay 16, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Proofreading

While your Editing Checklist is about clarity and pacing, and your Rewrite is about adjusting the structure and polishing character development in […]

Alan WattMay 15, 2026
Blog, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources

External conflict

Without tension or conflict, a story will not only be boring, but absent of meaning.  At the heart of every story lies […]

Alan WattMay 14, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Character vs. Character Conflict

Detective vs. criminal mastermind, knight vs. dragon, cowboy vs. rogue bandit — all these classic stories fit neatly into a conflict model […]

Alan WattMay 13, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Writing Goals

What are your writing goals? Do you have dreams of winning the Pulitzer prize? Writing a bestseller or an Academy Award winning […]

Alan WattMay 12, 2026
Blog, General, Inspiration, Memoir, Resources

6-Word Memoir

Writing a 6-word memoir might feel impossible at first, too restricting, maybe even unfair. You might think, How do you tell a […]

Alan WattMay 11, 2026
Blog, General, Resources

Constructive Criticism

One of the most important skills you’ll learn as a writer is how to take constructive criticism.  Feedback is an instrumental part […]

Alan WattMay 10, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

What Is Alliteration? (And How to Use It in Your Writing)

One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever got was: read your work aloud. When you do, you begin to […]

Alan WattMay 9, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Use Sensory Details in Your Story

Your goal as a writer is to immerse your readers fully in your story, to help them experience what it feels like […]

Alan WattMay 8, 2026
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Workshops

  • the 90-day novel®
  • the 90-day memoir®
  • the 90-day screenplay™
  • story day
  • rewrite master class
  • 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
  • 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
  • ⠀