Alan Watt, Author at alanwatt.com

Blog, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Trickster Archetype: Writing the Character Who Changes Everything by Breaking the Rules

The Trickster archetype is the character who enters and immediately makes everyone uncomfortable. They say the thing no one is allowed to […]

Alan WattAugust 7, 2026

Blog, Dilemma, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Internal Conflict Examples: 3 Powerful Ways to Create Character Transformation

If your narrative drive is stalling, your protagonist could be missing the most vital engine for character transformation: a powerful internal conflict. […]

Alan WattJuly 23, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Character Sheet Template: The Secret Tool for Creating Unforgettable Characters

A character sheet template can be the difference between a character who feels real on the page and one who constantly contradicts […]

Alan WattJuly 22, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How Many Words Per Page in a Book?

Have you ever found yourself comparing the length of your manuscript to other books, and wondering if you’ve written too much or […]

Alan WattJuly 21, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life

Rhythm is one of those craft issues that writers talk around without really discussing. They might lump it in with general recommendations […]

Alan WattJuly 20, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Rewriting

The Critique Circle Every Serious Writer Eventually Needs

Is there value in joining a critique circle? Writing is one of the most solitary of all professions. You sit alone, staring […]

Alan WattJuly 19, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Resources

The No-Excuses Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding plagiarism seems like a simple task: Just don’t steal someone else’s work. But when you’re immersed in research with tabs open […]

Alan WattJuly 18, 2026

Blog, Free, Resources, Screenwriting

How to Adapt a Book Into a Screenplay

Months, maybe even years, have been invested in crafting your novel or memoir, and now you have decided to adapt it into […]

Alan WattJuly 17, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Resources

The Cumulative Sentence: How to Write Lines that Pull Readers In

The cumulative sentence is a versatile sentence structure that helps writers develop rhythm, reveal character, and enrich description within a single line. […]

Alan WattJuly 16, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction, Rewriting

Line Editing: Transform Good Writing Into Great Writing

Perhaps you’ve been working hard on your rewrite, but something is still off and you’re not quite sure how to fix it. […]

Alan WattJuly 15, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Challenges: How Small Daily Commitments Create Extraordinary Results

The writing challenge is a commitment to write each day. A few years ago, I noticed that the writers in my workshops […]

Alan WattJuly 14, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Journals: A Conversation with Your Creative Mind

Some people think writing journals are only for recording your feelings, venting frustrations, or documenting daily life. But for creative writers, a […]

Alan WattJuly 13, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Hero Archetype: Building a Character Worth Following

One of the oldest and most enduring patterns in storytelling is the Hero archetype. All stories require a main perspective for the […]

Alan WattJuly 12, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Dialogue Tags: The Art of Guiding Conversation

Dialogue tags are essential to keeping up the illusion of storytelling. Dialogue ceases to be words on a page, and readers start […]

Alan WattJuly 11, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Scapegoat: Why Your Characters Need Someone to Blame

Typically, we view a scapegoat simply as a plot device — an innocent bystander blamed for a criminal act, or the black […]

Alan WattJuly 10, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Rewriting

The Ultimate Guide to Developmental Editing

If you’ve been working on a rough draft of your story for a while, and find yourself thinking, This is good, but […]

Alan WattJuly 9, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Start a Memoir

How do you start your memoir when there are infinite places to begin, and every idea leads to ten new ones? How […]

Alan WattJuly 8, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Peer Learning: Why Writers Grow Faster Together

Most writers spend years trying to improve alone. I understand the instinct. Writing is personal, vulnerable work, and solitude often feels safer […]

Alan WattJuly 7, 2026

The Trickster Archetype: Writing the Character Who Changes Everything by Breaking the Rules

Internal Conflict Examples: 3 Powerful Ways to Create Character Transformation

Character Sheet Template: The Secret Tool for Creating Unforgettable Characters

How Many Words Per Page in a Book?

What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life

The Critique Circle Every Serious Writer Eventually Needs

The No-Excuses Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism

How to Adapt a Book Into a Screenplay

The Cumulative Sentence: How to Write Lines that Pull Readers In

Line Editing: Transform Good Writing Into Great Writing

Writing Challenges: How Small Daily Commitments Create Extraordinary Results

Writing Journals: A Conversation with Your Creative Mind

The Hero Archetype: Building a Character Worth Following

Dialogue Tags: The Art of Guiding Conversation

The Scapegoat: Why Your Characters Need Someone to Blame

The Ultimate Guide to Developmental Editing

How to Start a Memoir

Peer Learning: Why Writers Grow Faster Together

Workshops

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

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