Literary Devices: A Writer’s Palette
Literary devices are the various techniques writers employ to create stylistic effects, convey deeper meaning, evoke emotion, and enhance the overall impact […]
How to Write a Flashback: Techniques for Powerful Storytelling
Flashbacks are one of the most powerful tools you can use to reveal the deeper layers of a character’s life. They allow […]
What is Foreshadowing? Planting Clues for a Powerful Payoff
Foreshadowing is a key element in creating a satisfying conclusion to a story. This is the craft of planting quiet promises in […]
Harness the Power of Dramatic Irony
A powerful way to shift the perspective of your audience is to employ dramatic irony. This literary device lets the audience see […]
How to Create Situational Irony
Situational irony is something we’ve all experienced: an unexpected outcome or an outcome that’s the opposite of the intention. We get to […]
Invocation of the Muse: Cultivating Inspiration for Serious Writers
The idea of a Muse, inspiration, spirit, or genius, is present in any civilization in which great literature exists. When we read […]
The Art of Verbal Irony: When to Quip and When to Feel
Verbal irony is a wonderful rhetorical device you can use to sharpen your character’s tongues and refine their wit. In today’s world, […]
Epilogue: Extending Theme Beyond the Last Page
Just when you thought a story was done, sometimes there’s still room for an epilogue. Stories often end with a moment of […]
Chekhov’s Gun: A Foreshadowing Tool
Are all endings inevitably set by their beginnings, or do things occur at random? This question is, in part, answered by the […]
Personification as a Literary Tool: Writing Emotion without Telling
Personification is a literary device so commonplace that it shows up everywhere in our language. The dictionary definition of personification is “to […]
Imagery: Writing with All 5 Senses
As writers and engineers of stories, imagery is our bread and butter. In some sense, all the literary devices at your disposal […]
What is Irony? Exploring Its Forms and Power in Storytelling
A finely developed sense of irony is a wonderful tool for a writer. In this article, I will discuss different forms of […]
How to Write a Synopsis that Grabs Attention
A synopsis might sound like just another item on your never-ending to-do list, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools […]
Point of View: Second Person
You probably haven’t read many books written in the second person perspective, maybe since your last “choose your own adventure” novel. Most […]
How to Write an Effective Resolution
All stories must eventually come to a conclusion, or “resolution.” As an author, your job is to ensure that the plot threads […]
Exposition: “Where should my story begin?”
For some writers, just getting the story started is the toughest part. There’s so much you want to say, but you have […]
Point of View: First Person
The first time you experienced the magic of storytelling, odds are it was a personal story you heard in first person. A […]
The Static Character’s Secret: Why Change Isn’t Always Necessary
The characters we write in our stories play a central part in the audience’s engagement. Understanding your characters and why they do […]
