“How Many Words in a Novel?”
How many words long should your novel be? The short answer is . . . as long as it needs to be. […]
Novels vs Books — What’s the Difference?
The words “book” and “novel” are sometimes used interchangeably. But they actually mean different things. In this article, I’ll describe the differences […]
The Essential Guide to Novel Structure for Writers
A novel’s story structure is an essential aspect to creating a compelling narrative. While the beginnings of a story emerge from the […]
What is a Novel? Definition, History, and Key Characteristics
We use the word novel casually, as if it simply means “a long story,” but a novel is defined by more than […]
Novel Genres: Top 9 Fiction Categories
When talking about your writing project with a friend, one of their first questions will likely be “What is the genre?” To […]
Rhetorical Devices: The Art of Arguing
In the modern world where the town square is a digital place and the zeitgeist is a worldwide phenomenon, we don’t practice […]
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 […]
Never Give Up
I was a half decent 800-meter runner in high school, not great, but I ran with a lot of heart, and sometimes […]
The Value of an Outline
What’s the point of an outline? Whether consciously or not, every writer is in search of a process. A lot of writers […]
How Do I Begin?
“How do I begin?” The process of story creation is mysterious. Where do your story ideas come from? From where do your […]
“Why Do I Get Stuck?”
When writers come to a dead stop there can be a tendency to panic. It’s important to remember that your idea of […]
The Internet: A Writer’s Worst Distraction
Sometimes the deeper we get into our story, the more we seek distraction. The internet will suck the life out of any […]
First-Time Novelists: Dealing with Fear
Many authors share a similar fear: “What will people think?” It looks slightly different for each writer. What will my parents think when […]
Plot versus Theme
Any writer can experience that moment where you suddenly realize that your “idea” of the story isn’t going to get you to […]
Stay Out of the Result
For any writer, here’s a question to ask yourself: “Why do I want to write this?” A student told me recently that […]
“Write What You Know” Can Be Misunderstood
Every writer hears the old song: “Write what you know.” This can be misunderstood. The fact is, we don’t write what we […]
Writing When You Have Nothing to Lose
Have you ever experienced great loss? Whether it was a parent, spouse, or friend, the experience pulls you sharply into the present […]
Discovering Your Process
Finding Your Way As you write each day, you discover your own process. You begin to see there is no “right way” […]