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  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
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    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
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    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
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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, 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
Blog, Free, Resources, Screenwriting

Screenwriting Classes: What to Look for

Whether you are new to the craft of screenwriting, or perhaps stuck somewhere in the middle of your manuscript, the thought of […]

Alan WattMay 7, 2026
Blog, Dilemma, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

What Makes a Good Story? The Four Elements

This is a question that can often lead writers down the wrong path. Many try to answer this through the complexity of […]

Alan WattMay 6, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Rewriting

The Rewrite

Once you’ve completed an editing checklist on your manuscript, you may find that your story requires a more substantial rewrite.  Often dreaded […]

Alan WattMay 5, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Screenwriting

How Long Should a Screenplay Be?

Screenplays usually land around 90 to 120 pages. And the reason involves both technical considerations and the practical realities of making a […]

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

Character Name Ideas

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”– William Shakespeare, Romeo and […]

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

How Many Words in a Chapter?

Authors often struggle to figure out when to add chapter breaks and how to properly split up their novel or memoir.  A […]

Alan WattApril 30, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Internal Dialogue

Internal dialogue does more than let you know what a character is thinking. It shows you what that character cannot bring themselves […]

Alan WattApril 28, 2026
Blog, Free, Resources, Screenwriting

How to Write Flashbacks in a Screenplay

Flashbacks act as a sort of Swiss army knife. You can use them in multiple ways — to foreshadow coming events, flesh […]

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

A Look at 5 Different Writing Styles

Just as your characters each have a distinct voice, every writing style carries its own purpose, logic, and effect. Knowing the difference […]

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

Realistic Fiction

There’s a particular kind of courage in writing about the world as it actually is. Although our imaginations can take us to […]

Alan WattApril 24, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Character vs. Society

While each type of narrative conflict serves a purpose, Character vs. Society can be particularly interesting. Instead of a protagonist clashing with […]

Alan WattApril 23, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Foreshadowing examples

Can you recall some of the most well-executed foreshadowing examples in books you’ve read? Or in your favorite films? In a great […]

Alan WattApril 22, 2026
Blog, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Screenwriting

How to Introduce a Character in a Screenplay

How to Introduce a Character in a Screenplay: Master the art of first impressions with proper formatting, action cues, and internal dilemmas.

Alan WattApril 21, 2026
Blog, Dilemma, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Internal Conflict

Explore how internal conflict drives character transformation and fuels your plot with our guide on dramatizing the psyche's dissonance.

Alan WattApril 19, 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
  • ⠀