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  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
    • The 90-Day Memoir®
    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
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    • The 30-Day Outline
    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
    • Class Calendar
  • writing resources
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • editing services
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    • How to Outline a Book
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Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Memoir Writing Prompts to Help You Find the Real Story

Most writers think a memoir begins with memory. It doesn’t. It begins with tension. A feeling you can’t shake. A question that […]

Alan WattJune 25, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Start a Novel

Okay, perhaps you’ve been filling pages with scattered notes, and now there’s a growing sense you have a story that wants to […]

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

Character Development

Audiences love a great plot twist, a thrilling action sequence, or a quiet revelation, but without real character development they will start […]

Alan WattJune 23, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Third Person Objective – Point of View

Previously, I went over third person omniscient and third person limited points of view. There’s one more to consider: third person objective […]

Alan WattJune 22, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Plot vs. Story

When you read articles on writing, the words “story” and “plot” are often used interchangeably. You’re wondering if there are any real […]

Alan WattJune 20, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

What is Subtext?

For writers, implying subtext can be difficult, but it is also essential. The challenge lies in knowing what needs to be said […]

Alan WattJune 19, 2026
Blog, General, Inspiration

Trust Your Wild Imagination

Thoughts on writing, creativity, and meditation Writing and meditation have so much in common. After my husband, Peter, and I attended a […]

Diana McKeon CharkalisJune 18, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Write a Query Letter

Writing a query letter after finishing your manuscript can feel like climbing a second mountain you didn’t know was there.  It took […]

Alan WattJune 17, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Omniscient Narrator: Balancing What to Tell and When

The omniscient narrator sees everything. Every private conviction, every hidden fear, every gap between what a character believes and what is actually […]

Alan WattJune 16, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline

The Fichtean Curve

The Fichtean Curve takes a different approach from other story structure models. Most structure templates take a little time to establish the […]

Alan WattJune 15, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Short-Form Articles for Substack

If you’re like me, and wondered if being on social media and doing book promotion was even compatible with the serene state […]

Rachel RoseJune 14, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Resources

Memoir Ideas: Finding the Story Only You Can Tell

Some writers believe you need to have lived a dramatic life in order to write a great memoir, but that’s not the […]

Alan WattJune 12, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Central Conflict

Though you may love and care about your protagonist, there needs to be a central conflict in your story. You must get […]

Alan WattJune 11, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Controlling Idea

Some stories explore universal themes like belonging or ambition, while others arrive with something very specific to say. The latter is sometimes […]

Alan WattJune 10, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Plot Development: 3 Main Elements

Good plot development doesn’t rush or drag. It doesn’t stumble or take detours, nor does it feel contrived. A good plot builds […]

Alan WattJune 9, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Passive Voice Misuse

You may have heard the conventional wisdom that passive voice misuse means it should be stricken from your writing entirely. While it […]

Alan WattJune 8, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Quote a Poem 

Writers often quote a poem within their own work. This can help to set the tone, build deeper thematic connections, or key […]

Alan WattJune 7, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Inspiration, Resources

Writing Memes: Why Writers Love Sharing Them (And What They Secretly Teach Us)

If you spend enough time with writers on social media, you’ll soon learn one thing — we enjoy writing memes. The writer […]

Alan WattJune 6, 2026
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Workshops

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