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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
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    • editing services
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Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

What is a Screenplay?

A screenplay is a script specifically written for film, TV, video games, or any other visual medium. It is not just the […]

Alan WattJune 4, 2026
Blog, Dilemma, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Parts of a Story

“The most important part of a story is the piece of it you don’t know.”– Barbara Kingsolver In this article, I’ll look […]

Alan WattJune 3, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Self-Publish a Book

On the topic of self‑publishing, conversations tend to involve the same handful of outcomes. You might have heard how Andy Weir first […]

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

Blitzkrieg Writing: How to Outrun Your Inner Critic  

Blitzkrieg is not a word typically associated with the quiet, solitary act of writing. It conjures up images of brute force, and […]

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

Universal Themes in Story

While the stories we spin are often deeply personal, they invariably explore themes that are universally relatable. It can feel intimidating to […]

Alan WattMay 31, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Character vs. Nature Conflict

Character vs. Nature strips a story down to its most primal conflict. There’s no evil villain with a dark motive. No institution […]

Alan WattMay 30, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Overcoming Procrastination: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

There’s a quiet moment every writer knows. You sit. Open the page. The cursor blinks . . . waiting. Then your phone […]

Alan WattMay 29, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

How to Outline a Screenplay

Some screenwriters resist outlining. They prefer to follow the story wherever it leads, trusting their instincts over structure, discovery over design. And […]

Alan WattMay 28, 2026
Blog, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Five-Act Structure

The Five-Act Structure is a key aspect of dramatic storytelling. The tradition stretches as far back as the ancient Greeks, and it’s […]

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

Getting Through the Messy Middle

We’ve all been stuck in the messy middle of a story.  Inspiration strikes like raw lightning, bringing a new idea into your […]

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

Common Themes

While every story is unique, the history of literature is populated with reinterpretations of common themes.  Through the lens of different voices […]

Alan WattMay 25, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources, Rewriting

Copy Editing

Copy editing is a specific type of editing that focuses on both the technical aspects of your writing and the overall flow: […]

Alan WattMay 24, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Redemption Arc

A redemption arc is where an immoral character atones for their wrongdoings and earns their forgiveness. When humans first began telling stories, […]

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

What is Onomatopoeia? How Sound Brings Your Writing to Life 

As a writer, your goal is to keep your readers immersed by drawing them into the world your characters inhabit. One way […]

Alan WattMay 22, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

Story Structure

Think of story structure as the skeleton of your tale. We all have different lives, different styles, different appearances. But for the […]

Alan WattMay 21, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources, Screenwriting

What is a Short Film?

Every screenwriter dreams to one day have their own feature length film on the big screen. Regardless of how grand that goal […]

Alan WattMay 20, 2026
Blog, Free, General, Resources

Historical Fiction

If you’ve found yourself enchanted by tales of a bygone era, you’re likely a fan of historical fiction.  In this genre, the […]

Alan WattMay 19, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Write Faster

Every writer at one time or another thinks: I need to write faster. The page is blank. The clock is ticking. And […]

Alan WattMay 18, 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
  • ⠀