Writing a Foil Character
Unlock your protagonist's depth using foil characters. Learn how to use contrast and dilemmas to highlight key traits and drive your story forward.
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 […]
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 […]
What is Success?
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates Years ago, I was on the phone with a prospective student, and he […]
No Good Guys, No Bad Guys
There are times, as storytellers, when we can be so bull-headed about what we want to express, that we end up pushing […]
Stay Curious
“The curious are always in some danger. If you are curious, you might never come home.” – Jeanette Winterson When my son […]
What Do I Write Next?
Writers frequently come to me and say: “I have three ideas. Which one should I write next?”In the 90-day workshops, one of […]
Hold the Story Loosely
Our idea of the story is never the whole story. The act of writing a novel, memoir, or screenplay is a way […]
The Inner Critic
“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs […]
12 Maxims of The 90-Day Novel
Have you thought about your creative goals for this coming year? If you’re planning to write your novel, here are 12 maxims that […]
There are No Ugly Trees
“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.” – Eleanor […]
