alan watt on writing

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A character waves at the camera, which is a sign of a writer not knowing how to introduce a character.

How to Introduce a Character: 5 Key Methods

A character’s introduction is one of the most important parts of your story. Done well, your reader can make a...

A fencing match is one of many scenes you can write once you know how to write a fight scene.

How to Write a Fight Scene in 6 Steps

Learning how to write a fight scene isn’t really about choreography. It’s about tension and what’s truly at stake for...

An eye peering through a page, symbolizing a point of view in literature.

Point of View in Literature

There is no “correct” approach to point of view in literature. Your sole consideration is how you want your reader...

A creative writer taking time to sketch out their protagonist, who they know more about thanks to the character questionnaire.

Character Questionnaire: Turn Vague Ideas into Realistic Characters

Character questionnaires are designed to help you get to know a character that doesn’t yet exist. You might know the...

A student taking thorough notes and trying exercises to glean insights from the best books on writing

Best Books on Writing: 7 Books for Your Writing Journey

Have you ever stared at a blank page and wondered whether your story needed more inspiration or a clearer outline?...

A little tunnel leads out into the wilderness to suggest a limited point of view

How Limited Point of View Shapes What Readers Know

A limited point of view means the story narration stays with one character at a time. Your reader can only...

Book Editing

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Collaborative Editing: How to Receive Feedback Without Losing Your Voice
Book Editing

Collaborative Editing: How to Receive Feedback Without Losing Your Voice

The Benefit of Sensitivity Readers
Book Editing

The Benefit of Sensitivity Readers

The 4 Stages of Book Editing 
Book Editing

The 4 Stages of Book Editing 

The Critique Circle Every Serious Writer Eventually Needs
Book Editing

The Critique Circle Every Serious Writer Eventually Needs

Line Editing: Transform Good Writing Into Great Writing
Book Editing

Line Editing: Transform Good Writing Into Great Writing

Book Outline

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Reverse Outlining: Gaining a New Perspective
Book Outline

Reverse Outlining: Gaining a New Perspective

Pacing in Writing
Book Outline

Pacing in Writing

What Makes a Good Story? The Four Elements
Book Outline

What Makes a Good Story? The Four Elements

Character Outline
Book Outline

Character Outline

Book Outline: Where Do I Start?
Book Outline

Book Outline: Where Do I Start?

Character Development

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Character Questionnaire: Turn Vague Ideas into Realistic Characters
Character Development

Character Questionnaire: Turn Vague Ideas into Realistic Characters

Character Bio Template: Creating Dynamic Characters
Character Development

Character Bio Template: Creating Dynamic Characters

How to Build Personality Strengths and Weaknesses in Your Characters
Character Development

How to Build Personality Strengths and Weaknesses in Your Characters

Bad Character Traits Make for Compelling Stories
Character Development

Bad Character Traits Make for Compelling Stories

The Seeker Archetype: Writing the Restless Character 
Character Development

The Seeker Archetype: Writing the Restless Character 

How to Edit a Book

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How to Title a Book That Readers Can’t Ignore
How to Edit a Book

How to Title a Book That Readers Can’t Ignore

The Ultimate Guide to Developmental Editing 
How to Edit a Book

The Ultimate Guide to Developmental Editing 

How to Publish a Book

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A Guide to the Best Self-Publishing Companies
How to Publish a Book

A Guide to the Best Self-Publishing Companies

How to Get a Book Deal: The 6-Step Process
How to Publish a Book

How to Get a Book Deal: The 6-Step Process

Build a Writing Portfolio That Opens Doors
How to Publish a Book

Build a Writing Portfolio That Opens Doors

How to Write a Book Proposal That Gets Noticed
How to Publish a Book

How to Write a Book Proposal That Gets Noticed

Hybrid Publishing Explained
How to Publish a Book

Hybrid Publishing Explained

How to Write a Memoir

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How to End a Memoir
How to Write a Memoir

How to End a Memoir

How to Start a Memoir
How to Write a Memoir

How to Start a Memoir

Examples of Memoirs: What Great Memoirs Can Teach You About Storytelling
How to Write a Memoir

Examples of Memoirs: What Great Memoirs Can Teach You About Storytelling

Advice from Authors on Writing Memoir – 8 Helpful Hints
How to Write a Memoir

Advice from Authors on Writing Memoir – 8 Helpful Hints

Memoir Writing Prompts to Help You Find the Real Story
How to Write a Memoir

Memoir Writing Prompts to Help You Find the Real Story

How to Write a Screenplay

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How to Adapt a Book Into a Screenplay
How to Write a Screenplay

How to Adapt a Book Into a Screenplay

Wearing Too Many Hats: Understanding the Screenwriter’s Role
How to Write a Screenplay

Wearing Too Many Hats: Understanding the Screenwriter’s Role

“Too Many Hats” — Why Your Screenplay Loses Focus
How to Write a Screenplay

“Too Many Hats” — Why Your Screenplay Loses Focus

What is a Screenplay?
How to Write a Screenplay

What is a Screenplay?

How to Outline a Screenplay
How to Write a Screenplay

How to Outline a Screenplay

The Writing Process

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Writing Rules — Are There Any?
The Writing Process

Writing Rules — Are There Any?

Critical Feedback
The Writing Process

Critical Feedback

How Many Words Per Page in a Book?
The Writing Process

How Many Words Per Page in a Book?

The No-Excuses Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism
The Writing Process

The No-Excuses Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism

Writing Challenges: How Small Daily Commitments Create Extraordinary Results
The Writing Process

Writing Challenges: How Small Daily Commitments Create Extraordinary Results

Writers on Writing

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Trust Your Wild Imagination
Writers on Writing

Trust Your Wild Imagination

Writing Short-Form Articles for Substack
Writers on Writing

Writing Short-Form Articles for Substack

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning
Writers on Writing

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning

Follow the Dog: On Persistence and Self-Trust
Writers on Writing

Follow the Dog: On Persistence and Self-Trust

4 Tips for Writing a Novel
Writers on Writing

4 Tips for Writing a Novel

Writing Resources and Tools

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Best Books on Writing: 7 Books for Your Writing Journey
Writing Resources and Tools

Best Books on Writing: 7 Books for Your Writing Journey

Stepping Into Your True Power
Writing Resources and Tools

Stepping Into Your True Power

The Internet: A Writer’s Worst Distraction
Writing Resources and Tools

The Internet: A Writer’s Worst Distraction

First-Time Novelists: Dealing with Fear
Writing Resources and Tools

First-Time Novelists: Dealing with Fear

The Necessity of an Outline
Writing Resources and Tools

The Necessity of an Outline

Writing Techniques

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How to Introduce a Character: 5 Key Methods
Writing Techniques

How to Introduce a Character: 5 Key Methods

How to Write a Fight Scene in 6 Steps
Writing Techniques

How to Write a Fight Scene in 6 Steps

Point of View in Literature
Writing Techniques

Point of View in Literature

How Limited Point of View Shapes What Readers Know
Writing Techniques

How Limited Point of View Shapes What Readers Know

Young Adult Fiction
Writing Techniques

Young Adult Fiction