alan watt on writing

Recent posts

Inflatable characters projected here are notations of the various types of characters that one may concoct in the goal of strengthening a story, notes of ancient folktale

Types of Characters

Sometimes, when we’re first assembling our cast of characters, they feel static or formulaic. This happens when we approach our...

An image of chairs with different emoticon faces on them to suggest how readers and writers may control different parts of mood vs. tone

Mood vs. Tone: What’s the Difference? (And Why Every Writer Needs to Know)

Have you ever read a scene that made you uneasy, while nothing bad was happening? Or perhaps you read a...

Lightness suggested in book title ideas

Book Title Ideas: Tips and Techniques

At some point in every writing project, you end up staring at a blank space where the title should be. ...

The goal of how to get an ISBN suggested by old books and a golden light across them, a joy and oldness in their authority

How to Get an ISBN for Your Book 

If you’re wondering how to get an ISBN, let me help you.  The ISBN is one of those publishing steps...

A hand reaching out toward pages spilling into the air suggests a distance from the work that is mended by personal growth

Personal Growth in Writing: Transforming Both Characters and Yourself

I believe that the desire to write is, to some degree, about personal growth — the unconscious desire to evolve....

An empty dirt road with a speed limit for 120 km/h posted nearby to suggest the wide open road for a writer equipped well with a literary devices list

The Ultimate Literary Devices List: 120 Powerful Techniques Every Writer Should Know

Literary devices are a variety of techniques that writers use to craft better stories, characters, dialogues, and scenes. You probably...

Book Editing

See all articles
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

See all articles
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?

The Pantser Method: Writing Without an Outline
Book Outline

The Pantser Method: Writing Without an Outline

Character Development

See all articles
Types of Characters
Character Development

Types of Characters

Personal Growth in Writing: Transforming Both Characters and Yourself
Character Development

Personal Growth in Writing: Transforming Both Characters and Yourself

The Caregiver Archetype: Writing the Character Who Loves at Their Own Expense
Character Development

The Caregiver Archetype: Writing the Character Who Loves at Their Own Expense

Antagonist Examples: The Characters Who Force Heroes to Change 
Character Development

Antagonist Examples: The Characters Who Force Heroes to Change 

When the Main Character is the Villain
Character Development

When the Main Character is the Villain

How to Edit a Book

See all articles
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

See all articles
Book Title Ideas: Tips and Techniques
How to Publish a Book

Book Title Ideas: Tips and Techniques

How to Get an ISBN for Your Book 
How to Publish a Book

How to Get an ISBN for Your Book 

Epub vs. Mobi: Which eBook Format Do You Need to Publish?
How to Publish a Book

Epub vs. Mobi: Which eBook Format Do You Need to Publish?

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book? A Realistic Breakdown
How to Publish a Book

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book? A Realistic Breakdown

Abridged vs. Unabridged: The Essentials of a Story
How to Publish a Book

Abridged vs. Unabridged: The Essentials of a Story

How to Write a Memoir

See all articles
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

Memoir Ideas: Finding the Story Only You Can Tell
How to Write a Memoir

Memoir Ideas: Finding the Story Only You Can Tell

How to Write a Screenplay

See all articles
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

See all articles
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

Writing Journals: A Conversation with Your Creative Mind 
The Writing Process

Writing Journals: A Conversation with Your Creative Mind 

Writers on Writing

See all articles
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

See all articles

Writing Techniques

See all articles
Mood vs. Tone: What’s the Difference? (And Why Every Writer Needs to Know)
Writing Techniques

Mood vs. Tone: What’s the Difference? (And Why Every Writer Needs to Know)

The Ultimate Literary Devices List: 120 Powerful Techniques Every Writer Should Know
Writing Techniques

The Ultimate Literary Devices List: 120 Powerful Techniques Every Writer Should Know

Contractions in Writing
Writing Techniques

Contractions in Writing

What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life
Writing Techniques

What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life

The Cumulative Sentence: How to Write Lines that Pull Readers In
Writing Techniques

The Cumulative Sentence: How to Write Lines that Pull Readers In