Writing Resources and Tools

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A lion in the Serengeti depicted here to convey a visual of the ruler archetype as naturally alluded in folk story

The Ruler Archetype: Writing the Character Who Holds the World Together or Tears It Apart

When a Ruler archetype character enters a room, the atmosphere instantly changes. Not because of what they say or do,...

Four books are sat up in hand together and all look similar to another to suggest the four stages of editing the same book, a parallel for book editing

The 4 Stages of Book Editing 

You finished a polished draft of your manuscript. Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment, and I’m going to tell you...

A featured image for a list of strengths conveys a visualization of physical strength as one quality among many for the protagonist to have

List of Strengths for Character Development: Creating Characters Readers Remember

Writers instinctively know that a character’s flaws drive the story, that the crack in a character’s foundation is what the...

A truck filled with packages suggests the large volume to deal with when asking how to publish a book on amazon

How to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP (A Step-by-Step Guide) 

If you have done any research into self-publishing, you have probably seen the same name appearing everywhere: Kindle Direct Publishing...

Image of Frank and Jesse James to suggest that the trickster archetype exists in fiction as it does borrowing from the real world

The Trickster Archetype: Writing the Character Who Changes Everything by Breaking the Rules 

The Trickster archetype is the character who enters and immediately makes everyone uncomfortable. They say the thing no one is...

A woman with an umbrella looks sullenly into a window of a storefront to provide internal conflict examples

Internal Conflict Examples: 3 Powerful Ways to Create Character Transformation 

If your narrative drive is stalling, your protagonist could be missing the most vital engine for character transformation: a powerful...

Why Writers Get Stuck
Blog
Alan Watt

Why Writers Get Stuck

Einstein says, “You cannot solve a problem at the same level of consciousness that created the problem.” Writers often get stuck because

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One Thing Readers Hate
Blog
Alan Watt

One Thing Readers Hate

One thing readers hate are coincidences. Sure, coincidences occur in our lives every day, but in a story, they are generally a

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Making Time to Write
Blog
Alan Watt

Making Time to Write

  If you’re writing your first novel, you’re probably wondering how other writers ever make the time to write. We’re all busy.

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Recent posts

Stepping Into Your True Power

Stepping Into Your True Power

What does it mean to trust yourself? It sounds like a good idea, but it is often a counter-intuitive process....

The Internet: A Writer's Worst Distraction

The Internet: A Writer’s Worst Distraction

Sometimes the deeper we get into our story, the more we seek distraction. The internet will suck the life out...

Dealing with Fear

First-Time Novelists: Dealing with Fear

Many authors share a similar fear: “What will people think?” It looks slightly different for each writer. What will my...

The Necessity of an Outline

The Necessity of an Outline

“The outline is 95% of the book. Then I sit down to write, and that’s the easy part.” – Jefferey...

Tuscany 2024

Why We Go on Retreat

  For years, my students had been asking me when I was going to take them on a retreat. Frankly,...

Why Writers Get Stuck

Why Writers Get Stuck

Einstein says, “You cannot solve a problem at the same level of consciousness that created the problem.” Writers often get...

One Thing Readers Hate

One Thing Readers Hate

One thing readers hate are coincidences. Sure, coincidences occur in our lives every day, but in a story, they are...

Take Risks - Advice for First-Time Writers

Take Risks – Advice for First-Time Writers

“In order to share one’s true brilliance one initially has to risk looking like a fool.” – Criss Jami Writing...

Setting a Plan with Purpose

Setting a Plan with Purpose

Do you often find it hard to stick to your writing plan? How often do “important tasks” distract you and...

Finishing Your Story - 5 Tips to Get You to the End

Finishing Your Story: 5 Tips to Get You to the End

For all you writers struggling somewhere in the middle of your manuscript, here are five tips to get you to...

Setting a Daily Word Count

Setting a Daily Word Count

Here’s some advice for first time writers on setting a daily word count. Consistency is the key. Set a writing...

Writing Despite Fear of Criticism

Writing Despite Fear of Criticism

In 2017, Gustavo Dudamel became the youngest conductor of a major orchestra of his time. I remember an L.A. Times...

Your Writing Process is Valid

Your Writing Process is Valid

Every writer has their own way of working, a process that has to be developed and honed over many years....

Ten Suggestions for Writing

Ten Suggestions for Writing

Below are ten writing suggestions for anyone who is setting out to craft a novel, memoir, or screenplay. Some are...

How to Become a First-Time Author

How to Become a First-Time Author

The journey to becoming a first-time author is different for everyone. For me, it involved letting go of the idea...

How to Write Your First Novel

How to Write Your First Novel

Writing your first book might actually be fun. I’m serious. I know you’re terrified. It’s a scary thing to do....

Ten Signs of a Good Writing Instructor

Ten Signs of a Good Writing Instructor

  Choosing a writing instructor is a big decision. They are not all created equal. Here are some guidelines and...

Making Time to Write

Making Time to Write

  If you’re writing your first novel, you’re probably wondering how other writers ever make the time to write. We’re...