Writing Techniques

Most popular posts

Prologue

What is a Prologue?

Occasionally, tucked somewhere between an introduction, epigraph, and dedication, a book might have a prologue. This is the story before...

stream-of-consciousness

Stream-of-Consciousness Writing

There’s rhythm in prose. The rhythm might be intentionally terse, like a Charles Bukowski novel, or dense and languid like...

story arc

Story Arcs

Ever since humans have been able to communicate, we share stories, weaving the tapestry of our shared existence. These stories...

morning pages

What are “Morning Pages”?

“Morning pages” is the term coined by Julia Cameron in her work The Artist’s Way used to describe the habit...

round character

How to Write Round Characters

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a character who jumped off the page and felt so alive that you...

theme in literature

Theme in Literature

Theme is a mysterious and often misunderstood term. Simply put, a theme is a unifying or dominant idea explored in...

Prologue
Blog
Alan Watt

What is a Prologue?

Occasionally, tucked somewhere between an introduction, epigraph, and dedication, a book might have a prologue. This is the story before the story. 

Read More »
theme in literature
Blog
Alan Watt

Theme in Literature

Theme is a mysterious and often misunderstood term. Simply put, a theme is a unifying or dominant idea explored in a work

Read More »
worldbuilding
Blog
Alan Watt

Worldbuilding

Crafting a compelling story comes with several responsibilities. You are in charge of creating the plot, the characters, the prose, the dialogue,

Read More »
How to Write Dialogue
Blog
Alan Watt

How to Write Dialogue

Writing dialogue can be intimidating, even for the most experienced writers. Sometimes the words feel clumsy and unnatural, or we find ourselves

Read More »
novella
Blog
Alan Watt

What is a Novella?

Some of literature’s greatest stories aren’t in novel form at all, but a different kind of prose. Rich characters like George Milton

Read More »
purple prose
Blog
Alan Watt

Purple Prose

Like all things in life, the way we write requires balance. When you look back on your first attempts at writing, you

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magical realism
Blog
Alan Watt

What is Magical Realism?

Magical realism invites the impossible into the ordinary. This genre asks us to accept the fantastical without question. The supernatural appears alongside

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writing hooks
Blog
Alan Watt

How to Write a Hook

When you’re at the bookstore surfing for a good read, you’re often trying to get a sense of the tone and texture

Read More »
symbolism
Blog
Alan Watt

Symbolism in Storytelling

Does the word “symbolism” give you unwelcome flashbacks to your high school English classes? The idea is foreign when we first hear

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juxtaposition
Blog
Alan Watt

What is Juxtaposition?

The best way to flesh out something is by showing what it isn’t. If that sounds like a paradox, you’re feeling the

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active vs passive
Blog
Alan Watt

Active vs Passive Voice

Understanding when and how to use active vs passive voice isn’t just a matter of grammar; it’s a matter of storytelling. The

Read More »
diction
Blog
Alan Watt

The Power of Diction

The diction you use in your writing is a choice you’re always making, whether subconsciously or not. Writers trade in language. Diction

Read More »

Recent posts

Prologue

What is a Prologue?

Occasionally, tucked somewhere between an introduction, epigraph, and dedication, a book might have a prologue. This is the story before...

theme in literature

Theme in Literature

Theme is a mysterious and often misunderstood term. Simply put, a theme is a unifying or dominant idea explored in...

worldbuilding

Worldbuilding

Crafting a compelling story comes with several responsibilities. You are in charge of creating the plot, the characters, the prose,...

How to Write Dialogue

How to Write Dialogue

Writing dialogue can be intimidating, even for the most experienced writers. Sometimes the words feel clumsy and unnatural, or we...

novella

What is a Novella?

Some of literature’s greatest stories aren’t in novel form at all, but a different kind of prose. Rich characters like...

purple prose

Purple Prose

Like all things in life, the way we write requires balance. When you look back on your first attempts at...

magical realism

What is Magical Realism?

Magical realism invites the impossible into the ordinary. This genre asks us to accept the fantastical without question. The supernatural...

parallelism

Parallelism: Crafting Meaning in Repetition

There’s no rhythm without some repeated notes. Certain literary and rhetorical devices are so ingrained in how we speak and...

high fantasy vs low fantasy

High Fantasy vs Low Fantasy

All stories have some magic in them. On one end of the spectrum, you have stories spanning across galaxies with...

setting

Setting: Establishing the World

Setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a signal, cueing the reader how to read what comes next. Before a character...

writing hooks

How to Write a Hook

When you’re at the bookstore surfing for a good read, you’re often trying to get a sense of the tone...

symbolism

Symbolism in Storytelling

Does the word “symbolism” give you unwelcome flashbacks to your high school English classes? The idea is foreign when we...

show, don't tell

Your Writing Guide to “Show, Don’t Tell”

I suppose everything is easier said than done. The same is true for writing. It’s one thing to say a...

monologue

Writing Monologues That Matter

Most of our everyday speech happens in dialogue — in conversations. You might talk to yourself from time to time,...

juxtaposition

What is Juxtaposition?

The best way to flesh out something is by showing what it isn’t. If that sounds like a paradox, you’re...

active vs passive

Active vs Passive Voice

Understanding when and how to use active vs passive voice isn’t just a matter of grammar; it’s a matter of...

diction

The Power of Diction

The diction you use in your writing is a choice you’re always making, whether subconsciously or not. Writers trade in...

tone

Understanding Tone: Secrets to a Strong Narrative Voice

Creating tone in your writing provides a texture to the work. It’s the emotional coloring that shapes how a reader...