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How to Write Suspense
Suspense is all about what might happen. It’s not the moment of danger itself that evokes suspense, but the growing dread that
September 26, 2026
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Writing Techniques
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Suspense is all about what might happen. It’s not the moment of danger itself that evokes suspense, but the growing...
The Seeker archetype is a character beset by a divine discontent, an inner yearning for something just beyond their reach....
Is first-person omniscient narration even possible? Most writers are taught point of view as a set of hard and fast...
You’ve finished your manuscript and you want to get a book deal with a traditional publisher. Where do you start? ...
“Can you send me your writing portfolio?” For many writers, that’s the moment everything stops. You might feel like a...
Two sentences with the exact same words rearranged can mean entirely different things. That shift is syntax at work. “Syntax”...
Coming of age is never easy. You might have been the popular kid in school, armed with academic excellence, physical...
Occasionally, tucked somewhere between an introduction, epigraph, and dedication, a book might have a prologue. This is the story before...
Magical realism invites the impossible into the ordinary. This genre asks us to accept the fantastical without question. The supernatural...
A powerful way to shift the perspective of your audience is to employ dramatic irony. This literary device lets the...
The first time you experienced the magic of storytelling, odds are it was a personal story you heard in first...
Motifs are one of the best literary devices you can have in your writer’s toolbox. Essentially, a motif is a...
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How First-Person Omniscient Breaks the Rules on Purpose
Is first-person omniscient narration even possible? Most writers are taught point of view as a set of hard and fast rules. Part
September 24, 2026
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Syntax: The Secret Power of Sentence Structure
Two sentences with the exact same words rearranged can mean entirely different things. That shift is syntax at work. “Syntax” sounds like
September 21, 2026
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Writing Techniques
Sooner or later, every writer seeks to improve their writing skills. Maybe you want to learn specific techniques before you start writing.
September 20, 2026
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What is a Mixed Metaphor?
Mixed metaphors are sneaky. You’re writing a scene, the words are flowing, then you write a line like, “She took the bull
September 19, 2026
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Literary Fiction: What Makes a Novel Literary?
You’ve probably heard people describe a novel as “literary fiction” without explaining what the term means. Is it more slow-paced? More artistic?
September 17, 2026
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Vivid Verbs: Bring Your Prose to Life
One of the quickest ways to make your writing more vibrant is to use vivid verbs. A single well-placed verb can say
September 15, 2026
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5 Essential Creative Writing Tips
Whether you’re brainstorming your first story or publishing your ninth book, there comes a point when all writers wonder the same thing.
September 11, 2026
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How to Write a Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger is not a trick, but a promise. As a storyteller, you want to grab your reader’s attention and hold it
September 10, 2026
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Theme Ideas: Finding the Core Your Story
Theme ideas aren’t something tacked on to the end of a story. They are central to the narrative, and woven throughout it.
September 9, 2026
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Writing Motivation
Have you ever found yourself staring at the blank page and waiting for the spark, but it doesn’t come? So you walk
September 8, 2026
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7 Elements of Fiction: How to Build a Story
Have you ever wondered why some stories stay with you, while others fade from memory before you even close the cover? There’s
September 6, 2026
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Book Tropes: Using Familiar Ideas in Fresh Ways
There’s a difference between a book trope and a literary cliche, and the distinction is important. While a cliche is a storytelling
August 31, 2026
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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 narrator who
August 28, 2026
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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 learned about
August 24, 2026
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Contractions in Writing
You may have been taught to avoid contractions in your writing, but that rule typically applies to formal academic writing. There isn’t
August 15, 2026
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What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life
Rhythm is one of those craft issues that writers talk around without really discussing. They might lump it in with general recommendations
July 20, 2026
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The Cumulative Sentence: How to Write Lines that Pull Readers In
The cumulative sentence is a versatile sentence structure that helps writers develop rhythm, reveal character, and enrich description within a single line.
July 16, 2026
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Recent posts
Suspense is all about what might happen. It’s not the moment of danger itself that evokes suspense, but the growing...
Is first-person omniscient narration even possible? Most writers are taught point of view as a set of hard and fast...
Two sentences with the exact same words rearranged can mean entirely different things. That shift is syntax at work. “Syntax”...
Sooner or later, every writer seeks to improve their writing skills. Maybe you want to learn specific techniques before you...
Mixed metaphors are sneaky. You’re writing a scene, the words are flowing, then you write a line like, “She took...
You’ve probably heard people describe a novel as “literary fiction” without explaining what the term means. Is it more slow-paced?...
One of the quickest ways to make your writing more vibrant is to use vivid verbs. A single well-placed verb...
Whether you’re brainstorming your first story or publishing your ninth book, there comes a point when all writers wonder the...
A cliffhanger is not a trick, but a promise. As a storyteller, you want to grab your reader’s attention and...
Theme ideas aren’t something tacked on to the end of a story. They are central to the narrative, and woven...
Have you ever found yourself staring at the blank page and waiting for the spark, but it doesn’t come? So...
Have you ever wondered why some stories stay with you, while others fade from memory before you even close the...
There’s a difference between a book trope and a literary cliche, and the distinction is important. While a cliche is...
Have you ever read a scene that made you uneasy, while nothing bad was happening? Or perhaps you read a...
Literary devices are a variety of techniques that writers use to craft better stories, characters, dialogues, and scenes. You probably...
You may have been taught to avoid contractions in your writing, but that rule typically applies to formal academic writing....
Rhythm is one of those craft issues that writers talk around without really discussing. They might lump it in with...
The cumulative sentence is a versatile sentence structure that helps writers develop rhythm, reveal character, and enrich description within a...