Writing Techniques

Most popular posts

The most important editing checklist for writers is the one that allows them to balance their lives against their work and keep their clarity in the final product

An Editing Checklist for Writers

Refine your manuscript with this essential editing checklist. Learn how to edit a book by paring down prose and polishing...
A photography montage to demonstrate the parallel to creating a montage in the visual medium of a screenplay.

How to Write a Montage in a Screenplay

Learn how to write a montage in a screenplay to condense time and show character growth. Master the format and...
A woman in a red dress looking pensively to the corner of the frame to dramatize the difficulty of how to plan a novel

How to Plan a Novel

Learn how to plan a novel by balancing creative intuition with a structured 90-day schedule, from initial inquiry to finishing...
Three windows on a yellow wall opened to different lengths, a visual metaphor to represent the progression in a rule of three

The Rule of Three

Master the rule of three to create satisfying patterns, memorable character trios, and a rhythmic story structure that resonates with...
A ship's mooring in a snowy part of the world to give a frosty visualization of Unmoored

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning

Explore the transformative power of writing as a tool for healing trauma, finding self-acceptance, and discovering meaning beyond the search...
Someone reading a book in the darkness at a café on a very sunny day, emotional themes of relaxedness

How to Publish a Book

Master the path to publication. Learn how to polish your manuscript, query literary agents, handle rejection, and weigh the pros...

Recent posts

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? Using Contrast to Deepen Your Story

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: Choosing Power or Perspective

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: Writing with Intention and Impact

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...

irony

Analyzing the 3 Types of Irony

Irony is a comparison which reveals an incongruity. That comparison might be between events and understanding, a statement and fact,...

kill your darlings

How to “Kill Your Darlings” Without Killing Your Voice

“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.” – Stephen...

Allusion

What is an Allusion? How to Enrich Your Story with Meaning

Stories become richer when they wink at the world beyond their pages, and that’s exactly what an allusion does. By...

rhetorical choices

Understanding Rhetorical Choices: Technique, Tone, and Purpose

Rhetorical choices shape not just what we say, but how we make people feel and think. Every speech, story, or...

motif

What is a Motif? A Writer’s Guide to Recurring Meaning

Motifs are one of the best literary devices you can have in your writer’s toolbox. Essentially, a motif is a...

Allegory

The Keys to Allegory: Building Symbolism That Lasts

An allegory is like taking a step back in an art gallery to analyze a painting in its entirety. Characters...

coming of age

Coming of Age: 2 Main Story Elements

Coming of age is never easy. You might have been the popular kid in school, armed with academic excellence, physical...

epigraph

Epigraph: A Clue to Your Story

Before a story begins, you can include an epigraph to signal your protagonist’s dilemma, the tone, and even foreshadow the...

rhetorical devices

Rhetorical Devices: The Art of Arguing

In the modern world where the town square is a digital place and the zeitgeist is a worldwide phenomenon, we...

literary devices

Literary Devices: A Writer’s Palette

Literary devices are the various techniques writers employ to create stylistic effects, convey deeper meaning, evoke emotion, and enhance the...

flashback

How to Write a Flashback: Techniques for Powerful Storytelling

Flashbacks are one of the most powerful tools you can use to reveal the deeper layers of a character’s life....

foreshadowing

What is Foreshadowing? Planting Clues for a Powerful Payoff

Foreshadowing is a key element in creating a satisfying conclusion to a story. This is the craft of planting quiet...