Writing Techniques

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Common themes in literature appear often in hieroglyphic storytelling

Common Themes

While every story is unique, the history of literature is populated with reinterpretations of common themes.  Through the lens of...

A picture of a pan next to a marked up page to visualize copy editing

Copy Editing

Copy editing is a specific type of editing that focuses on both the technical aspects of your writing and the...

Joseph forgiving his brothers is an example of how a redemption arc is useful in storytelling

Redemption Arc

A redemption arc is where an immoral character atones for their wrongdoings and earns their forgiveness. When humans first began...

A picture of a comic panel where someone bursts into a room with a word description to help understand what is onomatopoeia

What is Onomatopoeia? How Sound Brings Your Writing to Life 

As a writer, your goal is to keep your readers immersed by drawing them into the world your characters inhabit....

An image of the painting by Muntz Lyall - Interesting Story - to make the authors reading this post feel that story structure is accessible, native, and important for readers of any gender or age to enjoy their work

Story Structure

Think of story structure as the skeleton of your tale. We all have different lives, different styles, different appearances. But...

A picture of a very small man atop a film camera for the featured image of the blog what is a short film

What is a Short Film?

Every screenwriter dreams to one day have their own feature length film on the big screen. Regardless of how grand...

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

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Recent posts

worldbuilding

Worldbuilding: A Step-by-Step Writer’s Guide

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 that Sounds Authentic

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? Key Characteristics Explained

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: When Lyrical Language Goes Too Far

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

magical realism

Magical Realism: Writing Wonder into the Everyday

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: Key Differences You Should Know

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 of Your Story

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: Writing with Deeper Meaning

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? 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...