Point of View: Second Person
November 14, 2025
You probably haven’t read many books written in the second person perspective, maybe since your last “choose your own adventure” novel. Most
Writing Techniques
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Understanding when and how to use active vs passive voice isn’t just a matter of grammar; it’s a matter of...
The words “book” and “novel” are sometimes used interchangeably. But they actually mean different things. In this article, I’ll describe...
The diction you use in your writing is a choice you’re always making, whether subconsciously or not. Writers trade in...
Creating tone in your writing provides a texture to the work. It’s the emotional coloring that shapes how a reader...
Each writer has their own process. Some writers (often called pantsers) believe that outlining their novel limits their creativity, while...
Irony is a comparison which reveals an incongruity. That comparison might be between events and understanding, a statement and fact,...
The first time you experienced the magic of storytelling, odds are it was a personal story you heard in first...
“Prose is architecture, not interior design.” – Ernest Hemingway Our words are in service to our story. When we get...
Picking a perspective is like choosing your weapon before a gladiator match; it limits and defines your style of approach....
Our idea of the story is never the whole story. The act of writing a novel, memoir, or screenplay is...
Every writer struggles with getting the story from imagination to the page. The first-time novelist confronts the special challenge of...
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.” – Alfred Hitchcock Story moves as the result of complications that...
Point of View: First Person
November 4, 2025
The first time you experienced the magic of storytelling, odds are it was a personal story you heard in first person. A
How to Invoke Pathos in Your Writing
October 23, 2025
Pathos is a key aspect of any rhetorician’s approach to their oratory. If you are writing a speech in your novel or
Point of View: Third Person Limited
October 10, 2025
Picking a perspective is like choosing your weapon before a gladiator match; it limits and defines your style of approach. In this
Point of View: Third Person Omniscient
October 10, 2025
Given our lack of omniscience in the land of the living, writing can offer us a liberating chance to experience such insight.
How Do I Begin?
June 21, 2024
“How do I begin?” The process of story creation is mysterious. Where do your story ideas come from? From where do your
Hold the Story Loosely
April 4, 2024
Our idea of the story is never the whole story. The act of writing a novel, memoir, or screenplay is a way
Humor Is Not About Writing Funny
August 18, 2023
Humor connects us. It makes us care. I don’t mean one-liners. Humor is not about jokes, but it is about human behavior.
“Write What You Know” Can Be Misunderstood
January 27, 2023
Every writer hears the old song: “Write what you know.” This can be misunderstood. The fact is, we don’t write what we
Asking “Why?”
September 16, 2022
Always keep your ideal reader close by in your mind asking “Why?” Our subconscious is perfectly designed for this process. It already
On Writing Dialogue
June 2, 2022
“If you have a good ear for dialogue, you just can’t help thinking about the way people talk. You’re drawn to it.
Developing Your Writing Technique
May 20, 2022
Technique develops over time. By reading and writing, we absorb a sense of story structure, cadence, and rhythm. We learn how
