Writing Techniques

Most popular posts

Someone working hard at a desk to suggest how to write suspense

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...

A woman in bed late at night suggests a seeker archetype may have a dark side too

The Seeker Archetype: Writing the Restless Character 

The Seeker archetype is a character beset by a divine discontent, an inner yearning for something just beyond their reach....

A first person omniscient perspective image of a hand reaching over a city

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...

Hands shaking, lightness suggests how to get a book deal

How to Get a Book Deal: The 6-Step Process

You’ve finished your manuscript and you want to get a book deal with a traditional publisher. Where do you start? ...

A door leading open to nature, writing portfolio as a freeing element

Build a Writing Portfolio That Opens Doors

“Can you send me your writing portfolio?” For many writers, that’s the moment everything stops. You might feel like a...

A frame that says "shoot for greatness" but can be read different ways based on the visual syntax that users are used to reading it with

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”...

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...