Writing Techniques

Most popular posts

A model modeling the effects of great tension in writing.

How to Use Tension in Writing

Tension can arise from anywhere — in a simple conversation, a family dinner, a job interview, or even with a...

A collection of word magnets representing the idea that all language is invented, including made-up words.

The Purpose of Made-Up Words in Stories

Have you ever read a book and come across a word you’d never heard or seen before? At first, you...

A sea of people, all of whom might share a voice in the fourth person point of view.

Fourth Person Point of View

Fourth person point of view is a unique and rarely used perspective in stories.  First person gives us “I.” Second...

A character waves at the camera, which is a sign of a writer not knowing how to introduce a character.

How to Introduce a Character: 5 Key Methods

A character’s introduction is one of the most important parts of your story. Done well, your reader can make a...

A fencing match is one of many scenes you can write once you know how to write a fight scene.

How to Write a Fight Scene in 6 Steps

Learning how to write a fight scene isn’t really about choreography. It’s about tension and what’s truly at stake for...

An eye peering through a page, symbolizing a point of view in literature.

Point of View in Literature

There is no “correct” approach to point of view in literature. Your sole consideration is how you want your reader...

Recent posts

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...

dramatic irony

Harness the Power of Dramatic Irony

A powerful way to shift the perspective of your audience is to employ dramatic irony. This literary device lets the...

Situational Irony

How to Create Situational Irony

Situational irony is something we’ve all experienced: an unexpected outcome or an outcome that’s the opposite of the intention. We...

Muse

Invocation of the Muse: Cultivating Inspiration for Serious Writers

The idea of a Muse, inspiration, spirit, or genius, is present in any civilization in which great literature exists. When...

Verbal Irony

The Art of Verbal Irony: When to Quip and When to Feel

Verbal irony is a wonderful rhetorical device you can use to sharpen your character’s tongues and refine their wit. In...

epilogue

Epilogue: Extending Theme Beyond the Last Page

Just when you thought a story was done, sometimes there’s still room for an epilogue.  Stories often end with a...

Chekhov’s Gun

Chekhov’s Gun: A Foreshadowing Tool

Are all endings inevitably set by their beginnings, or do things occur at random? This question is, in part, answered...

Personification

Personification as a Literary Tool: Writing Emotion without Telling

Personification is a literary device so commonplace that it shows up everywhere in our language. The dictionary definition of personification...