A blinking cursor and a blank, white page. You've been staring at it for the past hour, wracking your brain for the words to write, but nothing comes out. Then the fear kicks in as you soon realize you've fallen victim to the dreaded writer's block!

But what exactly is writer’s block,...

Are you thinking about writing a memoir, but you aren’t sure where to start or what to include? Maybe you’re wondering how to write a memoir that someone other than your mom will actually want to read. But what exactly is a memoir, anyway? And how is it different from autobiography or...

You’ve spent months drafting your manuscript, revising, and preparing your query letter. You’re ready to land an agent! But when you finally receive a response, your heart sinks— “Unfortunately, I will have to pass on this manuscript at this time.”

Getting that first...

Their methods are questionable, and their moral compass doesn’t always point north, so what makes an antihero worth rooting for? In this post, we’ll look at what makes a character an antihero, different types of antiheroes, and tips for writing an antihero that your readers will want...

When structuring your novel, should you break up the story into scenes or chapters? Is there a difference?

In this post, we’ll talk about the differences between scenes and chapters, what every scene should include, and how breaking your story into scenes can help you with...

Dystopian fiction is a form of speculative fiction that imagines a frightening vision of the future in cataclysmic decline. It presents an end-of-the-world, gloom-and-doom scenario. Dystopia is the opposite of utopia, a place of ideal perfection. If utopia is paradise, dystopia is paradise lost.

Prologues— when done well—can make the reader invested in your story before they’ve even started Chapter One. However, when not done well, prologues are unnecessary or just plain boring, and readers will skip over them. So what is a prologue, and how do you write one well?

In fiction, love shows up across all genres, complicating plots and transforming the protagonist. Even if you aren’t writing a romance novel, love might still be in the cards.

If you’re writing a love interest into your novel, you want to do so in a way that strengthens your...

All writers want to keep readers turning the pages of their stories from start to finish. We want the readers to be captivated by the protagonist’s struggles and successes. We want them emotionally attached and worried the characters might not get what they want— or that they ...

Your novel's title is your first chance to grab a reader's attention. A perfect title will catch the reader’s eye on the bookshelf amidst the hundreds of other books surrounding it, or stop a reader mid-scroll if they are searching for books online. 

So how do you craft...

The genre of fantasy covers a broad spectrum of subgenres, including "high fantasy," also called epic fantasy. But how do you write a high fantasy book or series? Does it need to have magic? Dragons? Epic battle scenes? 

In this post, we'll explore the characteristics of...

In fiction, first impressions are everything. Your opening line is your chance to convince potential readers why your book is worth their time— if that first line is boring or confusing, they won't hesitate to walk away.

So what makes a killer opening line? In this post,...