Strategies, tools, tips, and techniques to help you master the art of fiction writing

How to Choose the Perfect Title brainstorming publishing self publishing

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...

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What is High Fantasy? drafting genres worldbuilding

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...

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How to Write a Killer Opening Line brainstorming drafting

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,...

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5 Tips for Creating Character Goals brainstorming character creation

For readers to care about your story, they have to know what's at stake. And you can only know the stakes if you know what your protagonist is trying to achieve— their goal.

So what is a character's goal? The goal is the one thing your character wants more than anything else. That...

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How to Use the Five-Point Finale drafting plotting save the cat

“Wow, I can’t stop thinking about that story! It was so good!” Every writer dreams of hearing this response from their readers. You worked hard on drawing the reader in and keeping them turning pages until the end, but the end — your finale — will be the deciding...

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What is Narrative Nonfiction? drafting genres

A work of narrative nonfiction is a true story that is factually written— but reads like a novel. Rather than giving a journalistic, straightforward news report, narrative nonfiction offers a more creative and entertaining account of real events. In this genre, true crime...

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How to Create Your Perfect Writing Space productivity

You’re ready to write the novel that’s been living in your head for months, but first, you need to figure out where you’re going to sit down and write it. Whether you plan to write at home or somewhere else, creating the perfect writing space is important because it helps...

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Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your First Novel drafting productivity

So you're ready to embark on the journey of writing your first novel. How are you feeling? Excited? Nervous? That's perfectly normal! After all, writing a book is no small feat.

As a new writer, there are going to be pitfalls you encounter when writing your first novel. But fear not! In...

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5 Tips for Writing Short Stories brainstorming drafting

As difficult as it may be to write an entire novel, short stories are their own challenge. When writing short stories, you have a limited amount of words to use to draw your readers in, engage them in your story, and make them care about your characters.

So how are short stories different from...

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What is Deep POV? character creation drafting

One decision every writer must make is choosing from which point of view to tell a story. The third-person point of view (or POV) is a popular choice and can often be the easiest for new writers to tackle. There are, however, a few different ways in which to write the third-person point of view,...

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Plot-Driven versus Character-Driven: What's the Difference? character creation drafting plotting

Whether you’re the kind of writer who outlines their whole story before starting or the type who loves the journey of discovery writing, it’s important in the early stages of your novel to know what's driving your story. What will keep you drafting, and make readers fly through the...

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How to Set Your Writing Goals brainstorming productivity

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." Have you heard this saying before? Many writers dream of finishing their novel one day, but if you truly want to achieve it, you need to turn that dream into a goal. And a deadline is just one part of setting writing goals!

As with any big adventure, you need...

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