No one likes a liar in real life, but it can be thrilling to slide into the head of a dishonest character in fiction. Maybe they choose to embellish, hide part of the truth, or tell us a story that can’t possibly be real (or can it?).

As writers, these characters can make for narrative...

"Traditional publishing isn’t for everyone." Have you heard this advice before? Whether you’re a cross-genre author writing outside the mainstream, a hybrid author who prefers the control self-publishing offers, or a prolific author with the output and fanbase to succeed on your...

How does a #1 New York Times bestselling author add conflict to her scenes? Find out in this exclusive Writing Mastery interview!

From the moment Marissa Meyer hit the young adult fiction scene back in 2012, she's been on a skyrocket ride to the top. Her first novel, Cinder, (the first...

After working for months, or even years, on your novel, the moment you release it to the world will be the greatest time of your life. But whether you’re publishing independently or traditionally, you’ll find that the most discouraging response isn’t bad reviews or unwanted tags...

Have you ever heard a story idea so catchy that it grabs you with just a handful of words, despite the idea itself sounding almost too simple? Dinosaurs in a theme park escaping their enclosures. One day repeating over and over. Cinderella, but as a cyborg. These short descriptions of Jurassic...

You’ve heard it a million times: “Show, don't tell.” But what does "show, don’t tell" really mean? How do we spot telling in our own writing? And is showing always the better choice, or are there instances where telling might be better? We have answers to help...

You’ve done it: You finished your manuscript, revised it, received feedback on it from your critique partners, and maybe even paid to have it professionally edited. If you’re opting for the traditional publishing route, the next step is equally huge. Now it's time to...

Antagonists are people, too. Soulless corporations and faceless soldiers play their part when we think of stereotypical “villains,” but the best antagonists are the ones who are just as complex as our heroes. 

It’s probably the first thing that came to mind when you...

Inspiration is not something you either have or you don’t. It’s something you can go out and find for yourself, no matter where you are in your writing journey. One of the greatest myths about writing is that successful authors are brimming over with unique ideas, and when they...

Working with critique partners may require some vulnerability from each writer involved, but the benefits of such a relationship are numerous.

In addition to getting feedback that can make your work the best it can be, learning how to give constructive feedback to others can also help...

How can you develop characters that will keep your readers glued to the pages? Their backstory plays a huge part in getting it right—characters don’t come into existence on the first page of your story. 

But don’t worry, you don’t need to chronicle your...

Action scenes are an absolute treat when they’re done well. They can speed up pacing, provide huge advances in the plot, and push characters to their physical and emotional limits.

When action scenes are not done well, however, they can actually make the story drag, causing the reader to...