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...

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 ...

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,...

“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...

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...

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...

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...