Can Discovery Replace Conflict at the Heart of Your Story?
While stories need conflict, writers don't have to rely on adversarial relationships to make their stories work. In a post on the SFWA blog,...
Your Ideas About Writing are Less Important than Your Characters’
In an essay for Lit Hub, Colin Barrett says big ideas about the meaning of writing and art are less important than getting to...
Find the Simplicity at the Heart of Your Complex Story
In a post on Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass says that novelists don't have to choose between high concept simplicity and literary complexity. "Simple story concepts spin...
Continuous Learning Isn’t Just for Writing Skills
In a post on Lit Hub, Adriana Trigiani says taking a class can help you dive deeper into the world of your novel. Trigiani's...
The Enduring Appeal of Frankenstein
We all hope to write a book that captures the world's imagination, perhaps even beyond our lifespan. But that's easier dreamed than done. In a...
Yes, You Should Write That Sex Scene
Many writers don't include sex scenes in their stories, because they feel their genre doesn't support them or to avoid alienating a specific part...
Do You Give Your Writing the Time and Consideration It Needs?
"If I had a chance now with every book I wrote, every page would be a little different," says Ocean Vuong in an interview...
Lean Into Yourself and Write What You Know
"Write what you know": An oft-debated and more oft-misunderstood piece of writing advice. Does it mean fictionalizing your autobiography? Should you only write about...
Moral is Not a Dirty Word
Of course, we'd never endorse moralizing in your fiction and we'd never tell you what to think or feel. However, we assume you have...
There is No Book in Your Mind
In a post on Lit Hub, Aimee Bender says that not being able to write the book that's already in your head may not...
