Helping Writers Become Authors

5 Important Ways Storytelling Is Different in Books vs. Movies

15 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The 4 Tweaks to Writing Truly Original Stories and Characters

01 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 48: No Conflict Between Characters

01 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Your NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book

25 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Re-Readability Factor: Does Your Book Have It? 5 Ways to Make It Happen

11 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Mistakes Series, Pt. 47: Ineffective Setting Descriptions

04 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How to Study Plot and Character in Your Favorite Stories: 5 Easy Steps

28 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Coincidences in Fiction: What You're Doing Wrong

21 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Not Feeling Creative? 4 Ways to Reignite the "Wonder" in Your Writing

14 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 46: Anticlimactic Endings

07 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Choose the Right POV (What I Learned Writing Storming)

30 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write Multiple Antagonists (What I Learned Writing Storming)

23 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write Can't-Look-Away Chapter Breaks (What I Learned Writing Storming)

16 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

6 Steps to Create a Fantastic Narrative Voice (What I Learned Writing Storming)

09 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 45: Avoiding "Said"

02 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Win NaNo Using Totally Doable Daily and Weekly Writing Goals

26 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

7 Ways to Keep Writing During NaNo When You Only Want to Watch Football

19 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

6 Tasks You'll Love Yourself for Checking Off Your NaNo Pre-Writing List

12 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

7 Ways to Use NaNoWriMo to Make You a Better Writer All Year Long

05 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Your Fiction May Be Failing for One Simple Reason: You're Not Being Honest

28 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Edit Fiction: Watch Me Correct My Own Story in Real Time

21 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

8 Paragraph Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making

14 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 44: Too Many Participle Phrases

07 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Sequel That's BETTER Than the First Book

31 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Protagonist and Main Character- Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story!

24 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

New Story Ideas Distracting You From Your Book? Find Out What You Should Do

17 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

4 Methods to Invigorate Your Prose With Surprising Sentences

09 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 43: Too Many Exclamation Points!

02 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

4 Ways to Write a Likable Protagonist at the Start of His Character Arc

26 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Whom Should You Be Writing For? Yourself or Your Readers?

19 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The Hardest Part of Writing Good Character Arcs-and How You Can Make It Look Easy!

12 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 42: When Your Story Stakes Aren't High Enough

05 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

3 Ways to Make Writing Your Novel Easier

28 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Ep. 266: What Every Writer Ought to Know About the Omniscient POV

21 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What's the problem with omniscient POV? Why are so many authors confused about it? And why are so many editors delivering digital hand slaps because o...

Ep. 255: Never Confuse the Key Event and the First Plot Point in Your Book Again!

14 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know a full understanding of the Key Event, its role in story structure, and its timing will help you write stronger First Plot Points?

Ep. 254: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters' Thoughts

07 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Is your narrator killing subtext by inferring other characters' thoughts too accurately? Find out in this latest of the Most Common Writing Mistakes!

Ep. 256: A Reactive Protagonist Doesn't Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference

31 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

One of the stickiest questions any writer is likely to face is: What's the difference between a reactive protagonist and a passive protagonist?

Ep. 255: Stories That Matter: 5 Necessary Factors for Weighty Fiction

24 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Can you identify the five most important factors in creating weight and substance in stories that matter?

Ep. 254: How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action

17 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When your story's Midpoint properly facilitates the all-important shift in the middle of your story, your conflict is sure to progress in a powerful w...

Ep. 253: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 40: Unnecessary Scenes

03 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Discover four types of unnecessary scenes that may be sinking your book - and three ways to find them and kill them.

Ep. 252: Find Out if Your Prologue Is Destroying Your Story's Subtext

26 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Take a look at how poor prologues sap stories, how no prologue can strengthen stories, and how to determine if your story is one of the exceptions.

Ep. 251: My Writing Process, Pt. 2 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Write My First Drafts

19 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Here's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.

Ep. 250: My Writing Process, Pt. 1 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels

12 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm offering a sneak peek under the hood of my writing process when using Scrivener - and how you can use Scrivener to up your writing game.

Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment

05 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The Climactic Moment is the reason your story is even being told in the first place. Needless to say, it's pretty important you get it right. Find out...

Ep. 248: What Are Pinch Points? And How Can They Make Your Book Easier to Write?

29 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What are pinch points? Of all the important moments in your story, they are most likely to be neglected. But they're crucial to your story structure.

Ep. 247: Your Book's Inciting Event: It's Not What You Think It Is

22 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The trouble with identifying the Inciting Event is that the term is applied rather wildly to half a dozen different moments in the story. Which is rig...

Ep. 246: Want to Know More About the Structure of Your Favorite Books and Movies? Announcing the Story Structure Database!

15 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm excited to put an end to the guessing about the "Big Secret" and unveil a new resource for authors. The official Story Structure Database.

Ep. 245: For Writers on the Verge of Writing Spectacularly Complex Characters

08 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The ironic thing about about complex characters in fiction is that the essence of what makes them so wonderfully complicated is actually incredibly si...

Ep. 244: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name

01 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the time it takes to write two words, you might distance readers from your narrative. Luckily, this one of our common writing mistakes is an easy f...

Ep. 243: Do You Know the 6 Must-Have Elements of a "Wow" Story Premise?

22 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how a good story premise can help you eliminate structural weaknesses and create a valuable tool for outlining and pitching your novel.

Ep. 242: The Crucial Way to Figure Out How Much Time Your Story Should Cover

15 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The length of the timeline is an important factor in any story. Take a moment to consider just how much time your story should cover.

Ep. 241: The 5 Secrets of Choosing the Right Setting for Your Story's Climax

08 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a great climactic setting? Consider five important techniques for making the most of the setting in your story's climax.

Ep. 240: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 38: Irrelevant Book Endings

01 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

One of the easiest writing mistakes to fall into in your book endings is actually one that has much to do with book beginnings--and, indeed, the entir...

Ep. 239: The Lazy Author's Way to Identify and Overcome Writing Weaknesses

25 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Go beyond the vague sense that's something wrong with your story and use these five tips to figure out what your writing weaknesses are.

Ep. 238: Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once and For All

18 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If you can identify on-the-nose dialogue and learn how to replace it with rich undercurrents of subtext, you're on your way to becoming a master autho...

Ep. 273: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 37: Unnecessary Filler

04 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

As we continue to discuss the most common writing mistakes, we'd be remiss to leave out the all-too-prevalent faux pas of unnecessary filler or paddin...

Ep. 275: How to Pitch Your Novel: What's the Difference Between Your Story's Hook and Your Story's Heart?

28 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

When figuring out how to pitch your novel, you may realize your story's hook and its heart might not be compatible within such a short description.

A Quick Guide to Beta Reader Etiquette

21 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What's the Difference Between Your Story's Theme and Its Message?

14 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 36: Too Much Introspection, Not Enough Interaction

07 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Want a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil's Advocate!

23 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What Is the Role of Theme in a Story's Climax?

23 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Don't Know Your Story's Theme? Take a Look at Your Character's Arc

16 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How Much Realism Does Your Novel REALLY Need?

09 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 35: Random Story Elements

02 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Why Your Character's Goal Needs to Be 1 of These 5 Things

26 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Story Concept and Story Premise: Do You Know the Crucial Difference?

19 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

FAQ: How to Write Character Arcs in a Series

12 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 34: Repetitive Dialogue

05 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What if Your Story Has No Character Arc?

28 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

You've Been Writing Sentences Wrong All Your Life! Find Out Why

21 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Use Rewards and Punishments to Get Your Character to Change

14 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 33: Telling Important Scenes, Instead of Showing

07 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Should All Your Minor Characters Have Arcs?

31 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One

24 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Can a Character's Arc Be a Subplot?

17 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Figure Out WHAT Your Character's Arc Should Be

10 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 32: Boring Opening Lines

03 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act

27 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act

20 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act

13 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 31: One-Dimensional Conflict

06 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Why Every Story You Write Is a Guaranteed Failure

29 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act

22 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act

15 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act

08 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 30: Describing Character Movements

01 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 15: The Resolution

25 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Climax

18 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Third Act

11 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The Third Plot Point

04 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Second Half of the Second Act

27 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Midpoint

20 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The First Half of the Second Act

13 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 8: The First Plot Point

30 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The First Act

23 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Normal World

16 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The Characteristic Moment

09 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost

02 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Your Character Needs

23 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas