Characters who make decisions that push the story forward are more engaging, more interesting, and more like-able than characters who are passive. This is a mistake I continue to make over and over. It doesn’t seem to matter how well I know this lesson, it still creeps into my writing….
Category: How To Write Fiction – Advanced Tips
Take your writing to the next level – from beginner to intermediate and advanced with these tips.
How To Write Fiction - Advanced Tips
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7 Ways To Be A Confident Writer Even If You’re Not A Bestseller
Artists of all stripes seem riddled with self-doubt. Part of that is because we so closely identify with our work that a rejection of our work is felt as a personal rejection. Learning to be a confident writer, not even all of the time but at least some of the…
How To Write Fiction - Advanced Tips
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What If Your Antagonist Isn’t Human – What’s The Secret Sauce Then?
In my last post, I looked at the secret sauce you need to make antagonists menacing. Today I want to go beyond basics with non-human antagonists. In school, we all likely learned the different types of conflict in literature: human vs human (very common, no examples needed) human vs himself (Hamlet,…
How To Write Fiction - Advanced Tips
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The Secret Sauce For A Menacing Antagonist
The two most important characters in your story are your protagonist and your antagonist. They both must be equally developed and dynamic. After all, no one looks heroic, brave, or is worth cheering for if they don’t break a sweat—if everything comes easily to them. How annoying is that! We…
How To Write Fiction - Advanced Tips
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Create Layers of Tension With Subtext To Surprise Readers
What Is Subtext And Why It’ll Make Your Writing Next Level Subtext is the unspoken communication that takes place between characters in a story. It usually takes place when there’s disparity between what a character says, thinks, and feels. It’s also used effectively when the point of view character shares…
How To Write Fiction - Advanced Tips
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How To Recognize When Your Protagonist Isn’t Your POV Character
Is your protagonist the best POV character for your story? Just because the story is about them doesn’t mean they’re the best storyteller in your cast of characters! Deciding which character is the best one to tell your story can be tricky. Sometimes it’s a no-brainer, but sometimes an author…