
Setting as a Character: How Environment Shapes Your Story
When it comes to fiction, setting often plays second fiddle to plot and character. But the most powerful stories treat the setting as more than

How to Craft a Memorable Antagonist: From Motivation to Mayhem
In fiction, it’s easy to fall in love with the hero. They have the quest, the growth, the heart. But what’s a story without a

Essential Tips for Writing Compelling Fictional Characters
Without great characters, fiction would be dead. Who can forget Gollum whispering to himself and slinking through the shadows of Moria in Lord of the

The Art of Conflict: Character vs. Character in Fiction
Some of the best stories in literature feature character vs. character conflict. Would the Harry Potter series be the same without the intense struggle between

Show, Don’t Tell (but How Much?): Balancing Detail in Character Descriptions
A character without description is a stick figure, but a character with just the right amount of description is a realistic photograph. Description brings characters

The Art of Character Revelation: Balancing Indirect and Direct Characterization
As a writer, the methods you use to reveal your characters affect your readers’ engagement with the story. Characters are the vessel through which readers

6 Tips to Crafting a Powerful Inciting Incident
When crafting a fiction novel, the inciting incident is the first plot point in the story. It is important because it is when the protagonist’s

The Power of Zoomorphism: Using Animal Characteristics in Fiction Writing
From Tom and Jerry to Lady and the Tramp, children’s stories are brimming with animals that possess human qualities. They’re everywhere we go, embedding themselves

Fueling Your Fiction: Building a Sustainable Routine for Writing a Novel
Writing a novel is a daunting task. There’s no denying that. Sure, it’s easy to write the first three chapters in one day when the

What Makes a Novel Great? 10 Building Blocks of a Captivating Story
If you ask a group of five hundred people, “What is the greatest novel ever written?” you will be met with five hundred different answers.