Writing style. The mystical key that most young writers feel like they need to discover—to understand, to master, to help make their words come alive. But when you sit down to find it, all you end up with is a blank page. A frustrated stare. A thousand questions with no answers whatsoever. How exactly do […]

You’ve read wonderful novels and want to write one too. But the sheer length of a novel intimidates you, and you wonder, Should I start with a novel first? That’s a lot of writing. And what if it’s not good enough? Or maybe you’ve even started the first draft of a novel—but after a few […]

If you’ve been writing for any amount of time, you’re probably aware of the importance of the first chapter. Arguably, the first chapter is the most crucial part of your entire novel—because it’s the first thing readers will see when they open your book and it’s the place where they’ll decide if they want to […]

You have a story.  You have an incredible, original idea, an immersive world, and creative, well thought out prose.  But no one enjoys your book. Either they never end up finishing it, or it’s just kinda “meh,” and they never end up telling their friends about it.  When you ask for feedback from alpha or […]

What makes the difference between a well-written piece of fictional entertainment—and a soulful story that leaves a lasting imprint on your reader’s heart? There are many reasons, but today I would like to touch on what I think is one of the main ones… The scars woven through a novel. There’s a Stephen King quote […]