Category: Home
Affective Writing
That’s right. Affective, not effective, writing. This article is about how words make readers feel certain emotions. Sneak these words…
Step 4 – Spellcheck
Check spelling, interpunction etc. Correct Apostrophe Use The apostrophe serves three functions: contraction, plural and possessives. Contraction It’s = it…
Alternatives for ‘said’
Whenever possible, use SAID. Whenever possible, make the dialogue do the work and provide enough context (e.g. with gestures) to…
Pace
The pace should quicken when there is action and suspense, and slow down when there are moments of calm. Controlling…

Short Story Guide
800 words = moment in time 1300-2000 words = one concept explored 2000-3000 words = multiple plot lines, strong plot…
Theme
Theme: the hero’s moral choice. Thematic questions are always the very next stop in the outline after figuring out the…
How to describe smiles and laughter
How to describe laughter Ha ha (sarcastic) Haha (polite) Ha. (unmeant bored) Ha! (exclamation) Hehe (immature, sly) Hahaha (genuine) Haha……
Scenes
Scenes are the specific stages by which your main characters motivations are enacted against opposition, internal or external (or both)….
Hero’s Journey
Act 1 Ordinary World Catch a glimpse of the hero’s daily life in the status quo world so the reader…
Show, don’t tell (and pace)
What is Showing Showing allows for immersion of the reader into the fictional dream. Showing is experiences with an illusion…

Description
Metaphors and Similes Metaphors beat similes. Similes go like “teeth like a wolf “. It paints a bit of a…

Solving the Floating Heads Dialogue Problem
A scene is not as engaging or dynamic when two (or more) characters do nothing but talk.
Curing Writer’s Block with Morning Pages
Unblocking with Morning Pages Morning pages are three pages, written by hand (!) about whatever comes up in your head….
Plot (narrative)
Plot: The combinations of what happens and how these events are revealed to the audience. The order and arrangement create…
AIDA Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing techniques help you write better openings and improve your query letter.
Query Letter (Template)
The query letter does three things. It introduces you, the writer. It introduces your manuscript. And third, it makes them…
The Protagonist
The definition (meaning) of protagonist: The leading character or one of the major characters. The advocate or champion of a…
Writer’s Flow
Flow occurs when the writer is intensely concentrated and so completely involved in the process of creating something new that…