That’s right. Affective, not effective, writing. This article is about how words make readers feel certain emotions. Sneak these words…

Check spelling, interpunction etc. Correct Apostrophe Use The apostrophe serves three functions: contraction, plural and possessives. Contraction It’s = it…

Whenever possible, use SAID. Whenever possible, make the dialogue do the work and provide enough context (e.g. with gestures) to…

The pace should quicken when there is action and suspense, and slow down when there are moments of calm. Controlling…

800 words = moment in time 1300-2000 words = one concept explored 2000-3000 words = multiple plot lines, strong plot…

Theme: the hero’s moral choice. Thematic questions are always the very next stop in the outline after figuring out the…

How to describe laughter Ha ha (sarcastic) Haha (polite) Ha. (unmeant bored) Ha! (exclamation) Hehe (immature, sly) Hahaha (genuine) Haha……

Scenes are the specific stages by which your main characters motivations are enacted against opposition, internal or external (or both)….

Act 1 Ordinary World Catch a glimpse of the hero’s daily life in the status quo world so the reader…

What is Showing Showing allows for immersion of the reader into the fictional dream. Showing is experiences with an illusion…

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

1 Word-Level Specificity vs vagueness Example:The animal moved through the place with the thing.The greying Dobermann ran through the moonlit…

A scene is not as engaging or dynamic when two (or more) characters do nothing but talk.

Unblocking with Morning Pages Morning pages are three pages, written by hand (!) about whatever comes up in your head….

Writing realistic dialogue is the sleight of hand magic of storytelling. Factual information wrapped in a false sense of reality,…

Plot: The combinations of what happens and how these events are revealed to the audience. The order and arrangement create…

Persuasive writing techniques help you write better openings and improve your query letter.

The query letter does three things. It introduces you, the writer. It introduces your manuscript. And third, it makes them…

The definition (meaning) of protagonist: The leading character or one of the major characters. The advocate or champion of a…

Flow occurs when the writer is intensely concentrated and so completely involved in the process of creating something new that…