Writing Tips

How to write a sequel (without getting overwhelmed)

Happy Preptober! It’s officially Nanowrimo Prep season, and I’ve got some fun stuff planned this month as we approach what I fondly think of as the writerly holiday season. This year is going to be a fun milestone for me: I’ll be writing the first draft of the final book in a series I’ve been… Continue reading How to write a sequel (without getting overwhelmed)

Story Structure Sunday

Story Structure Sunday: How to end a novel

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Story Structure Sunday: How to end a novel

Story Structure Sunday

Story Structure Sunday: How to write the climax of a novel

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Story Structure Sunday: How to write the climax of a novel

Warmup Wednesday

Warmup Wednesday: Outlining a novel, for people who hate outlines

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Warmup Wednesday: Outlining a novel, for people who hate outlines

Story Structure Sunday

Story Structure Sunday: What to do about the 30k blues

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Story Structure Sunday: What to do about the 30k blues

Stupid Advice Saturday

Stupid Advice Saturday: “Write what you know”

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Stupid Advice Saturday: “Write what you know”

Warmup Wednesday

Warmup Wednesday: Do you really need all that stuff in your novel?

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Warmup Wednesday: Do you really need all that stuff in your novel?

Story Structure Sunday

Story Structure Sunday: How to write act one of a novel

Author’s note: This post was originally written prior to the November, 2023 child grooming scandal and subsequent slow death of Nanowrimo as an official event. While I no longer support them as an organization, the challenge of writing a novel in a month is one I still believe has merit, so the writing advice below… Continue reading Story Structure Sunday: How to write act one of a novel

Writing Tips

What to do when your story doesn’t make sense

One of the most common things to hear from new writers seeking help with their work is, “My story doesn’t make sense.” Everybody has this problem at some point. Sometimes the concern rises from vague feedback. Other times, it’s a feeling you have – a strange, intuitive sense that something is just off. Sometimes the… Continue reading What to do when your story doesn’t make sense

Analysis · Reviews

Stranger Things Season 4 has some important lessons for writers

Believe it or not, I planned to publish this the same weekend Part 2 of Stranger Things Season 4 released, way back in the beginning of July. But after witnessing a lot of discourse online, rewatching the entire season from the start, and rewriting this post more times than I can even count, a review… Continue reading Stranger Things Season 4 has some important lessons for writers