This week’s video discusses the problem of making a character react without logic.
Why Stupid Characters Make for Stupid Stories
This week’s video discusses the problem of making a character react without logic.
What’s the Difference Between Conflict and Tension?
This week’s video answers one of your questions about the finer points of distinction between these two important story catalysts.
How to Plot a Novel With a Central Theme and Story Problem
Without a clear theme a book wanders without purpose through its settings. It might entertain, but it won’t linger in the reader’s memory or impart anything of lasting value.
Tempted to Give up on Your Story? Don’t!
This week’s video talks about the greatest lesson any novelist can learn.
6 Types of Courageous Characters
Readers adore courageous characters. We’ll forgive a character just about any flaw, but never cowardice.
Preparation Is Worth a Pound of Proofreading
This week’s video talks about the biggest lesson I learned while writing Dreamlander and why I probably shouldn’t have had to learn it.
Why Non-Writers Give the Best Critiques
Non-writers can’t bring technical knowledge of the craft to the table, but they bring something else: their objective experience as readers.
Pour on the Conflict
This week’s video reveals the varied layers of conflict we can choose to include in our stories—and why we want as many of those layers as possible.
How to Write Sympathetic Characters
This week’s video discusses a few ways to dig down to the sympathetic core of even the most uncooperative characters.