Every writer hits that moment: the excitement of starting has faded, the finish line feels miles away, and the document you once loved now feels like a mountain you’re not […]
Writing
Stuck on Chapter One? Here’s How to Finally Move On
Let’s be honest: getting stuck on Chapter One isn’t something we talk about lightly. That first chapter carries a lot of weight. It’s the reader’s introduction to your world, your […]
Scene, Chapter, or Both? Understanding the Building Blocks of Storytelling
When you’re deep in the writing process or staring down the blank page trying to begin, it’s easy to get tangled in the structure of your story. Do I start […]
What Constitutes a Scene? A Practical Guide for Fiction Writers
Stories are basically collections of scenes, so as writers, it can be useful to think about scenes as discrete units. But what exactly IS a scene? If you’ve ever found […]
How Discovery Writing Helps You Find Your Story
If you’re knee-deep in a draft and your story keeps changing on you, take a breath, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing the real work. A writer once said […]
Autofiction: When Your Story Doesn’t Fit in the Box
You sit down to write your story. It’s personal. Emotional. True, but also – not exactly. You’ve changed names. Rearranged events. Invented scenes to make the emotional arc land. And […]
Research for Fiction Writing
Do You Need to Know the Weather in Chicago on March 7, 1930? (Maybe) Research for fiction writing can be both inspiring and overwhelming. It’s easy to fall into the […]