Helping Writers Become Authors

Why are archetypal stories so important and what does this mean for you as a writer attempting to channel these deep patterns of existence?

It is not too simplistic or idealistic a statement to say that storytelling--and therefore story theory--is a quest for meaning.

Pairing the Karpman Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle offers a fantastic tool for creating archetypally solid character arcs.

Seven writing lessons to inspire, ground, and encourage you in moving forward into the wide new frontier of 2021.

Every writer knows about daydreaming. But what about dreamzoning? How can it help you cultivate inspiration for your storytelling?

The problem of overthinking your writing is really part of the larger challenge of learning how to live a truly creative lifestyle.

Scene sequences bring together a series of individual scenes into a distinct narrative section, united by focus, location, and/or theme.

Growing as a writer is not merely about mastering a skill, but also, and more pertinently, about our growth as human beings.

An overview of chiastic story structure itself, along with four tips to employ this technique over the longer work of an entire series.

How can you keep your pacing tight and the story interesting over the long haul of the Second Act? The simplest answer: Mind the Midpoint.

Deepen your understanding of story structure by examining the parallel functions of the First Plot Point and the Third Plot Point.

Life creates art, but life also devours art. Learn how important it is for committed artists to take steps to protect creativity.

What's the problem with omniscient POV? Why are so many authors confused about it? And why are so many editors delivering digital hand slaps because of it?

Did you know a full understanding of the Key Event, its role in story structure, and its timing will help you write stronger First Plot Points?

Is your narrator killing subtext by inferring other characters' thoughts too accurately? Find out in this latest of the Most Common Writing Mistakes!

One of the stickiest questions any writer is likely to face is: What's the difference between a reactive protagonist and a passive protagonist?

Can you identify the five most important factors in creating weight and substance in stories that matter?

When your story's Midpoint properly facilitates the all-important shift in the middle of your story, your conflict is sure to progress in a powerful way.

Discover four types of unnecessary scenes that may be sinking your book - and three ways to find them and kill them.

Take a look at how poor prologues sap stories, how no prologue can strengthen stories, and how to determine if your story is one of the exceptions.

Here's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.

Today, I'm offering a sneak peek under the hood of my writing process when using Scrivener - and how you can use Scrivener to up your writing game.

The Climactic Moment is the reason your story is even being told in the first place. Needless to say, it's pretty important you get it right. Find out how!

What are pinch points? Of all the important moments in your story, they are most likely to be neglected. But they're crucial to your story structure.

The trouble with identifying the Inciting Event is that the term is applied rather wildly to half a dozen different moments in the story. Which is right?