Dealing with the Negative

By The Insecure Writer’s Support Group We’ve all had the experience of being criticized and not in a supportive way. However, seasoned writers know they have to deal with the negative or stop doing what they love to do. Here’s where that old cliché comes in handy: If you can’t stand the heat, get out […]

What a Trip! Your Story Roadmap

By Ali Cross Imagine you’re about to take the road trip of a lifetime. With the snacks packed, the playlist queued, and the tank filled, there’s just one thing left: a destination. Sure, some folks are free-spirited enough to hop in the car, hit the gas, and trust the universe will provide, but if you’re […]

Turning Points & Plot Goals

If you’ve been in the writing community for a while, you may have heard of plot turns, turning points, and plot points. Believe it or not, these are actually three different terms for the same thing. Yup. Three terms. One concept. And as you may have guessed, they are moments that change the direction of […]

Understanding the Heart of Negative Character Arcs

Negative characters arcs are about more than a character being “bad.” Learn what’s at the heart of negative arcs, and answer some questions to help you write one for your character. The 4 Basic Character Arcs A “character arc” is how a character grows in a story. While this term gets used broadly in the […]

Steadfast Stories: Characters without Change Arcs

In a positive steadfast arc, the character holds true to who he was in the beginning. Often when we think of characters arcs, we think of characters changing for the better: Scrooge giving up his miserly ways to show charity toward his follow men, Luke Skywalker choosing to trust in faith (the Force) to successfully […]

The 3 Types of Plot Goals

Plot Goal

Stories start with a plot goal. While many writers point to conflict, or even the antagonist, as the first element of plot, in reality, it’s a goal that kicks plot off. You can’t have meaningful conflict, if there isn’t a plot goal in place. And at its heart, an antagonist is what is opposing the […]

Reeling in Your Reader: The Power of Writing Hooks

writing hooks

Captivating your reader’s attention and submerging them deep inside the story world is one of the universal goals for writing hooks. We want our readers to experience the heart hammering, gasping for breath, sitting at their seat’s edge wondering how in the midnight sky their beloved character is going to escape an impossible conundrum. And […]

Considering Crucibles in Writing

Considering Crucibles in Writing

Crucibles in writing force characters together, which can strengthen your story’s conflicts. In everyday life, a crucible is a container used to hold metal or liquid as it boils.  For example, to melt gold, one takes a heavy bowl made from steel and sets it in a fire.  The steel, which can withstand higher temperatures […]

Writing the RIGHT Details

Writing the RIGHT Details

Writing the right details will help you craft more immersive, meaningful, and layered stories. If you’ve been writing very long, you’ll know the importance of mentioning details in your writing. Appealing to the senses and attention to detail is what will ground your reader and bring your story to life. Details often make it so […]

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Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Way of Kings and Mistborn
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"I still use the writing techniques he discussed, and constantly reference him and his instruction when I teach creative writing myself. . . His explanations led me directly to getting an agent, and subsequently, my first book deal."