Fiction

Stories without conflict, where the main character faces zero opposition, fail because they bore readers. In real life, harmony and agreement are worthy goals that produce a harmonious existence. But such is no recipe for stories that captivate readers. Readers love conflict. It’s the engine… [Continue reading below]

A Step-by-Step Guide to Immersive World Building A book like A Game of Thrones, a movie like Star Wars, or even a video game like Final Fantasy can make it appear their creators have effortlessly built a fantasy world out of nothing. In fact, these… [Continue reading below]

Page-turning novels feature memorable characters. Consider: Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway The Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur C. Doyle To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The… [Continue reading below]

Acquisitions editors and agents reject some manuscripts within the first page or two. That doesn’t sound fair—and maybe it isn’t—but that’s the reality we writers face. Even if you’re self-publishing and avoiding the harsh glare of professional eyes, you must rivet your readers from the… [Continue reading below]

Guest Post by Tami Nantz Memorable, believable characters are crucial to every good story. Consider what makes these literary classics so unforgettable: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Hobbit by J.R.R…. [Continue reading below]