Archive:

Fiction

Crafting Realistic Characters: A Deep-Dive into Character Flaws

November 6, 2023

Timeless, beloved fictional characters have flaws that make them accessible and believable. Even superheroes. And while a lead character’s flaw or weakness might be major, it doesn’t have to be. It could be a simple lack of patience or an annoying sense of self-importance. Indiana Jones had a major aversion to snakes. In short, you […]

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Popular Book Genres Explained

October 12, 2023

Guest blog by Vanessa Tym Mary Shelley didn’t intend to invent a new book genre when she wrote Frankenstein in 1822 but now, over 200 years later, every library and bookstore has a science fiction section. Since the inception of categorizing literature, dating back to ancient Greece, we’ve been updating, expanding, and rethinking what genre […]

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How to Write a Compelling Redemption Arc

August 22, 2023

Redemption has always been a popular theme, especially in—though not limited to—the Inspirational market. However, redemption arcs can easily fall victim to cliché or become artificial constructs designed to put a character in a good light as your story wraps up. Done wrong, they come off planted, cheap, and undeserved. However, crafted effectively, the redemption […]

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How to Write a Flashback

August 17, 2023

Written well, a flashback can give your readers insight into a character and add depth to your story. Done poorly, it can feel out of place, forced, and worse—cliched. A flashback constitutes an interruption of your main onstage present story to depict events from the past. If you flash back, you must have a concrete […]

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How to Write a Book From Start to Finish

How to Write a Book From Start to Finish: A Proven Guide

August 7, 2023

So you want to write a book. Becoming an author can change your life—not to mention give you the ability to impact thousands, even millions, of people. But writing a book isn’t easy. As a 21-time New York Times bestselling author, I can tell you: It’s far easier to quit than to finish. You’re going […]

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