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 of compelling fiction. Conflict creates tension, and tension keeps readers […]

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 worlds may feel as real as the world you live in. How do they do it? More […]

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 Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Anna Karenina […]

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 get-go or most will close your book without a second […]

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. Tolkien Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Moby Dick by […]