Archive:

The Writing Craft

Crafting Realistic Characters: A Deep-Dive into Character Flaws

January 26, 2025

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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Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes

January 26, 2025

The most common writing mistakes are often the easiest to overlook. If you’ve never formally studied English composition or literature, or if it flew over your head (as much of it did for me), you could be unaware of many writing rules and conventions. The occasional typo can be easily fixed by your editor or […]

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How to Write a Character’s Backstory

January 26, 2025

Want Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More Knowing the history of your main character allows you to craft a character arc that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, author C.S. Lewis sends the Pevensie children to live with a professor in the English countryside to escape […]

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Dynamic and Static Characters: The Difference and Why it Matters

January 26, 2025

Want Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More 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 […]

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How to Become a Better Writer: 32 Proven Tips

January 26, 2025

Whether you’re a beginner or have been at it for decades, writing well is flat hard work. I’ve written and published nearly 200 books, including 21 New York Times bestsellers, and I still take daily steps to improve my writing. One doesn’t arrive at good writing. It’s a lifelong pursuit. Maybe you write daily but […]

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