A plot point involves an event that directly impacts what happens next in your story. It’s a common mistake for writers to misunderstand both what a plot point involves and how to communicate it to their readers. Rather than try to tell your…
As writers, the medium of art you’re most represented in is obvious… books. But there are also many movies about writing, famous writers, and fictional writers. Ranging from horror to comedy to even fantasy, watching films about writing can help…
Name: Kristi Jo Shields Hometown: Beaver Falls, PA Book Title: The Masks We Wear Genre: Poetry Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less. Kristi Jo…
The ‘chosen one’ trope, typically found in fantasy or science fiction novels, involves a character being chosen for a specific task that only they are capable of carrying out. Whether that involves defeating a great evil, saving someone in…
For some people, Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate the love they have for their partner. It’s a day they look forward to, a day filled with candy hearts, assorted chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and mushy declarations of love. It’s a day of…
You hear it all the time- true writers must be writing constantly, always working on their craft. Though this message can be motivating at times, it can also make you feel really guilty when you take some time away from writing. Whether it be…
You’re a week away from a vacation you’ve been looking forward to for months. Every day feels like at least two because time has perpetually slowed. You’re so desperate to kill hours that you take up new hobbies, start new shows, and even pick…
Authors often make the mistake of assuming that writing dialogue will be easy. You talk every day, how hard can it be to write someone speaking? But the truth is, speech involves nuances that completely separate it from your narrative voice. You…
You feel a rare bout of confidence about a scene you wrote. There’s character development, a big reveal, emotional scene work, and you’re consistently showing not telling. You send it to a friend or family member to check out, excitedly pinned…
Getting into your writing “flow” is the best feeling ever, right? You’re in the zone, knocking out scenes left and right, and blowing your own mind with all the fantastic pieces of dialogue and narrative you’re coming up with. You keep…
