Tag: how to write a better novel

Much of the joy and discovery of creative writing comes from the process itself. I found inspiration and motivation from the very characters I created.

A great villain can engage an audience, energize a book, and provide a satisfying source of conflict — but the devil is definitely in the details.

If you’re feeling like your writing isn’t very good, you might be stuck in the Valley of Despair — smack in the middle of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

We use idioms all the time — after all, these phrases came into use because their figurative meanings can really make a point. But the origins of many common idioms are not easy to guess.

One way to create a memorable story is to take a minute to let your characters breathe. Build a scene where you exit the narrative structure and allow your readers to bond with the characters.

Editing software uses powerful algorithms to compare your content with that of thousands of published authors. It finds where your writing is clunky or awkward and helps you turn your words into dynamic prose that gets readers’ attention.

Formulaic stories are never what you're setting out to create, but understanding narrative structure and the three-act construct are foundational to telling a satisfying story.