Posted on March 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
The publishing experts we follow have plenty of craft advice to offer.
Here are the ones that we thought were can't-miss for our authors:
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Kishōtenketsu story structure: Guest poster Oliver Fox compares this story structure (which he explains in full) to the more-familiar Western story plotting (Helping Writers Become Authors).
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Using contradictions to create microtension, part six: C.S. Lakin reminds authors that a contrast between a character's internal state and the external setting can create a sense of tension (Live Write Thrive).
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Coping mechanism thesaurus — overindulging: Becca Puglisi gives examples of how overindulging, as a way to process and handle stress and hurt, can hold your character back (Writers Helping Writers).
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Five steps to write uncomfortable scenes: Author Jami Gold approaches this post from the perspective of a romance writer, but she assures authors of all genres that the principles apply to any scene that feels difficult to write (Writers Helping Writers).
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Reality, but better: Author Matthew Norman took inspiration from a recent vacation for his next novel, but he quickly realized that an idyllic trip is less than ideal for fiction (Writer Unboxed).
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Writing emotion and discovery writing: Joanna Penn's discussion with Roz Morris covers a number of craft-related topics, in addition to some marketing talk (The Creative Penn).
Categories: Behind the scenes