Editor: Here's how your opening pages can welcome readers in

Posted on 08/31/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Developmental editor Katie McCoach served as a judge for a writing contest earlier this year. In total, she read a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

All the science-fiction writing tips that Writer's Digest has to offer

Posted on 08/14/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writer’s Digest has a new post on how to write a science-fiction novel, but the simplicity of that title undersells...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Science fiction, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

Your bad jobs can be good news for your writing

Posted on 08/09/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Most of us have worked a crappy job at some point in our lives. (Please don’t tell us if you’ve...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Literary Hub, Writing advice

Act now to stir emotion in your readers

Posted on 08/05/2019 at 11:29 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Whether your characters are lovestruck, terrified, outraged, devastated, or any other emotion, you want your readers to feel that very...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

The 3 components of strong dialogue

Posted on 07/31/2019 at 01:34 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Every line in your novel should accomplish something, and that includes dialogue. Louise Harnby has shared some common dialogue pitfalls...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice

Gaslighting is good ... when you need to write a villain

Posted on 07/12/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We recently reminded you of the importance of making your villains complex, rather than pure evil. Writer’s Digest must've been...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

What makes a great villain? Creating an antagonist for your story

Posted on 07/10/2019 at 09:48 AM by Guest Author

View post titled What makes a great villain? Creating an antagonist for your story

Discover what makes a great villain so you can create a well-developed antagonist for your story. Table of Contents Why...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice

Let your story stand out in a good way

Posted on 07/03/2019 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Novelist and ghostwriter Justin Attas understands the writerly urge to produce something distinct, something that will stand out among the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

On connecting with characters versus creating them

Posted on 06/16/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

John B. Jamison isn’t being coy when he says that he doesn’t create his characters — he becomes acquainted with...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

Character study: How Vlad the Impaler became a romantic lead

Posted on 05/29/2019 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

View post titled Character study: How Vlad the Impaler became a romantic lead

As Tudor geeks, we’re no strangers to historical fiction starring monarchs with dark sides. But we still found ourselves taken...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Author interview, Characters, Historical fiction, Romance