by Jordan Making external conflict compelling: 6 ideas Making external conflict compelling: 6 ideas External conflict is conflict a character faces that is outside themselves, rather than inner struggle. For example, a sibling rivalry, an oppresive society versus its lone challenger, … Read More
by Jordan Story openings: 10 lessons from hits of the 2000s Story openings: 10 lessons from hits of the 2000s How do you write story openings that engage readers from page one? We look at the beginning paragraphs of books Literary Hub listed as defining books of … Read More
by Jordan What are good character traits? 7 helpful attributes What are good character traits? 7 helpful attributes Character growth or change is integral to great stories. Giving characters bad as well as good character traits makes your characterization deeper. It also helps to spark … Read More
by Jordan Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags How do you show who’s speaking in dialogue? When do you use ‘she said’? When do you not? How else can you show a person’s emotions or … Read More
by Jordan How to write character development: Anil’s Ghost How to write character development: Anil’s Ghost In learning how to write character development, it’s helpful to think about how each element of storytelling contributes. What are the basic facts about your character the … Read More
by Jordan The dinkus: 6 uses for scene breaks The dinkus: 6 uses for scene breaks The dinkus – a symbol between story or essay sections – is a source of confusion to many writers. To use, or not to use? What is … Read More
by Jordan How to write a biography: 7 life-writing ideas How to write a biography: 7 life-writing ideas Biography – literally ‘life writing’ – poses a variety of challenges. Balancing historical narration and day-to-day incident, for example. Or choosing what to include and what to … Read More
by Jordan Writing graphic novels: 5 ways to enliven stories Writing graphic novels: 5 ways to enliven stories Graphic novels offer engaging ways to marry text-based narrative and visual storytelling. Read 5 ways you can use elements such as illustrative style and strong symbols to … Read More
by Jordan How to make dialogue in writing carry your story How to make dialogue in writing carry your story Dialogue in writing is tricky to master, but good dialogue carries the story. Dialogue may build pace and conflict, add tone and atmosphere, introduce and develop characters … Read More