Just like genres, there are things we take for granted when developing stories. It’s probably that modern-day mentality—even more so if you’re American. We assume that when we write a story, the literary elements...

I love penny dreadfuls. I do– Not the show. Though the show is legit based on the one episode I’ve seen, I’m talking about actually reading the stories. I bought the Penny Dreadfuls anthology...

Actions include the character’s physical doings, as well as his/her state of being and decisions (s)he makes. Obviously. Y’know what? Developing the RIGHT actions and not rambling is harder than you think. Just like...

Your characters superficial, immediate, and long-term wants and goals are just like anyone else’s desires. Love, happiness, riches, fame, all the other cliches. Are you suggesting humans are superficial and flat like characters? Suggesting?...

Characters with contrasting features that juxtapose and make the protagonist’s characteristics obvious are what we call “foils”. Is that symbolic to like the different sides of foil? Like, how one is shiny and the...

So, I finally finished my second draft of my manuscript. Wow. Congratulations. I know! I’m feelin’ pretty legit right now holding it! But, here’s the kicker: I hand wrote all of it. Why on...

A character’s need for a change in order to progress toward a desire is what really makes or breaks a good story. What about the whole desire thing? The desire is what drives the...

In an era when jokes are subject to strict political correctness, memes tend to be a pretty safe zone. Maybe that’s because it’s agreed that it’s all in good jest and not to be...

You’ve set goals. You’ve planned your story. You’ve decided that this year is the year. You’re getting serious and legit. But, let’s be real— You’ll get distracted from your writing goal by January’s end....