Where to begin, how to think about your story, and where to end it — We writers could fill a dump truck with all the lofty advice we see about writing. Most of it is useful, of course. We all want to hone our craft and be better creators. But often what we read doesn’t lay the careful brickwork of how to create a story. …

This old diagram echoes the human psyche and is fundamental to every story you write — The scientific world has recently been abuzz with the idea that humans don’t have free will, that we’re instead governed by natural laws, chemical processes, and external stimuli. Half of you are probably delighted by this news. Maybe you’re absolved of the more questionable decisions you’ve made in life. The…

Common mistakes writers make that are pet peeves for editors, publishers, and general readers. — We all have that one thing that sticks in our craw when we’re reading emails, blogs, or other forms of unedited writing. Maybe it’s when someone writes “could of” instead of “could’ve,” or “I could care less” instead of “I couldn’t care less.” Now imagine being an editor or agent…

Mastering the art of story can bring your writing to the next level. — I’ve taken more writing courses in my life than I can shake a stick at, from informal community classes to completing a Master’s degree in creative writing. Throughout my experience, instructors taught me to build sentences, remember quippy writing adages, and appreciate great writers. I learned how to not clutch…

Why you should take this old writing tip to heart, but not too close to heart — When I was a kid, I loved me some Dr. Seuss. His rhythmic cadence and ridiculous rhymes made me fall in love with words. But maybe the best part of the good doctor’s work was his knack for zany illustrations. I mean, come on, that behatted cat was seriously good…

Can this old adage actually make you a better writer? — When I was a teenager, I attended a local writer’s workshop that was part of my city’s attempt to create community. The instructor was young and enthusiastic, with buoyant curly hair and bright red nails. …

Hint: they don’t involve writing — Creativity is fickle. …

What imagined worlds teach us about setting, place, and atmosphere — Setting, Place, and Atmosphere A wonderland chocolate factory, a tech-enhanced arena where adolescents fight to the death, a sprawling haunted hotel in the mountains of Colorado — each of these images trigger immediate recognition for most of us. …

And what to do with the overwhelm of feedback — No matter how you slice it, writing fiction isn’t a simple process. After your world is invented, your characters developed, your sentences constructed, and your hair mostly pulled out, it’s time to focus on the hard part: revision. Revision is vital to polishing and perfecting your work, but the best…