Below is an archive of sorts of my writing tips, organized by topic, along with a couple of articles I refer writers to. If you find any broken links, please let me know in the comments so I can fix them. A word to the wise: I usually don't update articles after I post them because I'm focused on writing the next article. To get my most up-to-date approach to storytelling, you may want to check out my live online writing course, the Triarchy Method.
Backstory
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
How to Convert Exposition into Ammunition
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Writing Food Scenes
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
Traditional Publishing: Short Stories and Poetry
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
5 Tricks that Help with Hooks
How Structure Affects Pacing
How Often Should I "Refresh" a Pronoun?
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Fluttering
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Beginning
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Start with a Character Waking Up"
The Weight of Words
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
The Weight of Words
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
Believability
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Validating the Reader
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Validating the Reader
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Brainstorming
Coming up with a Plot (from scratch)
How to Come up With Great Titles
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Brainstorm Your Antagonist's Plotline Earlier
How to Come up With Great Titles
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Brainstorm Your Antagonist's Plotline Earlier
Breaking Writing Rules
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only Use 'Said'"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Write What You Know"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Write What You Know"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Write Direct Dialogue"
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
Why You Should Avoid Bored Protagonists (& When Not to)
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
What is a Deus ex Machina? Why is it "Bad" Writing?
Can You Write to a Theme?
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Can You Write to a Theme?
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Characters
What You Need to Know Most About Character Voice
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
10 Methods to Make Your Characters Likeable
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
10 Methods to Make Your Characters Likeable
The Fastest Way to Make a Character Sympathetic
How to Write Excellent Introspection
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Crafting a Body Language Voice
Helps for Writing Children
How to Write Excellent Introspection
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Crafting a Body Language Voice
Helps for Writing Children
Using Character & Theme to Fix a Scene
3 Redemptive Character Types
8 Archetypes of The Hero's Journey
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
3 Redemptive Character Types
8 Archetypes of The Hero's Journey
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
Cliffhangers
Conflict
Context
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
Context vs. Subtext (Context Should Not Become Subtext)
Context vs. Subtext (Context Should Not Become Subtext)
Making Strengths into Weaknesses (and Vice Versa) through Context
Validating the Reader
When to "Tell" Emotion
Validating the Reader
When to "Tell" Emotion
Description
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
The Weight of Words
How to Handle Blocking
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
Purple Prose: What it is, How it Works, How to get Rid of it
Back to Basics--Imagery
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Writing Food Scenes
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
The Weight of Words
How to Handle Blocking
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
Purple Prose: What it is, How it Works, How to get Rid of it
Back to Basics--Imagery
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Writing Food Scenes
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Dialogue
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Discovery Writing: 2 Tripwires and a Pitfall
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
Discovery Writing
Writing by IntuitionDiscovery Writing: 2 Tripwires and a Pitfall
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
Editing
6 Things I've Learned as a Professional Editor
How to Get a Job as an Editor
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
How I Write an Editorial or Critique Letter
How to Get a Job as an Editor
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
How I Write an Editorial or Critique Letter
How I Write a Chapter-by-Chapter Document
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
7 Tricks to Refresh a Scene You've Edited 68345.27 Times
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Visions and Impressions
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
7 Tricks to Refresh a Scene You've Edited 68345.27 Times
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Visions and Impressions
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
Emotion
Writing Interiority: Too Much vs. Too Little
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
When to "Tell" Emotion
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
When to "Tell" Emotion
Ending
Feedback
Flashbacks
Foils
Grammar and Punctuation
Hooks
Humor
Guardians of the Galaxy and the Art of Constructing Jokes (Film Cit Hulk Smash)
Info-Dumps (& Exposition)
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)Lifestyle
How to Write When You Don't Have Time
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
How I Organize My Writing Ideas
The Long Road
6 Skills Fiction Writing Will Give You
Accepting that You'll Disappoint Readers
A Toast to the Closet Writers
On Talent and Success
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
How Seriously Should You Take Writing?
The Benefits of a To-Do List
Dealing with Loneliness
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
6 Skills Fiction Writing Will Give You
Accepting that You'll Disappoint Readers
A Toast to the Closet Writers
On Talent and Success
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
How Seriously Should You Take Writing?
The Benefits of a To-Do List
Dealing with Loneliness
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
Micro-Concepts
Writing Micro-concepts
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Mystery
The Mechanics of Rendering Mysteries and Undercurrents—How to Withhold Info Right
The Secret of a Successful Mystery: Making the Reader a Participator
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
The Secret of a Successful Mystery: Making the Reader a Participator
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
Originality
Outlining
How to Outline When Starting a Story
On-Page or Off-Page? Discerning Significant Scenes
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
On-Page or Off-Page? Discerning Significant Scenes
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
How to Actually use a Story Structure
Pacing
Plot and Structure
Coming up with a Plot (from scratch)
5 Types of Surprises
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
5 Types of Surprises
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Myth: "Keep Your Character Failing until the End."
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
12-Step Checklist for Writing Beginnings (Act I)
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Middle
The Hero's Journey Explained: The End
Positive and Negative Scene Values
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Middle
The Hero's Journey Explained: The End
Positive and Negative Scene Values
Point of View
Publishing
Self-Publishing: What it is, Who it's For, And How it Works
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
Prologue
Reader's Experience
Deviating the Reader's Experience from the Character's
When to "Tell" Emotion
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability
When to "Tell" Emotion
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability
How to Convert Exposition into Ammunition
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)
Validating the Reader's Concerns
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)
Validating the Reader's Concerns
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Annoyance vs. Resonance--One Small Difference
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Visions and Impressions
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Visions and Impressions
Relationships
Writing Relationships Readers Can't Resist: Crafting Duos, Trios, Groups
How to Convey an Established Relationship Quickly
How to Convey an Established Relationship Quickly
What is a B Story? 6 Key Qualities of B Stories
Maximizing or Minimizing Your Setting
How to Handle Blocking
Appealing to Wonder Powerfully in the Modern Age
Setting
5 Most Common Mistakes with SettingMaximizing or Minimizing Your Setting
How to Handle Blocking
Writing Food Scenes
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
Sequels
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
Scenes
On-Page or Off-Page? Discerning Significant Scenes
Structuring Satisfying Scenes
Creating Mini Character Arcs Within a Scene
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
Writing Food Scenes
2 Tricks for Scene Transitions
Structuring Satisfying Scenes
Creating Mini Character Arcs Within a Scene
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
Writing Food Scenes
2 Tricks for Scene Transitions
Shock/Dark Content
Showing
Short Stories (specifically)
Tips on Writing a Great Short StoryTraditional Publishing: Short Stories and Poetry
Stakes
Empty Threats
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
Style
Purple Prose: What it is, How it Works, How to get Rid of it
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
Back to Basics--Imagery
Structuring Events in the Correct Sequence
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
Back to Basics--Imagery
Structuring Events in the Correct Sequence
Please Don't Write this Sentence in Your Opening
Boom! Bang! Pow! Using Onomatopoeias Well
Wordiness
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
Minor Viewpoint Errors
The Weight of Words
How to Write Excellent Introspection
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words" Boom! Bang! Pow! Using Onomatopoeias Well
Wordiness
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
Minor Viewpoint Errors
The Weight of Words
How to Write Excellent Introspection
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
5 Tricks that Help with Hooks
How Structure Affects Pacing
How Often Should I "Refresh" a Pronoun?
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Fluttering
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Writing Motivation-reaction Units (MRUs According to Swain)
Subtext
Context vs. Subtext (Context Should Not Become Subtext)
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
Summary
Surprise
Suspense
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
Symbolism & Motifs
Symbolism & Motifs
Mastering Motifs for Thematic Power (Sample)
Teasers
Working with TeasersHow "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Telling
Temptations
Tension
Mastering Stylistic Tension
5 Tricks that Help with Hooks
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Accidentally Undercutting Tension (and How to Stop)
5 Tricks that Help with Hooks
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Accidentally Undercutting Tension (and How to Stop)
Theme
Mastering Motifs for Thematic Power (Sample)
2 Types of Truth in Fiction: Do You Know Which One You are Telling?The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Beginning (has examples of primary and secondary themes)
Tone
Twists
Undercurrents
Please Don't Write this Sentence in Your Opening
5 Types of Surprises
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
5 Types of Surprises
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
Vague Writing
Voice
What You Need to Know Most About Character Voice
Crafting a Body Language Voice
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
Crafting a Body Language Voice
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
Well-being
A Toast to the Closet Writers
On Talent and Success
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
How Seriously Should You Take Writing?
Dealing with Loneliness
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
Lessons on Failure: Kingdom of the Sun
Exactly Why Failure is Key to Exceptional Success
On Talent and Success
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
How Seriously Should You Take Writing?
Dealing with Loneliness
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
Lessons on Failure: Kingdom of the Sun
Exactly Why Failure is Key to Exceptional Success
Worldbuilding
Writing (Magical) Items: Weapons, Attire, Potions,Tools, Steeds
Appealing to Wonder Powerfully in the Modern Age
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Creating Fictional Languages (Conlangs)
Appealing to Wonder Powerfully in the Modern Age
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Creating Fictional Languages (Conlangs)
Writer's Block
How to Start Writing When You Have No Idea Where to Start
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Writing by Intuition
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Writing by Intuition
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
Wow, great post.
ReplyDeleteHey, glad you like the index, Emma! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVisited for the 1st time from a DF mail. Wow. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteJust one small problem with it...
I don't like to say it...
Oh, here goes...
I'm going to have to stop writing for a while to read everything!
Hi, Tim! Welcome.
DeleteHaha, that made me laugh!
Well, I hope the reading is helpful to you!
I think this the best writer’s blog going and it keeps getting bigger and better. I read every new article and come here for inspiration when I’m stuck on a topic. With 400+ topics, I wonder if it might be possible to get a key word search to go with the index. I'll keep visiting and recommending either way.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim,
DeleteThank you so much! Thanks for making my day :D
There is a search feature--at the top of the webpage, you should see a light blue magnifying glass button. Click (or double click) and it will pull down a search bar. I can see how it might be tricky to find though--something I'll think about.
Thank you for recommending people to my blog. :D Have a great day! Thanks for reading!
I went ahead and added a search sidebar as well. Thanks for the feedback.
DeleteSilly me - how did i miss the blue one! Never mind, the new search sidebar jumps out to me more. Thanks.
Deleteso many great posts!!! I want to read them all :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. I have learned quite a lot from your blog. Appreciate them a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thanks for letting me know 💖
DeleteI didn’t know there was a comments section underneath the writing index. Cool! (:
ReplyDelete😎
DeleteHi I have a question. In one post (I can't remember which one it was right now) you said it'd be best to have one instance of the a character following the theme statement and one instance of the protagonist following the false theme statement in act 1. What if I'm stuck on the example for the true theme statement? This is basically the last thing I do before I go flesh out act 2. Is there something I can do to get out of my writers block?
ReplyDeleteHi! You don't technically have to show the protagonist following each one. Often the protagonist will start believing one or the other, and this sets up the character arc. Structurally, what you really need is each theme statement voiced, illustrated, or represented in Act I. Most commonly, this will come from another character, maybe a character who believes in the opposing statement. For example, in Legally Blonde, Elle starts out believing the thematic statement, that you can be true to yourself (and even hyper-feminine) and do serious things, but her boyfriend voices the opposite--that no one like her will ever be taken seriously. Likewise, in Harry Potter, Harry starts out hated and unloved, but in contrast, Dudley is shown to be loved so much he's spoiled rotten. In Michael, Michael wants to perform his own way at his own time--he wants creative independence--but it's his father, Joseph, who is voicing the counterargument, which is collectivism--there is no room for independence/individuality, only the Jackson 5.
DeleteWhile you can have the protagonist voice or follow both (Katniss comes to mind--she claims she is willing to sacrifice others (the cat) for her own benefit, but her actions repeatedly show that when it gets down to it, she will sacrifice herself for others (like when she volunteers to take Prim's place)), most commonly, it will be an outside force that voices, demonstrates, or represents the opposing thematic argument. So it will probably be easier or more helpful for you, to look at something outside the character that can do that. 😊