
What Is a Character Trait? 350 Essential Character Traits for Writers
What is a character trait? Delve into 350 character traits to help you choose the right positive and negative traits for building well-rounded characters in

How To Outline A Short Story – For Beginners
In this post, we share a template that will show you how to outline a short story, especially if you are a beginner.

How To Show & Not Tell In Short Stories
Master the ‘show, don’t tell‘ technique in short stories. Learn how to create immersive storytelling that draws readers in from the very first line.

What Is A Sub-Plot In Fiction? 6 Sub-Plots Every Writer Should Know
What is a sub-plot? Learn how sub-plots strengthen a novel. Explore six types of sub-plots writers can use to add depth, conflict, and emotion to

A Complete Guide To Writing Prompts & Daily Writing Practice
What is a writing prompt, and why should you practise writing every day? Discover how writing prompts can strengthen your writing practice, boost creativity, and

7 Gripping Dystopian Plot Ideas For Writers
Looking for gripping dystopian story ideas? Here are 7 dystopian plot ideas to inspire your next dark and unforgettable story.

How To Write Great Dialogue In Fiction
What is dialogue in writing? We explain how to write great dialogue. Every writer needs to master the art of writing dialogue to create believable

What Is An Unreliable Narrator? 9 Types Every Writer Should Know
What is an unreliable narrator? We explore the 9 types of unreliable narrator, why they work so well in fiction, and memorable examples every writer

How Writers Use The 4 Main Characters As Literary Devices
Who are the four main characters in fiction? We explore how these character roles function as literary devices—and how you can use them to strengthen

Mastering Point Of View In Writing
Viewpoint, or point of view, is the lens through which a story is told. In this post, we explain what point of view is, how

Novels & Screenplays: What’s The Difference?
In this post, we look at the differences between novels and screenplays. We look at collaboration, costs, and choices, and we answer your question: Should

Janet Burroway’s 4 Aspects Of Narrative Time
What is Narrative Time? In this post, we look at how time works in a story through Janet Burroway’s 4 aspects of narrative time.

Traditional Publishing – Part Two
Last week we began our discussion about traditional publishing. This week, Mia Botha continues her interviews with Pan Macmillan South Africa, who answer our questions.

30 Excuses Not To Write Your NaNoWriMo Novel
In this post, our blogger takes a comic look at NaNoWriMo and includes 30 excuses not to write your NaNoWriMo novel.

Forewords, Prefaces, Prologues, & Introductions – What’s The Difference?
What’s the difference between forewords, prefaces, prologues, and introductions? We explain what they are, when to use them, and tips for writing them. We also

Traditional Publishing – Part One
In this post, we begin our video series on traditional publishing. Mia Botha interviews Terry Morris, MD of Pan Macmillan South Africa, who will answer

Horror Masters: 3 Spooky Tips To Write Like Lovecraft, Poe, & King
If you’re writing a scary story, there are no better writers to imitate than the masters of the horror genre. In this post, we’ve included

Self-Publishing – Part Four
In this post, we end our video series on self-publishing as an option for authors. This is part four, with the fourth video on self-publishing.

Billy Collins’s 6 Pleasures Of Poetry
Do you want to capture your reader’s attention? In this post, we explain how Billy Collins’s 6 pleasures of poetry will help you become a

50 Verbs That Will Strengthen Your Writing Immediately
People tell us to use strong, descriptive verbs, but what does this mean? In this post, we look at 50 verbs that will strengthen your