
What’s Your Story’s Tone? (& Why It Matters More Than You Think)
In this blog, we look at how tone shapes stories and novels, why it matters, and how to use it in your own work.

What Is A Cozy Horror & How Do I Write One?
A cozy horror is a relatively new sub-genre of horror. In this post, we explore what a cozy horror is, with examples. We also give

What Is A Parody & How Do I Write One?
Everybody enjoys a good parody, but they’re extremely hard to write! In this post, we’ll look at what parody is and give a few tips

Figurative Language – Definition & Examples
What is figurative language? We define figurative language and give you 12 examples of figurative language.

Which Book Genre Should You Be Writing In 2026?
In this post we look at bestselling fiction genres and top-selling books from 2025 and which book genre you should be writing in 2026.

The 5 Pillars Of Speculative Fiction
Are you writing Speculative Fiction? In this post, we define speculative fiction – with examples – and look at how the 5 Pillars of Speculative

A Quick Start Guide To Foreshadowing
In this post, we define foreshadowing in fiction – with examples. We’ve created a quick start guide to foreshadowing to help you when you’re writing.

What Is Freewriting & How Do I Use It?
What is freewriting and how do I use freewriting? Read about 5 powerful freewriting techniques to reignite your inspiration, deepen your stories, and help you

The 7 Pillars Of Historical Fiction
Are you a fan of historical fiction? Would you like to write a historical novel on your own? In this post, we define the 7

The Rules For Writing An Excellent Time Travel Adventure
Time travel is the concept of traveling into the past or the future — usually in fiction. In this post we cover the rules for

10 Perfectly Practical New Year’s Resolutions For Writers
It’s time to make those dreaded New Year’s Resolutions for writers. Here are some practical goals for writers.

3 Simple Ways To Show And Not Tell
Telling should be used sparingly because it distances the reader from the character’s goals and actions. Here are 3 simple ways to help you show

Underlying Emotions
Use this chart to help you understand what lies beneath your characters’ feelings. These are their Underlying Emotions.

All About Cinderella – Kurt Vonnegut Explains The Shapes Of Stories
In this video, American novelist, Kurt Vonnegut explains the shape of stories.

The 5 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes
After teaching writing for many years, we have identified the 5 most common fiction writing mistakes made by debut writers.

30 Inspiring Tips For National Novel Writing Month
Writing 1667 words a day for 30 days during the month of November – also known as NaNoWriMo – is a good way to add
The Audience’s Journey
In this post, we share an infographic of the 12 steps of The Audience’s Journey in response to The Hero’s Journey.

Words For Emotions
Use this useful list of words for emotions. Decide whether you want to say something in a weak, mild, or strong way.

The Hero’s Journey
In this post, we share an infographic of the 12 steps of The Hero’s Journey, a device used by many writers when plotting their books.
