
10 Ways To Start A Horror Story
Need a scary story idea for Halloween? Try these 10 spooky writing prompts and 10 tips to create suspense, fear, and unforgettable horror.

5 Ways To Weave Setting Into Short Stories
Learn how to weave setting into short stories with five simple techniques that bring your fictional world to life without wasting words.

How To Use Wants, Needs, And Fears To Create Better Characters
Learn how to use your characters’ wants, needs, and fears to build stronger motivations, create conflict, and drive your story forward.

What’s The Difference Between A Commercial And A Literary Plot?
What’s the difference between a commercial and a literary plot? Discover how story goals, character journeys, and endings shape your novel.

How To Use Colour Psychology In Your Writing
What is colour psychology? How does colour affect what you write? In this post, we explore colour psychology for writers.

7 Secrets To Writing Happy Characters Without Boring Your Audience
Learn how to write happy characters without boring your audience by discovering seven ways to show their happiness and make readers care.

What Is A Phobia? How To Write Characters With Phobias
Learn what phobias are and how to write believable characters whose fears create conflict, shape their choices, and move your story forward.

3 Simple Ways To Make Your Hero Fight Back
Discover three simple ways to make your hero fight back, with examples from fiction to show you how to put your characters to the test.

7 Reasons To Write The Ending Of Your Novel First
Discover 7 reasons to write your ending first, with examples of successful authors who use this approach to plan and shape their stories.

How To Know When To Quit Writing
When should you quit a writing project? Discover the warning signs, ask the right questions, and learn when it’s time to move on.

Who Are The 3 Characters Driving Your Plot?
Who is responsible for moving the story along in your books? In this post, we write about the three characters driving your plot.

So You Want To Be A Writer? By Charles Bukowski
This post includes a poem from Charles Bukowski on wanting to be a writer.

Is There Merit In Telling And Not Showing?
In this post, we explore if there is merit in telling and not showing in the books you write. Danielle Steel, who has sold 1

5 Ways Setting Affects Your Characters
Setting shapes us, and where we were born and where we grew up make a difference. We have put together a list of 5 ways

3 Ways To Use Inverted Dialogue In Your Story
In this post, we discuss three ways to use inverted dialogue in your story.

3 Lines To A Better First Draft Of Your Novel
We talk about writing 3 lines to help you write a better first draft of your novel. It is a great test for your story

Short Story Day Africa – 21 June
‘Short Story Day Africa has established a day, 21st June – the shortest day of the year – on which to celebrate the diversity of

5 Ways To Kick-Start Your New Short Story
Are you struggling to start your short story? In this post, we give you 5 ways to kick-start your short story.

How To Identify Your Protagonist And Antagonist
If you are writing a story, we have put together this post to help you identify your protagonist and antagonist in more detail.

Neil Gaiman On Making Good Art
In this post, we’ve shared advice from British author, Neil Gaiman on making good art.