
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.

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