Characters, though fictional, are really just people you’re creating from scratch. They have complex backgrounds, personalities, desires, and relationships. But thinking about creating a whole complex person can be kind of intimidating. Answering a series of questions, starting with the basics and getting deeper over time, might help take some of the pressure off your…
Writing a novel takes time. It takes dedication, a little bit of planning, and a lot of time management. But I don’t believe your big dreams for your author life have to mean that you give up everything outside of writing. In fact, that wouldn’t be healthy. You need time away from your work. With…
Have you ever heard of reverse outlining your novel? It’s pretty much what it sounds like: creating an outline after you’ve already written the draft. If you’re a plotter, you might be wondering how that’s supposed to work. But whether you’re a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between, creating a reverse outline can help you…
When you queue up a TV show, movie, or even video game, you’re usually prompted with some kind of rating system or potentially even a warning. The rating might be something like “M for Mature” or “This show contains content that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.” These warnings and ratings help…
In fiction, a trope is some kind of convention commonly used by authors and writers. This can be a character trait, relationship dynamic, plot device, or even setting. Each genre has its own set of common tropes. They’re recognizable to readers (though not always beloved), and you can build a few of these tropes into…
I don’t spend much time on this blog talking about my own creative writing. If you’re new around here, I’m Hannah, a professional book editor. I’m also a fantasy author and am working through my new adult fantasy series right now. I think it’s going to be a quartet, but I’m not tying myself to…
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