• 52 Questions to Help You Develop Stronger Characters

    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…

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  • How to Reverse Outline Your Novel

    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…

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  • Popular Fantasy Tropes You Can Use in Your Novel

    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…

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  • How an Editor Revises Her Novel, Part 1

    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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