So, you've picked out a promising character for a redemption arc and you're excited to explore their emotional journey. Doing their story justice is of the utmost importance to you... but how do you do it "right?" How do you make the audience want it as much as you do? Since you're on the internet… Continue reading Redemption Arcs: Atonement Over Punishment?
Tag: writing advice
Redemption Arcs: What Makes A Character “Redeemable”?
Redemption arcs are both much-beloved and much-reviled narrative arc. Audiences like rooting for people who actively try to do good in the world! This applies to protagonists who seem naturally inclined to virtue, but it applies just as strongly to characters with a spotty past, who struggle through their vices to improve anyway — because… Continue reading Redemption Arcs: What Makes A Character “Redeemable”?
How To Write Multiple Love Interests
Writing one believable love interest can be tricky enough on its own — writing more than one at once is an even more delicate balancing act. Whether you're writing the traditional love triangle, a more complicated series of potential suitors, or a polyamorous union, it takes time and care to make sure that each one… Continue reading How To Write Multiple Love Interests
How To Get Yourself Writing Again
Last week, I wrote about how writing at your own pace can be more effective than rushing yourself, and at the beginning of that article, I promised to address how to get yourself writing again if you haven't for a while. Because even when you're not pushing yourself to write constantly every day, making a… Continue reading How To Get Yourself Writing Again
Writing At Your Own Pace: Better Than Rushing
Recently, I've brought up the fact that my progress on my novels went up significantly when I ignored that "true authors write every day" advice and stopped trying to make myself write in every spare moment that I had. Now, this article is not here to say that you can just shrug your shoulders and… Continue reading Writing At Your Own Pace: Better Than Rushing
Placeholders, & Why They May Be Good For Your Draft
Sometimes when you're writing, you know how the events of the story are playing out, but the prose just isn't coming to you. What do you do? Some people would tell you to brute-force the scene. In my experience, that doesn't usually work. While I'm of the mind that even the ugliest prose is easier… Continue reading Placeholders, & Why They May Be Good For Your Draft
Is “Said” Really Dead?
The debate over whether "said" is superior to more unique dialogue tags (and vice versa) has been raging on for decades in the writing community. Insisting that one way is better than the other is a very easy way to pick a fight with other writers, but this topic doesn't have to be so contentious.… Continue reading Is “Said” Really Dead?
Take Your Motivation From Multiple Sources
Today's article is less a matter of practical storytelling advice, and more a small thought on motivation. I've seen a lot of aspiring authors crash and burn because they are only fueled by one emotion. And when they're not in that mood — whether it be a nebulous state of "inspiration", or rage at injustice,… Continue reading Take Your Motivation From Multiple Sources
Three Essential Principles of Worldbuilding
Worldbuilding can be one of the most intimidating parts of writing genre fiction. Crafting a whole universe unto itself is no easy feat, and it can be especially intimidating if you don't know what you should focus on, and what's never going to make it into your story. Luckily, you have the internet at your… Continue reading Three Essential Principles of Worldbuilding
What Do I Do If I Have Too Many Characters?
There are many, many pitfalls that one can fall into when writing a story, and accidentally creating more characters than you can juggle is one of the most tempting mistakes. Character creation is fun! Unfortunately, an overburdened plot is not. Luckily, there's a few questions you can keep in mind to help you reduce your… Continue reading What Do I Do If I Have Too Many Characters?
J.L. Heeren 