I was recently at my local library the other day browsing the shelves for a new book to read up and I found this book called The Foxglove King. Now, somehow, I wasn’t familiar with this book, but the premise seemed interesting and I have to admit, the cover did catch my eye. So, without […]
The Foxglove King Review and Analysis Read More »
One thing that I’m sure many writers have experienced before is the idea of abandoning manuscripts. It happens sometimes where we have such great ideas for stories and we have amazing concepts but when we actually go to write them, we may DNF or get to the end and suddenly realize that we don’t actually
6 Ways to Turn an Abandoned Manuscript Into Your Next Novel Read More »
From morally gray rogues who we fall for to quiet scholars whose courage surprises everyone, engaging characters are pretty much the heartbeat of any novel. Even if your plot is absolutely amazing and your premise is breathtaking, without engaging characters, your readers will find themselves at a loss. Characters are extremely important, and I think
How to Build Engaging Characters: A Guide Read More »
Character chemistry is a major part of what makes romantasy such a great genre and why so many people love it. One of the best ways to showcase the chemistry between two characters is through their dialogue and similar moments. Dialogue is basically the way they speak with each other and their spoken interactions, and
How to Write Amazing Banter in Romantasy Read More »
One of the most popular tropes in the world of romantasy is the idea of the villain love interest, or at least a very morally gray MMC. But a villain love interest needs more than just shadow-powers and a tragic, heart-breaking backstory. For many readers, villain love interests might fall into the trap of being
How to Write Villain Love Interests the Right Way! Read More »
Do you find yourself ready to start world building for your next project but suddenly feel like you just have no ideas? Do you find that you end up staring at a blank page more often than not and just aren’t sure what to do next? Well, I’ve got some good news for you, because
Feeling Stuck? How to Start World Building When the Page Is Blank Read More »
A vivid past gives a fantasy or sci-fi setting the weight of feeling like a real civilization. When readers get the sense that there are centuries of triumphs, tragedies, and turning points behind every ruined temple or political feud, your present-day plot will immediately feel more intriguing and interesting. So, here is how you can
How to Write Believable History for Your Story’s World Read More »
Fantasy comes in many different styles and forms, and there are so many kinds that you can read from out there. The idea of fantasy itself typically refers to a world that is different from our own in some capacity and it almost always involves the idea of a magic system or at least something
What is Grimdark and How to Write Grimdark Fantasy? Read More »
Whether you’re sketching a single city for a thriller or an entire galaxy for epic fantasy, world building is effectivley the art of designing the backdrop for your story. Your story’s world is where the characters will exist, thrive, fight, and interact. But the term gets tossed around so loosely that it can feel both
What is World Building (And What is it Not?) Read More »
If you want to create a world for your readers to actually feel immersed in, then you need to know how to build convincing countries. A country is likely where you live right now and is a body with its government and system and way of life. Creating a believeable country takes some time, but
How to Create Believable Countries for Your Fantasy World Read More »
Writing 2,000 words a day sounds productive, impressive, maybe even a little magical. But when you’re staring down deadlines, exhaustion, or distractions, it can feel completely unattainable. A lot of writers set large word count goals like that in order to finish writing a book in 30 days. I’ve been talking a lot about different
How to Write 2,000 Words a Day (Even When You’re Tired, Busy, or Stuck) Read More »
One of the biggest mistakes I notice writers tend to make when trying to write a book in 30 days is either overplanning or not planning enough at all. Being stuck in the prep phase will prevent you from ever starting to write. Having no preparation at all primes you for burn out by the
Your 30-Day Novel Blueprint: How to Plan Fast Without Burning Out Read More »