How to Diagnose a Weak Chapter Before You Rewrite It
A chapter can feel weak even when the writing itself is fine. Learn how to diagnose problems with goals, conflict, stakes, pacing, scene purpose, and character development before you start rewriting.
One More Day Again: Writing Time Loops in Flash Fiction (Even When It’s Not a Leap Year)
Time loops tend to sound bigger than they are. The phrase suggests complicated rules, intricate timelines, and endless variations on the same scene. In practice, a time loop is much simpler: something repeats, and that repetition changes how it feels. The simplicity to it is why time loops work especially well in flash fiction. When […]
Time Jumps Made Easy: How to Write Nonlinear Narratives That Flow
If you’ve ever read a book with a nonlinear narrative, you either loved it or you hated it. And if you loved it, chances are you’ve been entertaining the thought of doing the same in one of your own projects, but have been waiting for the right one. Nonlinear narratives are great for exploring themes, […]
Timing is Everything: How to Pace Your Story
It can be tricky to create effective pacing in your writing. Pacing isn’t just how fast your story moves along. It isn’t how slow it moves, either. Some readers may prefer one or the other (think action-packed suspense or slow-burn romance), but every story includes elements of both. Pacing is how you present your story […]