Imagine this: two larger-than-life characters, each with their own motivations, flaws, and strengths, facing off in an epic showdown. It’s a battle of wits, willpower, and sometimes, even swords. What happens when two forces collide in a contest that will determine their fate? You’ve just stepped into the world of...

Ever feel like your sentences are having commitment issues? You know the type—they’re short, choppy, and refuse to work together. One minute you’re writing “The cat sat on the mat,” and the next you’re desperately trying to connect ideas that seem determined to live separate lives. Enter compound sentences: the...

Every good story needs conflict, whether it’s a character grappling with their own mind or battling an evil overlord; the struggle is what keeps us hooked. But here’s the thing: not all conflicts are created equal. Some happen inside the character’s head (the internal conflict), and others come from the...

Picture this: You’re at a party and meet two people. The first walks up and announces, “Hi, I’m incredibly witty and charming.” The second person never mentions their personality at all—but within five minutes, they’ve made three people laugh, complimented the host’s obscure book collection, and somehow turned a conversation...

Let’s rewind for a moment. Back in 2015, self-publishing was the scrappy underdog, creative, underestimated, and often dismissed by the traditional publishing world. Authors who were tired of waiting for approval from gatekeepers took matters into their own hands, armed with a story and a stubborn streak of determination. Fast...

Picture Sherlock Holmes without his deerstalker hat and pipe, or Harry Potter minus that lightning bolt scar. Still compelling? Absolutely. Strip away Batman’s cape or Hermione’s bushy hair, and you’d still recognize these characters by their wit, determination, and distinct personalities. That’s because truly memorable characters are built from the...

Would you ever hit “rewind” on life and relive a moment? Maybe not when you spilled coffee during a job interview, but the good moments, like a first win or a meaningful conversation. In storytelling, writers have a tool for that: it’s called a flashback. What is a flashback, you...

Ever tried assembling IKEA furniture without the manual? You’ve got 46 oddly shaped pieces, 22 screws, and a growing sense of doom. That’s exactly what writing feels like without text structure—confusing, chaotic, and likely to collapse under the weight of its own ambition. So, what is text structure? Simply put,...

Imagine Star Wars without Luke Skywalker. Or Marvel without Iron Man. Actually, don’t—because that sounds like a snooze-fest. Even the dullest hero has their place, and it’s thanks to a storytelling cheat code that’s been hardwired into our brains since the days of campfire tales and epic poems: archetypal characters....