Why do we keep coming back to fairy tales? Is it the magic? The drama? Or maybe it’s the wicked satisfaction of seeing villains get what’s coming to them (or not, if you’re feeling generous). Whatever the reason, these stories have enchanted us for centuries, proving that a glass slipper,...

Ah, the narrator—your story’s tour guide, gatekeeper of secrets, and occasionally, the mischievous prankster who flips the map upside down. Choosing between a reliable and unreliable narrator is a bit like choosing a travel companion. Do you want someone who hands you a clear itinerary? Or someone who makes you...

Choosing the right Point of View (POV) for your novel is like picking the perfect pair of shoes for a big event. Sure, you could show up to a gala in Crocs, but is that really the impression you want to leave? The same goes for POV: it’s the lens...

Have you ever read a story so vivid you could practically smell the freshly brewed coffee, taste the buttery croissant, or feel the rain-soaked cobblestones beneath your feet? That’s the power of sensory detail—when words don’t just paint a picture, but activate all five senses, pulling readers fully into the...

You just powered through 20 pages of detailed narrative, vivid characters, or packed nonfiction—and now you’re asked to distill it into just a few lines. Seriously? How are you supposed to summarize a whole chapter without leaving out the good stuff? Learning how to write a chapter summary might feel...

You’ve just spent months—maybe years—pouring your heart into your novel. The twists, the turns, the character arcs, the world-building—it’s all there, perfect and alive. Then someone drops the bomb: “Now summarize it in one page.” Cue the panic. How do you possibly condense your epic saga or intricate plot into...

Think of book structure as the skeleton of your narrative—the thing that keeps everything upright, functional, and not an amorphous blob of creative chaos. Sure, “winging it” might work for assembling a last-minute sandwich, but when it comes to crafting a story, a little organization can turn your tale from...

Let’s be honest, there’s something universally fascinating about creating alternate realities—whether it’s a sunlit utopia or a shadowy dystopia. As readers, we’re drawn to these worlds because they push the boundaries of our imagination, challenge our beliefs, and even prompt us to reexamine our society. According to the American Association...

Writing is like cooking: with the right ingredients, you can craft a dish so good it lingers in the memory. But serve it with bland seasoning (read: poor grammar and typos), and you might just leave your audience choking on confusion instead of inspiration. Wondering how to improve your writing...

Every great novel starts with a vague idea—or so they say. But if you want your moment, you’ll need more than wishful thinking. It’s detailed planning—those legendary notes on characters, plots, and subplots—that bring your novel to life. Planning your book doesn’t mean smothering your creativity; it means giving it...

There’s something irresistibly delicious about a love triangle. Whether it’s the sticky situations, the gut-wrenching choices, or the electric chemistry between characters, love triangles have been captivating readers for centuries. A well-written love triangle isn’t just about “who will she choose?”—it’s about diving into the messy, vulnerable parts of human...

Ah, inspiration—the mythical creature every writer chases but rarely catches when it’s most needed. It’s always there when you’re brushing your teeth or stuck in traffic but vanishes the moment you sit down to face the intimidating glare of a blank page. If you’ve ever found yourself staring hopelessly at...