8 fiction- writing tips on how to create villains that will challange your protagonist and capture your readers’ imagination
Author: John
What is a MacGuffin? Well, Wikipedia defines MacGuffin as… Just kidding. When you hear the word MacGuffin think motivation. That’s all MacGuffins are. A thing for your characters to chase after. A plot device, usually in the form of an object, that propels the action of your story. MacGuffins are often mystical in nature. Relics
This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links Writing your first novel is freaking hard. Actually, that’s an understatement. Sixty-thousand words. Hundreds upon hundreds of pages of story. A pure creative effort that can stand on its own. How does that even happen? Think of
What is an Inciting Incident? Read the complete step-by-step guide to writing a memorable inciting incident. Plus examples!
This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links Do you love Halloween? I know I do, and I’ve noticed that there are plenty of lists compiling great movies to watch during this spookiest of seasons. But, I’m here to tell you that there is some
Suspense- What it is, and what it’s not. Let’s get one thing straight, Suspense is not synonymous with horror, thrillers., or mysteries. Suspense is a pivotal aspect of all storytelling. Suspense drives stories, all stories. Whether your writing a romantic comedy or an epic fantasy, Suspense is a required ingredient of every genre. Think of
Take a look at the last post on my blog, and you may notice something. The date it was published- June 16th. It’s been over two months since I’ve posted. To be honest it’s been months since I’ve written much of anything. I’ve had plenty of time, too. Enough time to knock out three or
In today’s popular culture we are awash with anti-heroes. You have your Walter White, your Tony Soprano, Dexter, Tyrion and Jaime, Bond, Bourne, Holmes, and Solo. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting an anti-hero. Now, I’m not complaining. I’ve espoused my love for anti-heroes on this very blog. Anti-heroes are great when we
Learn how to outline your story using the four act structure!
Do you know what one of my greatest challenges as a writer is? Creating good, believable characters. When I began my writing journey, creating characters seemed simple enough. Make up a name. With me it was usually something stupid like “Deacon Devlin.” Then, tell the reader what this person looks like- He had dark hair,