Magic shows up in more than just fantasy.
Read moreShow, Don’t Tell: A Practical Take
Given this vague advice, many writers find ourselves resorting to adjectives—lots of adjectives—to describe everything on the page in great detail.
Read moreIs White Room Syndrome Taking All the Color Out of Your Fictional World?
One thing I’m consistently guilty of in my fiction drafts is “White Room Syndrome.” I’ll have pages and pages of dialogue with nothing to give it color or movement or sense of place. My scenes lack sensory details, leaving my characters floating in some sterile void.
If this challenge resonates with you, here are four revision strategies for eliminating white room syndrome and grounding your characters (and your readers) in space and time.
Read moreSensory Stories: Building Immersive Settings & Vivid Scenes
How do you translate everything you know about the world where your story takes place into scenes that evoke the senses while revealing more about your novel’s characters and themes?
Read moreWriting Self-Love in Fiction
I’d guess that your protagonist doesn’t have a fully developed sense of philautia on page one — or, if she does, it’s about to get seriously challenged.
Read moreObsessive Love: Writing Mania in Fiction
Think of mania like too much eros and not enough philautia and/or ludus. The result can be destructive.
Read more3 Steps to Prioritize Your Writing
I challenge you: Do you enjoy writing? Does it fill your cup? If yes, it deserves to be a priority—not only for the sake of your work but for your happiness and wellbeing.
Read moreHow World-Building Shapes Character Development in Fiction
The environment you create for your characters and readers is more than a backdrop for your narrative; it actively influences your characters' identities, motivations, and growth.
Read moreWorld-Building Basics for Fiction Writers
With 50 exercises and prompts designed to help you build your fictional world — and then put it on the page — The Inkwell’s latest craft guide is designed to be practical and accessible for new and seasoned novelists alike.
Read moreCrafting Conflict in Fiction
Conflict is what holds characters back from achieving their objectives — and it’s also what propels our stories forward and makes them resonate deeply with readers.
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