Category: Fundamentals

A common bit of advice in fiction writing is to “write realistic characters” or “realistic motivations” or “realistic conflicts” or “realistic dialogue.” But what does this really mean? How do we balance realism in fiction with, well, fiction?

What makes a good beginning? Whether it’s the first line, first paragraph, first page, or first scene, here are some things to think about when planning the beginning of your story.

How do you become a better writer, anyway? This is a question we see frequently. It’s fairly straightforward.

Think of Point of View (PoV) as “where the camera is” in your story. Like a director of a movie, an author must exercise control of the camera to maximize both their artistic expression and the emotional impact on the reader.

You may have heard the phrase “show don’t tell.” It’s a subject that permeates nearly all aspects of writing, and it is important to understand so that you can clearly communicate with the reader while also crafting an entertaining, emotional, and thought-provoking story.