Today, we look at a writing prompt that works every time you try it. The answers might be different across months, years, or decades, but try this one out today and see what you find.  What Does the Character Want?  As we’ve studied the types of stories, they all revolve around values that we hold […]

There are heroes everywhere. A great Hero’s Journey can take place in any genre. But did you know there are eight hero’s journey archetypes that work especially well for a universal protagonist? Your reader will unconsciously expect your story to have certain characters. If you want your next heroic story to be a success, you’d […]

Commas matter. That tiny period-with-a-tail can change the meaning of your entire sentence, and your use of it quickly demonstrates just how well you know the English language. Here are 8 comma rules writers should know and use.  Today, I have just a few comma tips for you. This is nowhere near an exhaustive guide, […]

Authentic leadership is one of the most popular topics in business today, with no shortage of books, podcasts, and articles on the concept. And for good reason. Employees are increasingly seeking authentic leaders committed to transparency, integrity, and genuine relationships with their teams. What Is Authentic Leadership? Authentic leadership means embracing high standards, integrity, and […]

Readers love great characters. Think back to your favorite stories of all time. You might remember the story arc or not. You might remember the best bits of dialogue, or you might not. You might remember the setting descriptions, but let’s be honest, you probably don’t. But the characters? Original characters? Your favorite characters? You’ll […]

If you’ve ever written a book, you know that writing the middle of your story is tough. There’s a reason the saying “muddle through the middle” is common language in a writer’s conversation. Your protagonist must face the Hero’s Journey Trials and make Allies and Enemies in these moments. Let’s look at how it’s done.  […]

Some of the most common feedback I get, besides my ridiculous comma usage, is that much of the writing sounds awkward. It can be a few words, a sentence, or even a whole paragraph. This bad writing is confusing to read and the sentences “just don’t sound quite right.” How can I fix it to […]

The choices your fictional characters make within your story are shaped by their past, which means sometimes, you’ll need to communicate to your reader events that happened before your story began. Not sure how? Try memory or character backstory to share the past in the present. You are a deep, complex, and interesting individual, and […]

Great stories are filled with great characters. One of the most common characters in any story is the Mentor, an essential character if you’re writing a Hero’s Journey story. In fact, the fourth step of the Hero’s Journey is Meeting the Mentor. Who is your hero’s mentor, and how do they challenge them? As you […]

If you’re like me, you start new projects with enthusiasm. Nothing will stop you. And then, something does. If you’ve hit a roadblock and need some new energy, try one of these prompts to get you started again.  When you get stuck, it’s easy to slip into despair– to question yourself and your work. But […]