Most books begin at the moment a character’s life is about to change, but that doesn’t mean their lives (even though fictional) begin at the opening of chapter 1. The question is how to write a backstory that includes the key events that shaped the character backstory without slowing down the story plot with info […]

Fiction writers tend to depend on first person or third person point of view—you’ve been there, done that. But what about writing in second person? It may seem strange, unconventional, or confining, but playing with point of view is one way to transform a story. Point of view affects a story in that it offers […]

It’s practically inevitable. You’re rockin’ and rollin’ through your writing process, you let the creative juices flow, and then you reach a sudden halt: You’re blocked. And you have no idea how to overcome writer’s block. The words won’t come. It seems like there’s nothing more, and yet you’ve got things to do. Deadlines to […]

You have finished writing the first draft of your story, a version of your whole story from beginning to end. Now it is time to edit, to revise your words to make your story clear and compelling, so the reader will continue reading after the first sentence. Are you wondering how to edit your story? […]

Writing poetry can feel like a daunting task. Should you use a poetic form? Will it rhyme? How do I begin? There’s a lot to think about. But what if you could build poems from materials that already exist? Let’s answer the question, what is found poetry, and look at some examples of how you […]

In my experience as an editor, point of view problems are among the top mistakes I see new writers make, and they instantly erode credibility and reader trust. Point of view isn’t easy though, since there are so many to choose from: first person, third person limited, third person omniscient, and second person. What do […]

There are a number of words that are often mixed up in writing: effect vs. affect, compliment vs. complement, and others. Here’s a problem I’ve encountered a lot: the confusion of ensure versus insure. But wait, those two words are the same, right? Well . . . not exactly. Let’s look at some definitions and […]

If you spend any time with managers these days, you’ll notice one theme quite quickly: the post-pandemic work world has them feeling overwhelmed. Many managers are unprepared to communicate about complex and sensitive topics, such as business uncertainty and changing customer needs, remote vs. in-office decisions, changes in strategy, restructures and layoffs, people and workplace […]

If you want to transform from aspiring writer to published author, you might be thinking maybe a few creative writing classes would help. But with so many classes out there, which ones should you take? After all, if you’re like me, you have a limited amount of time and money to invest in your writing. […]

It’s National Poetry Month! I know, I know. You don’t want to write a poem, but what if I could show you a way to tap into a childhood memory to create a poem or scene that you could use in any kind of writing? Will you accept a poetry dare today? Write a Poem […]