Every great story begins with a “bang!” That bang must be the Call to Adventure, or Inciting Incident, that triggers your hero’s first major choice. In Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the opening scenes establish the hero’s normal life, also called the Ordinary World. But to get the story started, you need this next stage: the […]

If you’ve ever wanted to tell a true story using more literary techniques, then the genre you’re exploring is creative nonfiction. Let’s define creative nonfiction and then try some creative nonfiction writing prompts today.  What is creative nonfiction? Creative nonfiction is a literary genre of writing that uses fiction techniques and stylistic choices to express […]

What if you could learn how to write a novel without fail? What if you had a process so foolproof, you knew you would finish no matter what writer’s block throws at you? The zombie apocalypse could finally strike and you’d still face the blank page to finish your novel. Every day I talk to […]

In the U.S., today is a time for celebration. While no living Americans have ever felt the sting of King George’s cruel taxes, they still partake in the annual celebration of independence by grilling hot dogs and shooting off fireworks. We all long for independence. It’s hard-wired into the human spirit. Perhaps this is because […]

As writers, we are always working to make our stories the best they can be. One of the more advanced techniques that can help you do this is by adding an underlying meaning in a scene—otherwise known as subtext. Let’s look at some subtext examples and how to use it in your own writing.  Subtext […]

At some in your writer’s life, you’ve probably come across the term Hero’s Journey. Maybe you’ve even studied this guide for storytelling and applied it to your own books—and yet, something about your own application felt off. You wanted to learn more, but didn’t know where to start. Maybe you needed a resource that would […]

The hero’s journey is one of the most beloved and popular story frameworks in books and film. Today we have 25 prompts with hero’s journey story ideas, so you can write your own epic adventure tale! If you’ve watched any one of George Lucas’s Star Wars films, read or watched any of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The […]

Strong verbs transform your writing from drab, monotonous, unclear, and amateurish to engaging, professional, and emotionally powerful. Which is all to say, if you’re not using strong verbs in your writing, you’re missing one of the most important stylistic techniques. Why listen to Joe? I’ve been a professional writer for more than a decade, writing […]

Honing your craft is one of the most important things you can do as an author. And when it comes to sharpening my writing skills, MasterClass is one of my go-to solutions. Recently I really enjoyed learning about how to write memorable character and more about the creative process with the Judy Blume’s MasterClass. This […]

No matter your role inside business today, you’re probably feeling it. Stress and burnout levels are high and the overall engagement of many employees is alarmingly low. The latest data on employee engagement from Gallup indicate just 32% of full- and part-time U.S. employees are engaged at work, while 18% are actively disengaged. All of […]