Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld
Tension is what keeps a scene from falling flat, and it's necessary in every scene. To create it, you must:
• Thwart your protagonist's goals—delay satisfaction.
• Include unexpected changes without immediate explanation.
• Shift power back and forth.
• Pull the rug out—throw in a piece of plot information that changes or alters your protagonist in some way.
• Create a tense atmosphere through setting and senses.
A spy thriller requires more than a compelling story and clever plot twists—the characters need to feel real. Author Stephanie Marie Thornton offers 5 tips for constructing believable spy characters.
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, it's time for a little unexpected team work.
New York Times bestselling author Taylor Anderson discusses the process of writing his new science fiction novel, Purgatory's Shore.
Whether you're looking for something cozy or a little spooky, these books are perfect for the fall season.
When it comes to a 30 day writing challenge like NaNoWriMo, do you need to prep beforehand to achieve success? Well, that might depend on what kind of writer you are.
Copywriter and author Sarah Echavarre Smith discusses the process of writing her new romance novel, On Location.
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. This week, write a fall poem.
For over a decade, author Joshua Glenn has been researching adventure-related terms. Now, he's sharing what he's learned for other writers to add to their lexicon.
Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today's prompt, write about someone with an unfailing moral compass.
