10 Traits of an Epic Villain
Good villains can be one of the hardest types of characters to write. And yet, for an epic-style story, they are one of the most important. An effective villain sells the … Read More
7 Young Adult Clichés That Need to Stop
If you’ve read any number of young adult novels, you may have encountered a few similarities between them. Or maybe more than a few. Sometimes, the same themes are used in fiction … Read More
3 Storytelling Lessons From The Odyssey
Two months ago, I started an unofficial series studying some of the greatest stories in history. First on the list was The Iliad; now, we will continue this epic trek through … Read More
4 Storytelling Lessons From The Iliad
I recently finished reading Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, as part of a personal challenge to read more classical literature. What better way to become a better storyteller than by studying … Read More
3 Storytelling Flaws in the Insurgent Movie
I had the opportunity to watch Insurgent in the theaters last weekend. It received mixed reviews, and had many storytelling problems that, if fixed, could have made it a much better movie. What can we … Read More
2 Tricks for Portraying Relatable Heroes
I learned a couple lessons while watching Selma in the theaters last month. The director, Ava DuVernay, did an excellent job at portraying Martin Luther King Jr. as the larger-than-life, heroic icon, while still … Read More
Pain, Tragedy, and Creativity
Last month, my cat passed away. For me, it was the first time experiencing grief of any kind. I thought I was well prepared. “She’s old, and her health is failing,” … Read More
Nobody Cares About Your Fantasy World. (Sorry.)
If you’re a fantasy writer (like me), you’ve probably, at some point, created a beautiful fictional universe; a world you are deeply proud of, complete with unique geography, creatures to … Read More