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
4 Ways to Write Faster
In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I decided to write a super practical post for you all today: four ways to write faster! There are multiple reasons why it’s beneficial to write fast. First, (obviously), … Read More
Behind the Scenes: Writing Tag
Today, I get to do something new on this blog! Yipee! I was tagged by the extraordinary Annie Hawthorne to answer a few questions about my writing process. (By the … 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
I finished my book! (Sort of…)
Last week, I made an exciting announcement on social media: I finished the first draft of my novel! YAY! So, I did it. At 5:11 a.m. this morning, I wrote the … Read More
How To Make Time to Read (When You’re Super Busy)
We all know it: Reading is important. Especially for writers. How can we become great storytellers without studying the great works of others? But we’re busy! GAH! How can we find the time … 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
7 Tips for Killing Writer’s Block
Writer’s block. Two dreaded words for any storyteller. Yet inevitably, every one of us – at some point – faces a lack of creativity. What can we do when those … 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