What Is a Throughline in Writing?
What it is, why it's important, and how to create one.
Storytelling: Page 2
Q&A: How Many POVs Should I Have in My Ensemble Story?
Submitted by Camile,
answered
Five Plot Questions for Revising Your Manuscript
Let's look at some of the most common plot issues we find in editing.
Episode 410: Signature Items
Do we just record this podcast, or are we *known* for it?
Five Tropes That Require Low Realism
Whether your story is realistic or not, follow your own rules.
Episode 409: Monologues
If by your art, my dearest listener
Five Common Character-Arc Blunders
Shaping amorphous emotions into a coherent arc can be tricky.
Q&A: How Should I Structure My Series?
Submitted by Adam,
answered
Episode 408: High and Low Tension Arcs
A little tension, as a treat.
Should Your Character Be Mysterious or Relatable?
Only one of these character types should have a POV.
Episode 405: Hero Haters
It's probably cause of the hero's dad or something.
Q&A: How Do I Reveal That My Movie Hero Is Really a Villain?
Submitted by Sophia González,
answered
Movement: The Story Principle That’s 2,300 Years Old
Tension isn't the only thing a plot needs.
Q&A: How Do I Test My Hero?
Submitted by Stephen,
answered
Episode 400: Novel Characters
How to make characters shiny and new!
When to Kill a Hero – or Not
A protagonist death can make the audience rage-quit. Is it worth it?
Q&A: How Should I Fill In Backstory?
Submitted by Kai,
answered
Episode 396: Always Be Solving Problems
If the hero isn't doing anything, the reader will be bored.
Five Tropes That Sound Cool but Rarely Work
Some techniques are tempting, but dangerous.
Can Framing Devices Be Better Than Terrible?
Disconnected scenes are rarely worth keeping.
The Penguin Cat