Episode 182: Literary Devices
But soft, what podcast through yonder feed breaks?
Writing: Page 6
A Beginner’s Guide to Epistolary Writing
Many writers have a pet narrative technique they think is underused and underappreciated.
Episode 178: Describing the Environment
A story’s environment is vitally important, but how do we describe it?
Giving Your Hero Sympathetic Problems
Making your protagonist a relatable underdog is a great way to encourage your audience to bond with them.
What Writers Can Learn From the Roleplaying Concept of “Flavor”
Writing and roleplaying are vastly different mediums.
Lessons From the Rambling Writing of Handbook for Mortals
Last year, Handbook for Mortals by Lani Sarem cheated its way to the top of the New York Times YA bestseller list.
When to Narrate a Villain’s Point of View
Using a villain's point of view can do more harm than good.
Using Poetic Devices
If you want your words to sound captivating, borrow tricks from a poet.
How Useful Are Kurt Vonnegut’s Eight Rules of Writing?
Much has been made of these rules. Do they live up to the hype?
Six Habits That Sabotage Audio Stories
Six ways your story might grow grating for an audiobook listener's ears.
A Complete Guide to Beta Reading
Beta readers can give valuable insights on early drafts—if you and they know how to get it.
Lessons From the Rushed Writing of The Blade Itself
Confusing description and a lack of context bog down an action-packed opening.
Lessons From the Flat Writing of Tiger’s Curse
A lack of nuance, attachment, and tension make this intro more of a whimper than a roar.
Crafting Micro Stories
How to pack meaning into every word of your tiny tales.
Episode 137: Character Names
What’s in a name? If you’re telling a story, a lot.
Five Essentials of Omniscient Narration
How to use the strengths of a distant perspective to make your story exciting.
Will Your Subgenre Prevent You From Being Published?
How to tell if the market's hot for your story—and what to do if it isn't.
Lessons From the Tedious Writing of The Disintegration Machine
A jerk main character and slow, run-on paragraphs drag this early sci-fi tale to a crawl.
Episode 124: Distinct Sounding Dialogue
A common fear among writers is that our characters will all sound the same.
Oren Ashkenazi