Image by Tithi Luadthong on Shutterstock Five Tips for Avoiding Disorientation in Your Opening Hook While readers are sorting out what you're saying, they can't appreciate your story. April 29, 2022May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Which Descriptive Details Are Excessive to Readers? Don't describe scenes as though you're taking a photograph. September 10, 2021May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
How to Teach World Terms Without Confusing Readers Confusing new terms can make readers feel jarred and overwhelmed. April 16, 2021May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Worldbuilding, Writing
Episode 311: Delivering Information in Stories Readers need to know things to understand your story. January 24, 2021August 26, 2021 by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock
How & Why You Should Consolidate Your Story Merging and reusing elements makes for a more streamlined story. December 4, 2020May 28, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Lessons From the Exposition of Crescent City Confusing info dumps and lack of plot focus make this a disorienting opening. October 16, 2020June 16, 2021 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Judging What Backstory to Keep and What to Let Go If you include too much history, your story will be an overburdened mess. June 12, 2020May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling, Writing
Taming Your Exposition Skilled use of exposition is a matter of balance: not too much, not too little. December 27, 2019June 20, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Planning Your Story’s Opening Passages Readers have a lot to learn during an opening, and somehow they have to learn it while being entertained. May 3, 2019March 22, 2021 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling, Writing
Q&A: How Do I Write Exposition in Close Perspective? Answered by Chris Winkle February 11, 2019August 26, 2021 in Writing
Lessons From the Rushed Writing of The Blade Itself Confusing description and a lack of context bog down an action-packed opening. November 17, 2017May 24, 2022 by Oren Ashkenazi in Writing
Liberating Over-Burdened Stories Signs your story might be sluggish—and how to make it into a smooth, exciting read. November 10, 2017May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
InsertANameHere