Five Emotional Arcs That Fell Flat
Without real problems for characters to confront, emotional arcs lack substance.
Latest in Melodrama
Lessons From the Purple Writing of The Witcher
Monsters have nothing on the horrors of confusing wordcraft and muddled description.
How to Avoid Melodrama in Your Writing
You can't create emotional impact by telling readers what to feel.
Mastering Evocative Telling
How to get fancy with mystery and metaphor—and when you're overdoing it.
Lessons From Twilight vs Fifty Shades
The world-famous vampiric romance and its kinky fanfic cousin square off.
Lessons From the Awkward Writing of The Sword of Truth
A lack of focus and a tell-over-show mindset hamstring this fantasy story's opening.
Lessons From the Terrible Writing of Eragon
Poor word choice and a comical villain hinder this fantastical story's opening.
How to Create an Unhappy Ending
How your protagonist can fall short and still satisfy readers.
Star of Hope