Characters
Why a Character’s Want Gives a Scene Its Pull
A character’s scene want gives each moment direction. Learn to make it concrete, layer in pressure, and shape a…
All the pieces
All stories
Browse explorations of characters, scenes, structure, voice and revision. Each piece starts with a story question and follows it far enough to give you something to notice or try.
Voice
Dialogue on the Page or in the Air?
Dialogue on the page or in the air? Learn when direct speech makes a character audible and when indirect speech…
Structure
How to Write a Letter-Based Story That Keeps Changing Shape
Learn how to write a letter-based story with distinct voices, purposeful gaps, and messages that change the…
Revision
The Trap of Explaining Every Clue
Learn when to explain a story clue and when to leave it alone, helping readers follow the evidence while keeping the…
Scenes
A Five-Sense Walk for a Setting
A five-sense walk for a setting helps you turn a familiar place into precise scene material, with a clear route from…