The short story "The Clockwork Craven" was written in the "Character" method, one of the 3 ways to develop an idea into a story. That is: taking a character through a transformation.

Of course, there are **spoilers**, so if you haven't read the story yet, do that first, using the link in the ...

I'm drawing a blank. I want to write fiction, but where do I get the ideas? Try the Story IDEA Formula, where IDEA stands for:

INSPIRE x DELVE + ENGAGE x ADAPT

• INSPIRE - get sparks of inspiration from multiple sources 
• DELVE - get clear about what you want to write about 
• ENGAGE - fan th
...

"So you're saying it's bigger?" Fabiana asked.

"C-closer," Pomp corrected in his high, soft, slightly-stuttering voice. "The knight is c-closer."

"Very well, closer.” Fabiana leaned in to study the knight in the painting. “But how can that be? Are you saying that someone has altered the painting? ...

I'm in the middle of writing a story and I need to come up with a mind-blowing plot twist. How do I do it? Here are the 5 MAGIC Rules of Plot Twists:

• Misdirect - red herrings, dead ends, misguided attention, stalking horse 
• Astonish - a memorable "wow" factor that makes the story sizzle
• G...

When I finally caught up with Brandr, he was having a horn in the darkest, dirtiest mead-hall in the seediest part of Kaupang. Brandr's kind of place. The less light the better, with his scarred-up face and missing nose.

But the golden-haired, blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked woman next to him, she looked g...

The short story "Ravens Hold Grudges" was written in the "Outliner" method, one of the 3 ways to develop an idea into a story. That is: plotting the story in advance of writing it.

Of course, there are **spoilers**, so if you haven't read the story yet, do that first, using the link in the fi...

I've written (what I feel is) a great story, but honestly the story starts with a bit of a slow burn, and I've been told that I should come up with a better "hook" to grab the reader from the first line

How do I write a hook that catches the reader's attention from the first line?  These are ...

I have a story, but what should I call it? My "working title" feels uninspired, and I know that titles are important to catch readers' attention.  

How do I write story titles that catch readers' attention?  Follow these 5 Rules for a Great Story Title:

1. RIGHT LENGTH - count words and sylla
...

We all want to make more progress in writing fiction, whether to push through the 50,000 - 100,000 words needed to complete your novel or just produce more stories in order to get more feedback and grow as a writer.  

How can I write fiction faster?  Use these five steps to write fiction fast...

It's not enough to have a  great idea, a solid plot, and memorable characters. The story comes alive one scene at a time. 

How do I write scenes?  Use these 5 Steps to Write Great Scenes:

1. Write a SUMMARY of the scene
2. Get clear about the PURPOSE of the scene within the story
3. Tune in to th
...

Reading Flash Fiction is fun, and also a great way to get inspired.

Writing Flash Fiction can also be a great way to supercharge your writing. 

Here I have compiled a curated shortlist of good online flash fiction websites (plus a link to a very impressive curated list of contests.) These we...

You may have noticed that in this blog, I sometimes use Flash Fiction (and other short fiction) to help illustrate concepts so they come alive. Writing about fiction is fun, but actually writing fiction is even more fun.

What is Flash Fiction, and how can it be used to supercharge your writin...