Is Our Story’s Point of View Really What We Think It Is?

Third-person POV ranges from the most distant to the deepest perspectives, so how can we tell where our story falls on the POV spectrum to avoid problems?

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Is Our Story’s Point of View Really What We Think It Is?

Storytelling Verb Tenses: Past, Present, and “Literary” Past Tense

Most stories are written in literary past tense. What does that term mean, and if different from normal past tense, how is literary past tense different?

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Storytelling Verb Tenses: Past, Present, and “Literary” Past Tense

Character Internalization: To Italicize or Not to Italicize?

A common question in writing forums asks when we should italicize a character’s thoughts. How should we format our characters’ internalizations?

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Character Internalization: To Italicize or Not to Italicize?

What’s the Right Way to Include Multiple POVs? — Guest: Kassandra Lamb

Some stories benefit from multiple points of view, but only if we follow a few do’s and don’ts. Here’s how to write multiple POVs right.

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What’s the Right Way to Include Multiple POVs? — Guest: Kassandra Lamb

Why Is Head Hopping Considered Lazy Writing?

Several writing craft issues tend to be hallmarks of what’s called “lazy writing.” The practice of head hopping is usually considered lazy writing, but we might not understand why it earns that label. Let’s learn more and see how we can avoid head hopping and the “lazy writing” trap.

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Why Is Head Hopping Considered Lazy Writing?

Story Structure: What’s the Purpose…for Readers?

Ever wonder how many writing “rules” have a reason beyond “because I said so”? Story structure exists not just because it makes our story stronger, but also because the story beats help communicate with readers–and understanding how can help us write and revise our story.

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Story Structure: What’s the Purpose…for Readers?

5 Tips for Empowering Description with Contrast — Guest: Marcy Kennedy

We’ve probably all heard (or thought!) that description is boring or the part readers skip. Yet our stories need description or else be confusing. Marcy Kennedy joins us today to share 5 tips to empower and add interest to our description by using contrast.

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5 Tips for Empowering Description with Contrast — Guest: Marcy Kennedy