In his book No Plot? No Problem! Chris Baty describes this exercise as the Magna Carta list. I call it books that make my heart hurt, and it’s a great way to determine which story elements from your favorite book
The Magna Carta Exercise
Where I Write
When I was a teenager, I carried a spiral notebook or a set of ten loose ruled pages stapled together and folded in half on my person at all times. I could write anywhere – in the car, while waiting
Supporting Characters (and What is a Foil?)
Have you ever heard of a “foil” in literature before? Or wondered what all of those other characters do for a story while the protagonist and antagonist are locked in their epic struggle? Let’s look at some examples! Joseph Cambell’s
Writing Picture Books: General Guidelines
Have you ever wondered how the picture books you read to your kids are written, or thought about writing one yourself? Here are some general rules you need to know to set yourself up for success! Side note: if you
Summer Reading
Here are some recent reads I’ve really enjoyed, and I think you will too! My Goodreads page Cinder and Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer Winterhouse by Ben Guterson Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol The Wish Tree by Kyo
10 Commonly Confused Word Pairs
Have you ever wondered which words are the right ones to use in a sentence? Or maybe used a word that turned out to be incorrect, when you didn’t understand why? Let’s clear the air a bit by looking at
Writing Tools
Every writer has favorite tools that help them hone their craft. From fancy computer programs to simple notebooks, here’s a list of tools I use or have used in the past, and what I like about them. The Basics: Pen
Character Types: Protagonist and Antagonist
Have you ever wondered what the terms “protagonist” and “antagonist” mean? What about the difference between the protagonist, the narrator, and the main character? This is the video for you! We’ll even look at examples like The Great Gatsby, Sherlock
Short Story VS Novel
What is the difference between a short story and a novel? How does a writer approach each type of story? What are some examples of good short stories? Find the answers to all this and more in today’s video. “Kleptomania”
5 Craft Books I Recommend
There are so many craft books out there, all claiming to show you how to defeat writer’s block once and for all, or how to make time to write every day, or how to turn your first draft prose into