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
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
Kleptomania – Short Story Publication!
I am so happy to share my short story “Kleptomania,” which was published this month by the Young Adult Review Network (YARN). You can read it for FREE online, and I hope you do! UPDATE: Sadly, YARN closed its page
Around and About
Hello there! This is just a quick post to share where I’ve been on the internet so far this year. Publications: A revised portion of my extended critical thesis from my MFA at Spalding University was published as book reviews