Thank you, internet, for making this job harder. Strong characters and worldbuilding are no longer enough. The well-timed spot of humor was once the mark of Shakespeare. But now fellow writers, all of us have to learn to be clever. Let’s start by reading a novel that’s funny. Do you accept your first reading quest? … Read more
This article is by Frank Cavallo. A few years ago I published my first novel. Nothing major, it garnered a small advance, with a relatively small print run at an up-and-coming indie press. Hardly JK Rowling territory, but as I’m sure all of us can relate, it was something I’d been trying to do for … Read more
In the battle between good and terrible storytelling, we look for personal conflicts with complex characters. Yet one trope gives our villain vague power and simple goals. It promises our readers a straightforward fight against the forces of evil. There’s one trope that just wants to rule them all. So let’s reboot the Dark Lord. … Read more
This article is by Grant Alter, Editor-in-Chief of Dabel Brothers Publishing. When people think of comic books, most of the time, they think of spandex superheroes and BIFF BAM POW. Four color tales of caped modern-day gods swooping in to save the day, restoring order and justice and aimed at children. And those do exist, … Read more
With National Novel Writing Month fast approaching, writers all over the world are gearing up for 30 days of intense writing bliss. Coffee and energy drinks will be consumed by the gallons, tears will be shed, and fingers will be cramped. However, if you’re like me, an ex-NaNoWriMo, or Non-NoWriMo, then you might have a … Read more
We can use any storytelling trope to write powerful novels. But there’s one trope that angers many readers because it’s close to cheating. It takes an ordinary character, steals his or her agency, and shoehorns them into the conflict. It’s a trope for forcing an abrupt call to action. So let’s reboot the Chosen One. … Read more
Where there are writers, there will be writing groups. They may take any number of forms and serve various functions: feedback, support, learning, or commiseration. Anne Lamott, in her book Bird by Bird, compares a writing group to “one of those weird little families that we fashion out of whatever’s around us.” It’s so true. … Read more
This article is by Matt Banner. Writers have it simultaneously easier and harder in today’s world. On the one hand, it’s easier to get your work published and exposed to the world through the internet and through self publishing. On the other hand, this kind of all-inclusive access also results in a lot of competition … Read more