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Latest From the Blog

5 Ways to Tell a Story: Story Structure from Around the World

There’s more than one way to tell a tale. And, unsurprisingly, every country and culture around the world has its own ideas of what makes a good story. Here in the USA, we’re surrounded with the classic Western storytelling models, […]

50 Character Creation Questions for Fiction Writers

Character Creation Questionnaire: 50 Questions You Should Be Asking

This is one of the best parts of writing a novel! Whether you’re writing an action-packed thriller or an introspective character study, character creation is always a blast. There’s something about that human element that is endlessly engaging, meaning it’s […]

5 Healthy Conflicts for Your Fictional Romance

Writing romantic conflict can be tricky… For many, the word “conflict” is linked with aggression or malice—and, though that’s not the only type of conflict you can write, it can be a difficult mold to break. Unfortunately, if you’re writing […]

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It’s Nice to Meet You!

I’m Lewis Jorstad, a developmental editor, writing craft author, and the founder of The Novel Smithy.

In my normal life, I’m a lover of videogames and travel, as well as the steward of a very creaky sailboat. When I’m not working on stories of my own, I spend my time teaching up-and-coming writers the skills they need to write their dream novels.

It’s great to meet you! 👋😁

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“I loved Lewis’ style of teaching. It’s warm, friendly and accessible to anyone at any point in their novel writing journey.” – Jennifer N.