3 Ways to Find a Thriving Writing Community

by Lewis / July 19, 2022 / Other

Many writers work alone—but should they?

Though writing a novel is often a solitary endeavor, the truth is that every writer needs a writing community. This community is there to hold you accountable, encourage you to grow, and provide support when you need it most. Like it or not, nearly all successful writers have someone (or multiple someones) in the background cheering them on.

Luckily, it’s easy to find a thriving writing community of your own—it just takes knowing where to look! So, whether you’re planning to join an online writing group or create your own tight-knit community of critique partners, here are three places to start your search.

How to Write an Anti-Hero Readers Will Adore

by Lewis / July 5, 2022 / Character Development

Anti-heroes are a feature in nearly every genre.

From rough romantic leads to swarmy space pirates, the best anti-hero strikes a delicate balance between smug, sarcastic villain and genuine hero. This isn’t always easy to pull off, but when you succeed, the result is an addictive character readers can’t look away from.

How do you write an anti-hero of your own? Well, there’s a lot to consider, from the many types of anti-heroes to the difference between anti-heroes and villains (or even anti-heroes and normal heroes)! So, let me walk you through everything you need to know to write an anti-hero—as well as six signs you’ve gotten it right!

How to Write Non-Romantic Relationships

by Bethany Henry / June 21, 2022 / Character Development, Guest Posts

Nothing against romance—it’s just not all there is.

Romance is a common story element and often an expected one. However, we shouldn’t feel like romance is a requirement. There can be great value in writing stories with no romance at all. Personally, as a full disclaimer, I have quite the soft spot for romance and I really enjoy a good happily-ever-after. The meet-cutes and stolen glances across a room… it’s adorable!

Still, love and life don’t require romance—and we’re missing out on a lot of stories if we overlook that fact. Today, we’ll look at the different types of non-romantic relationships, as well as what non-romantic plotlines and themes might look like.

8 Ways to Create (And Stick To) A Writing Schedule

by Katja Kaine / June 7, 2022 / Guest Posts, Inspiration

Good habits are an important part of being a writer.

It takes time to achieve success as an author, and one of the biggest aspects of that success is often a regular writing habit—and that starts with creating a sustainable writing schedule.

In this article, I’m going to give advice on how you can build the right writing schedule for you, based not only on my own experiences but also on my discussions with other writers. We’re all unique, but with these tips in hand, you should have everything you need to create a writing schedule you can stick to.

The Four Act Structure: What It Is + How It Works

by Lewis / May 31, 2022 / Story Structure

“What is the Four Act Structure?”

I talk a lot about the Three Act Structure on this site, but a few months ago, a friendly reader asked me this question—and, well, it sent me down a rabbit hole I’m only just emerging from. Believe it or not, the Three Act Structure and Four Act Structure aren’t distant cousins, but nearly identical twins.

Despite this, the Four Act Structure has won me over. This story structure has a lot to offer, providing a helpful guide to plot and pacing that’s useful no matter where you are in the writing process. So, let me show you why I’ve decided to forsake the Three Act Structure in favor of its four-part sibling!