How to Discover Your Writing Voice

by Lewis / October 1, 2019 / Editing, Inspiration

Every author has a unique writing voice…

…or at least they should. You see, a writer’s voice sets their work apart from others, and that makes it a powerful tool in any storyteller’s arsenal. While your story may be perfect in terms of execution, your unique writing voice is what really brings life to your novel.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to read books indistinguishable from others in their genre, despite being written by completely different authors. Far too many writers censor their unique writing voice because they’re unsure what their writing voice even is. However, your writing voice doesn’t have to be a mystery—you just need to know where to look.

How to Write a Hero: The 12 Stages of the Hero’s Character Arc

by Lewis / September 17, 2019 / Character Development

Heroes are integral to the history of storytelling.

Not only are heroes beloved, but they’re practically required for many stories. Classic heroes such as Robin Hood and King Arthur mix with modern variations like Simba and Shane to form a formidable pantheon. However, perhaps more interesting than who we consider a hero is what all heroes have in common: the hero’s character arc.

This hero’s character arc demands that the hero leave home, sent away to prove themselves and grow into the leader their community needs. Their journeys are always ones of service and self-sacrifice. Most importantly, this hero’s character arc is something you can use to write memorable, compelling heroes all your own!

5 Tricks for Writing Better Flashbacks

by Lewis / September 3, 2019 / Character Development

Flashbacks are a double-edged sword…

On the one hand, flashbacks are a quick and effective way to reveal a character’s backstory while keeping your reader immersed in the world of your story. On the other, flashbacks are a risky gamble for many writers—when done wrong, they not only feel underwhelming, but can potentially undermine your whole story.

It’s easy to see that, as with many aspects of your character’s backstory, you’ll want to handle flashbacks with care. While flashbacks are a wonderful tool to have in your writing arsenal, you’ll need to know how to use them before you dive in head first!

Subplots: How Game of Thrones Mastered Complex Storytelling

by Lewis / August 6, 2019 / Lessons From Film, Story Structure

Subplots are the lifeblood of epic fiction.

While Game of Thrones hasn’t seen a lot of praise in recent weeks (especially after its botched TV finale), it’s still one of the most successful epic fantasies around. The massive scope and deep sense of history make the books immersive, while the early seasons of the show serve as great examples of how to adapt a book series for television.

However, there’s another key element of the A Song of Ice and Fire series that makes it the complex, compelling adventure that it is—its subplots.

Writing a Trilogy: How to Plan a Series of Novels

by Lewis / July 23, 2019 / Outlining, Story Structure

Writing a trilogy creates many amazing opportunities.

A book series is a powerful writing tool, because it allows you to take your reader on a journey. Your trilogy can grow alongside them, and you have far more space to explore your characters, worlds, and themes than you would in a single novel. Trilogies in particular have a unique kind of resonance.

However, the challenges of writing a series are proportional to the benefits. While you only have to worry about one storyline in a single novel, in a trilogy you need to keep track of three—alongside the overarching story that guides your whole series.