Dynamic vs. Round Characters: Who Needs a Character Arc?

by Lewis / March 8, 2022 / Character Development

Often, writers assume every character needs an arc…

But, is that actually true? While every character is the hero of their own story, that doesn’t make them the hero of yours. Because of this, not every character you write will warrant a full character arc—and this is where the difference between dynamic and round characters becomes important.

Dynamic characters are those who transform throughout your novel, while round characters are well-developed, but don’t undergo any dramatic change. You’ll need to balance both types of characters if you want to do your novel justice. So, let me walk you through everything you should know about writing dynamic vs. round characters!

The 4 Traits of Successful Writers

by Lewis / February 15, 2022 / Inspiration, Other

There’s more to writing than following the rules…

I talk a lot about the writing craft on this site, and for good reason. From character arcs, to story structures and blueprints, there’s a lot that goes into writing a compelling novel. However, at the same time, these writing “rules” aren’t the only key to becoming an author.

Alongside understanding the writing craft, writers also need to nurture their inspiration, seek out feedback, and learn how to trust their gut—even if that means breaking the rules on occasion. So, today I’d like to explore the four traits of a good novelist, as well as how to nurture those traits in your own writing life!

5 Line Editing Tips for Polishing Your Prose

by Stacy Juba / February 1, 2022 / Editing, Guest Posts

Most writers know their novel needs line editing.

However, they’re not exactly sure what that means. Obviously, the goal is to make their prose sound better—but how? I’ve had clients read my line edits on their manuscript and marvel, “How did you do that?”

While I’d like to claim I have a magical touch, here’s the secret: You can learn how to line edit, too. To help you out, I’m going to share five actionable line editing tips that I guarantee will propel your writing to a higher level. First, though, let’s break down what line editing is.

Why, When, and How to Hire an Editor

by Lewis / January 25, 2022 / Editing

Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees…

I’m sure you know how this feels. You’ve been editing your novel for months, until one day you realize you aren’t sure what you’re supposed to be revising anymore. You know something isn’t right, but you’re so bogged down in your story that you can’t figure out what. At this point, you need an outside perspective—and that means hiring an editor.

Of course, hiring an editor is easier said than done. When is the right time to start? What type of editing do you need? Are you even ready to work with an editor? All of these questions are important to consider before diving into professional editing—so, in this article, let me walk you through everything you should know before hiring an editor for your novel!

The Novel Smithy Just Got a Redesign!

by Lewis / January 19, 2022 / News

The New Year is all about new beginnings…

I’ve been meaning to update the design of this site for a while now, but it was never enough of a priority to rise to the top of my to-do list. That all changed this year—and, after weeks of work and lots of late nights, The Novel Smithy finally has a whole new look!

For the most part, I tried to keep the feel of this site the same. However, there are some pretty big changes I think you should know about. So, let me introduce you to all the cool new things you’ll find on The (newly redesigned) Novel Smithy!