5 Rules for Naming Fictional Characters

by Lewis / August 17, 2021 / Character Development, Worldbuilding

Names say a lot about our characters…

From the era they live in to their history, family, or even personality, a well-chosen name is the perfect summary of a character. Of course, this means choosing the right names for your cast does come with a bit of pressure—to really make the most of your character names, you’ll need to strike a careful balance between character development and worldbuilding.

Fortunately, choosing character names can be a rewarding process, and it doesn’t have to be difficult! So, let me walk you through a few important rules for naming your characters—as well as my experience naming characters of my own.

How to Banish Shiny Object Syndrome

by Lewis / August 3, 2021 / Inspiration, Other

Have you ever had an idea you just had to write?

These bursts of creativity can be a wonderful feeling. Characters practically beg you to be written, and entire plots come to mind with seemingly no effort at all! Yet, while you indulge in your newest ideas, your old drafts and half-written stories can quickly get left in the dust—because you have a case of shiny object syndrome.

What is shiny object syndrome? Well, it’s basically what happens when “shiny” new ideas constantly distract you from your long-term goals—and it’s perhaps one of the biggest enemies of actually finishing your novels. So, in this article, let’s explore how shiny object syndrome works, why it holds so much sway, and what you can do to overcome it!

The Coming of Age Arc: How to Write About Growing Up

by Lewis / July 20, 2021 / Character Development

Growing up is a difficult process…

Not only do you have to leave behind the security of childhood and establish your own identity, but you might even end up in a fight against forces that would otherwise keep you trapped in childhood. It’s no wonder then that the journey of coming of age is so popular in storytelling, no matter what genre you’re writing in.

Fortunately, if you’re planning to write a coming of age story of your own, you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. There’s actually a simple arc you can use to flesh out your character’s journey and ensure they truly earn their new status as an independent adult—and that is the coming of age character arc!

How to Write a Powerful Foil Scene

by Lewis / July 13, 2021 / Story Structure

Writing a foil scene is all about contrast.

You see, when readers are presented with a scene they’ve “seen before,” they’re instantly transported to an earlier point in your novel. Everything that’s changed throughout your story becomes clearer than ever, and the journeys your characters have gone on rise to the forefront of your readers’ minds. This is the value of a foil scene, and it’s why they’re such an important tool to add to your writing arsenal.

Fortunately, from mirroring key settings to repeating important lines of dialog, there are many ways to create a powerful foil scene. So, in this article, let me introduce you to all the ways you can use foil scenes—as well as how to create a foil scene of your own!

4 Tricks for Raising the Stakes of Your Story

by Lewis / June 29, 2021 / Other, Story Structure

When writing a novel, conflict is the name of the game.

From driving your plot forward to creating moments of growth for your cast, your novel’s conflict will play a critical role in shaping your story. Even better, it’ll also encourage your readers to stick around, always wanting to know if your hero will survive their next challenge. However, conflict alone isn’t enough here—instead, you need a conflict with stakes.

These stakes create consequences for your novel, ensuring it’ll leave a lasting impact. The question is, how do you raise the stakes of your novel, even in the slower moments of your plot? Well, the key is to leverage a few simple storytelling tricks—so, from ticking time bombs to red herrings, let’s talk about four ways to raise the stakes of your story!