Unpopular Writing Opinions: 15 Pieces of Advice Fiction Writers Don’t Have to Follow
What if some of the writing advice you’ve been following is actually holding you back? From “write every day” and “never use adverbs” to “show, don’t tell” and “always finish what you start,” plenty of famous rules have exceptions. Discover 15 pieces of advice fiction writers don’t have to follow—and learn how to decide which rules genuinely help your writing and which ones you can confidently ignore.
Keep readingHow to Write a Fictional Death That Actually Matters to the Story
Killing a character is easy. Making their death matter is much harder. A powerful fictional death should do more than shock your readers—it should change the people left behind, reshape relationships, alter the plot, and leave consequences that can’t simply be forgotten. From subtle foreshadowing to devastating aftermath, discover how to write character deaths that feel earned, emotionally powerful, and essential to your story.
Keep readingWriting Dark Fiction: How to Create a Disturbing Story Without Relying on Shock Value
A story doesn’t have to be bloody to be disturbing. Sometimes, the most unsettling moments are the quiet ones: a door that shouldn’t be open, a character who knows too much, or the growing certainty that something is terribly wrong. Learn how to create dread, psychological tension, vulnerability, and lingering unease—without relying on shock value.
Keep readingHow to Write a Time Jump Without Confusing Your Readers
Three years have passed. Your character has changed, relationships have shifted, and something happened during those missing years—but how much should your reader actually know? Time jumps can transform a story’s pacing and character development, but handled poorly, they can leave readers wondering if they accidentally skipped a chapter. Learn how to jump months or years ahead while keeping your timeline clear, your characters believable, and your readers completely hooked.
Keep readingThe Difference Between a Good Idea and a Great Story: What Writers Need to Add
You have the premise. The characters are vivid. You can already picture the dramatic scenes in your head—but when you sit down to write, you have no idea what happens next. Sound familiar? The problem may not be your idea. It may be what your idea is missing. Discover the essential ingredients that transform a promising concept into a story readers can’t put down—and learn how desire, conflict, stakes, consequences, and character change can turn “I have an idea…” into “I have a story.”
Keep readingHow to Write a Fictional Family That Feels Real: Love, Conflict, Secrets, and History
A believable fictional family is about more than names, ages, and a carefully organized family tree. What happens when the people who know each other best are also the ones who know exactly how to hurt each other? Learn how to build family dynamics filled with love, conflict, secrets, old wounds, shared memories, and complicated loyalties—and create relationships that feel as though they existed long before your story began.
Keep readingThe Weird Things Every Fiction Writer Does That Nobody Talks About
Do you ever argue with characters who don’t exist, rewrite conversations hours after they happen, or invent an entire backstory for a stranger you saw in a café? Maybe you’ve named a fictional kingdom while brushing your teeth or solved your plot’s biggest problem in the shower. If you’ve ever wondered whether your writer brain is just a little weird, you’re definitely not alone. Discover the wonderfully strange habits fiction writers share—and secretly love.
Keep readingHow to Write a Character With a Secret: Building Mystery Without Frustrating Your Readers
Your character has a secret. Your readers know they’re hiding something—but how do you keep them curious without making them frustrated? Learn how to plant clues, use dramatic irony, build reader theories, and reveal information at exactly the right moment. Whether you’re writing romance, mystery, fantasy, thriller, or drama, discover how to turn a character’s secret into one of the most compelling forces in your story.
Keep reading30 Story Ideas for Fiction Writers Who Are Tired of the Same Old Plots
Tired of staring at your blank document and feeling like you’ve already written every story imaginable? From a town that forgets one person every year to a villain who might actually be protecting the world, these 30 story ideas come with twists, complications, and plenty of room to make them your own. Whether you write romance, fantasy, mystery, horror, sci-fi, or something completely different, your next unforgettable plot might be hiding here.
Keep readingHow to Write a Chapter That Has a Purpose: The Complete Fiction Writer’s Guide
Ever finished a chapter and wondered, “Did anything actually happen?” You’re not alone. Filler chapters can quietly drain tension, slow your pacing, and give readers a reason to stop turning pages. The good news? Every chapter can have a purpose—even the quiet ones. Discover how to give your chapters clear goals, meaningful conflict, emotional movement, powerful revelations, and endings that make readers desperate to continue.
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