I Hate You, I Want You, Please Text Me Back
A few days ago, I wrote my first Quibble blog post. Somehow, I’m already on my third. There’s a lot going on here, and I’m grateful for the steady supply of distractions. This time, I’ve been thinking about how to write romance characters, because the genre runs on one particularly entertaining fuel: contradiction. In my […]
What Makes a Character Worth Following?
It’s Claire again. The Quibble team liked my first article, so they’ve decided to let me loose on another one.
Why the Best Magic Comes with Strings Attached
Magic systems in fantasy have a funny habit of exposing lazy storytelling.
The Great Publishing Reinvention: Long Live the Story
Not the death of traditional publishing or old school writing, but a fundamental change in how stories are created, distributed, discovered, celebrated, judged and monetized.
Nobody Talks Like That. But They Could.
I’ve found myself paying particular attention to dialogue in recently published stories. Here’s what I observed.
A Short Story Has No Room to Get Lost
I’ve been reading submissions to our first short story writing contest, Creepertober, and it’s got me thinking about short story structure: where things tend to go wrong and what writers can do to make every word count.
If You Can Shuffle Your Scenes, You Don’t Have a Plot
A sequence of events isn’t actually a plot. Your protagonist can cross three kingdoms, fight a dragon, uncover an ancient prophecy, and endure dinner with their future in-laws. And yet, somehow, nothing happens. Well, things happen. That’s the problem.
Quibble Partners With Jericho Writers
Quibble has partnered with Jericho Writers, an online writing school, editorial company and community that helps authors sharpen their craft and strengthen their manuscripts.
Halloween Writing Contest 2026
Creepertober 2026 is Quibble’s first-ever flash fiction writing event. Low stakes, small piece, maybe an hour of writing inspiration.
How to Get Great Art Without Losing Your Mind
I remember commissioning a cover artist myself years ago. In my case, it was thankfully a smooth experience. But that isn’t always how it goes.
Visual Storytelling: How to Use Art to Pace the Story
When should I reveal this? Should readers see a character portrait when the character first appears? Should a map be available from the beginning?
Update on the New Author Monetization System
We know there’s a whole can of worms to unpack. We’ll get into the weeds when we’re ready to let the cat out of the bag. Really soon.
Fantasy Character Art: More Than Pointy Ears
Fantasy character art gives authors an unusual amount of room to play with. That is the real opportunity for fantasy authors. An opportunity vital for distinctiveness in an AI-democratized era.
Okay, Now Show Us Your Characters
Fantasy authors have obvious opportunities: warriors, mages, creatures, kingdoms, elaborate costumes and enough swords to make a medieval insurance company nervous. But character art isn’t a fantasy-only thing.
Hiring an Artist for a Book: Think Beyond the Cover
Think about the books you remember most vividly. Sometimes you can picture a character before you can remember the exact plot. Working with an artist beyond just a cover will help your book stand out.
Why Is No One Reading Your Story?
There’s a bigger shift happening underneath the question. The number of people who can create stories has increased dramatically. The amount of time people have to read them hasn’t.
Your Book Could Outgrow Your Cover
For a while now, we’ve been talking about Quibble Next. Our Discord members have heard the name thrown around and wondered what we’ve actually been working on. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain. What is world-building? If you write fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, LitRPG, dark fantasy, speculative fiction – or pretty much any kind of fiction […]
The Famous Little Bell is Here!
You know what’s been missing from Quibble? A little ding!
AI Changed Writing. How Do You Win?
AI is making parts of fiction production faster and more accessible. How do you make money from writing as an indie author in the age of AI?
Quibble Partners with Book Cover Hub
As more fiction gets published every year, authors have to work harder to earn a reader’s attention before they even get to page one.