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.
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.
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.
6 Self-Sabotaging Mistakes First-Time Serial Authors Make
When I first started looking into web fiction, I assumed that if you had a good story, readers would just magically show up. Boy, was I wrong.
Jazz, Cats, and Hypnosis: The Murakami Method
If you’ve ever picked up a Haruki Murakami novel, you know the feeling immediately. His stories have a dreamlike, youthful energy. Why?
My Readers Dropped Off Again
Learn how to master setup and payoff to deliver satisfying endings and brilliant plot twists.
Why Your Plot Felt Like Homework – Pacing Fixes
Is your novel dragging or moving too fast? Learn how to master story pacing and fix boring, slow, or rushed plots with these actionable tips.
Ruin Your Reader’s Sleep Schedule
Want to keep readers up all night? Learn how to write cliffhangers that force page-turns without frustrating your audience.
They Hate Each Other. Now Make Them Kiss.
I will be talking about gay hockey players in this one, so, ahem, buckle up…