Helping Writers Become Authors

 Learn the four basic types of setting as a way to help you choose story settings that create meaningful connections among characters.

Delve into the alchemy of character arc. Explore the parallels between alchemy, Jungian analysis, and story structure.

Master the art of introducing your characters in your first chapter. Learn to hook readers and lay the foundation for character development.

Discover the power of shadow archetypes in character development. Join the Shadow Archetypes course to write stories of depth and complexity.

Learn the art of writing deeply emotional fiction. Discover six tools to infuse stories with emotional resonance that lingers for readers.

Learn how to use antagonists to create unforgettable plots. Strengthen narratives and build your characters' journey with this skill.

Use this essential guide to backstory to share the history of your characters and story world with your audience at just the right moments.

Learn how to regain a sense of creative fulfillment in the business of writing and get tips for managing the pressures of marketing fiction.

Five reasons marketing is hard for writers and how to flip your mindset to embrace marketing and business as tremendous opportunities.

Writing multiple plotlines in your fiction doesn't have to be hard. Learn to navigate the intricacies while balancing the pros and cons.

Turns out my personal experiences this year perfectly represent what I want to say about the importance of Flat Arcs in character development.

Before we say goodbye to the old year, let's take a look at what were, according to your pageviews, my top 10 writing posts of 2023.

Check out some of my favorite books from 2023 in three categories: Fiction, Writing How-To, and General Non-Fiction.

Knowing how to market a book starts with identifying your personal marketing ethos. After that, take these six steps to connect with readers.

Time management for writers starts with practical steps for aligning your daily schedule to your vision for your writing life.

To create fiction that offers life-changing hope, authors must be willing to also embrace the power of despair in fiction. Here are 5 tips.

Consider the following four approaches to how to use archetypes in a series so you can determine which feels most resonant for your story.

Whether you're using a guided approach or just freewheeling, here are five ideas for how meditation can inspire your next story idea.

Based on six transformational character arcs, these Archetypal Character Guided Meditations will help writers brainstorm even better stories.

Here are four tips for how to use antagonistic proxies to your advantage, depending on your story's needs, without complicating your story.

An overview of the main concerns when deciding where to start plotting a story, depending on where it makes the most sense for you.

One of the best tricks for writing memorable character relationships is to think of each relationship as an entity of its own. Here's how.

What happens when you lose the joy? Learn how to rediscover the joy of writing you experienced way back at the beginning of your journey,

Learning how to identify plot devices and fully support them on every page of your story is a huge step toward writing cohesive and resonant fiction.

Six tips for how to write interesting happy scenes that will become some of your readers favorite moments in the story.

Understanding some of the main types of scenes can help you recognize which choice is right for your story at any particular moment.

Understanding what your character fears can offer significant insights into your story and its underlying themes.

Learn how the Lie the Character Believes is a gauge of the character's relationship with reality--and how to use it to upgrade character arcs.

Writers can find value and nuance by digging deeper into the functionality of these four terms in answering: "What does your character want?"

All four terms--Ghost vs. wound vs. Lie vs. weakness--refer to a pain point for your character. Here's how to understand the nuances.  

Join me for a peek into my daily routine as a full-time writer!

How to transform imposter syndrome for writers from an enemy into a tool for growing yourself throughout the journey of the writing life.

Here are five places in your story where you can use your character's shadows to create amazing complexity and thematic resonance.

"Shadow theory" is one of the most intuitive tools a writer can use to identify the contrasting elements that create complex characters.

Four reasons why the dismissive statement "it's just a story" is not only erroneous, but one of humanity's most the dangerous lies.

Step-by-step guide to finding the right book cover designer, preparing for the design process, and achieving an effective collaboration.

Discover the versatile and effective technique of the backstory drip by learning four techniques for revealing backstory in your story.

Backstory techniques are crucial to the success of any story. Backstory-as-story and alternating timelines are two possible approaches.

Learn how to use four specific backstory techniques to share character histories with your audience, starting with prologues and flashbacks.

When "good writing" strikes its steel upon the flint of archetypes, there is a sudden unity of truth between author and reader.

Learn how organic themes arise from plot (and vice versa) and specifically how to recognize five important elements of an organic theme.

Learning how to write literary fiction can be helpful not only in writing the genre itself, but in raising the vibration on any type of story.

Learning how to write mystery stories involves the most impressive trick of all: outsmarting readers while still playing fair with the clues.

Learning how to write historical fiction requires the skills to a well-drawn story, with the added responsibility of evoking times gone by.

Learning how to write romance requires both strong technique and the courage to write vulnerably about this integral part of life.

Fantasy combines imagination and innovation with deep roots in archetype and myth. Here are five tips for how to write fantasy.

Making a return to writing after a long time away can feel overwhelming or even bewildering. Here are five tips to set you up for success.

If you currently feel your story isn't working, double-check you've ticked these six important boxes in writing a cohesive story that works.

Long-term writer's block can be scary and confusing. Here are six important lessons to help you through the experience.

I share with you 5 gifts from a year of healing, in hopes you may also find them healing or inspiring in your own journey into the New Year.