Stuck in the Middle With You: Story Structure in Act II

There's no denying that storytelling can get messy in the middle. The middle of a novel may sag or slump, prone to descriptions like soggy, mushy, murky, or muddy. These damp and sticky terms reflect an experience familiar to many a writer. The often arduous process of drafting a story's second act may feel a … Continue reading Stuck in the Middle With You: Story Structure in Act II

Don’t Let Craft Advice Silence Your Authorial Voice

The internet is full of craft advice for writers. Some of it is even good advice. All of it purports to make your writing better, more readable, more relatable, more salable. I’m not talking about grammar advice, like how to punctuate dialogue. That’s a mechanical skill. It’s mostly objective, at least within its specific context … Continue reading Don’t Let Craft Advice Silence Your Authorial Voice

Here Be Dragons: Outlining for Discovery Writers

If the prospect of outlining a new project make you want to run away to sea, you’re not alone. While some writers swear by extensive planning, others despise it. And some aspire to plan ahead, but find themselves uninspired by the process. The age-old split between plotters and pantsers may leave many in the latter … Continue reading Here Be Dragons: Outlining for Discovery Writers