Many writers harbor the dream of one day learning how to turn their book into a screenplay. The pinnacle of success many writers aspire to is becoming bestselling authors or, as you can imagine, seeing their characters come to life on the big screen. With numerous screenwriters adapting books for th...

People have always told and will continue to tell stories. In the oral tradition of storytelling, urban legends have developed, evolved, and spread for a longer period than we can trace. Sometimes they are silly, sometimes downright terrifying! From swamp monsters to characters from creepypasta, urb...

In the vast landscape of narrative writing, novels and stories are woven with a diverse range of techniques, methodologies, and elements that interact in an intricate game. Many of these elements come naturally, but others need to be learned and tweaked to tell the story we want to convey. The stake...

Many writers ask themselves: What does finding one's voice as a writer imply? In essence, 'voice' in the artistic realm is simply the reason that drives us to practice our art, regardless of what it may be. It's our unique view of the world, whether it's reflected in portraying a character, the way ...

The psychological thriller genre has long been highly appreciated by the audience and continues to thrive today. Readers love the mix of suspense, psychology, and unsettling revelations that characterize it, making it a highly appealing genre for authors seeking an eager audience. However, to captur...

Readers often don't fully grasp the rhythm of writing, but they certainly evaluate a book based on this element. This is why, even if the technical term may escape most readers, we often hear a book described as "fast," "slow," "boring," or "overloaded with information." These terms, which actually ...

Readers are eager to root for the characters. When they manage to identify with a character after sharing thousands of words with them, their engagement with the book strengthens. But to achieve this effect, it is crucial that the characters are not devoid of weaknesses. Many novice writers make the...

Writing a great work of fiction goes beyond simply creating compelling characters and intricate plots; it requires the writer to pay considerable attention to the setting of their story. The setting itself can have a significant impact on the narrative, often influencing it as much as the characters...

From Darth Vader to Count Dracula, some of the best novels and films feature unforgettable villains. Villains help define your story's hero, drive conflict, and capture the reader's attention. For this reason, in your story, villains are as important as the heroes. Opposing the hero is the villain. ...

Journalistic writing has a clear purpose: to capture the attention of readers on a website, a television channel, or in print. This allows media owners to generate revenue, largely from advertising sales. Historically, newspapers did not make most of their profits from selling copies, but rather fro...

The future is a crucial component of grammar because it allows us to express actions and events that have yet to occur. Whether you are an aspiring writer, a student eager to enhance your language skills, or simply someone looking to refine your communication abilities, understanding and effectively...

In the captivating world of detective fiction, authors embark on a fascinating journey to create stories filled with deception, mystery, and relentless tension. Writing a great detective story is an art that demands meticulous attention to detail, skillful character development, and mastery of the i...

In my last post about Chekhov's gun I mentioned the MacGuffin or McGuffin, a plot device of which one of the most famous examples is "The Maltese Falcon". Tonight we find out together what it is. Definition of a MacGuffin Webster defines a MacGuffin as "an object, event, or character in a movie or s...

When I first heard the term " Chekhov's gun" I admit it I assumed it was a Russian firearm, only to find out later that I was completely off track. Chekhov's pistol is actually a double-edged sword (pun intended). Before explaining, let's define this principle of writing a little better. What is Che...

Expository writing is defined as a style that aims to clarify something, explaining and expounding a topic to give clarity and context. This makes sense when you understand that the word expository comes from expose. In this article, we'll dive into the world of expository writing to unravel the ess...

Nothing can ruin a book faster than bad dialogue. Dialogue, when well written, reveals character, makes sense of place, builds tension, excites, and moves the plot forward. In a previous article I shared with you some tips to be able to write better dialogues, today I want to talk to you about the m...

Today's world is obsessed with crime. Whether it's the latest crime everyone's talking about or a crime novel that has become a bestseller, there's no denying its immense popularity. I myself, despite being an omnivorous reader and spectator, do not hide my great passion for mysteries, crime and noi...

Chances are you've already written one but you probably don't know how to write an interior monologue in a focused way. Many authors abuse these internal reflections (also called "introspections"), thinking they provide adequate character development when in fact, they are simply telling the reader ...

Learning to write dialogue can be very difficult. For years I have struggled deeply with the dialogue in my stories. I thought writing conversations that felt real and true to the characters wasn't my strong suit. I let this belief dissuade me from striving to improve. I was wrong. Stories absolutel...

Creating tension in a story can be tricky. Have you ever received feedback that a scene is boring or should be cut, but you know it's crucial to the overall plot development? What do you do at this point? You probably need a little help building tension, taking the scene from good to great. In this ...