Princess of Mars protagonist John Carter

How to Write Protagonists

If your protagonist sucks, your story will suck. The engine that drives every story has three parts: a protagonist, something the protagonist wants, and an antagonist (human, environmental, psychological, etc.) who obstructs the protagonist's attainment of that goal. When you relate what the protagonist does to overcome the obstacles in his…
August 29, 20232 Comments
Zero Wing

Make Your Time

For new writers, the challenge of finding a dedicated time to write amid the demands of everyday life can feel like navigating a maze. We all know the exhilaration of having a story to tell or an idea to convey, yet the modern world piles on commitments that seem to…
August 22, 20232 Comments
World Building

The Builder of Worlds

World-building is the element that sets the sci-fi and fantasy subsets of adventure fiction apart from other genres. If you're a budding SFF author, it's am indispensable craft. And mastering it requires finesse and ingenuity. Yet it's not as daunting as some new writers fear. Today, let's explore the intricate…
August 10, 20236 Comments
How to Find and Keep Readers

How to Find and Keep Readers

The publishing market is always changing, and newpub is no exception. The challenge of attracting and retaining readers can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. Aspiring writers often ask me for advice on building a devoted readership. Let's take a look at some proven methods. Write like you mean it…
July 18, 20232 Comments
Word Economy

Economies of Words

In my years of writing and editing experience, I've noticed that new writers tend to let their ideas flow like an untamed river. They get the release of seeing their thoughts realized on the page, but they risk inundating readers with words - some of which are the story while…
July 10, 20235 Comments
Where to Put Chapter Breaks

Where to Put Chapter Breaks

There's no shortage of advice for indie authors these days. If you're thinking of self-publishing a book, there are scores of professionals who stand ready to offer you tips on everything from cover design to pricing to social media advertising. This abundance of free expertise isn't just limited to marketing…
June 30, 20237 Comments
Testing Witch

How to Test Witches

Because the Witch Test is a precision instrument that must be deployed along exacting parameters for maximum effectiveness on subjects and safety for users, here's a helpful refresher. Christianity is a necessary pillar of Western civilization. Not only do the Church's teachings inform our cultural and legal traditions, she has…
June 7, 20234 Comments
Secrets of Seven Point Plot Structure

Secrets of Seven Point Plot Structure

We all know fledgling writers who've spent months or even years engaged in meticulous world building. But when it comes time to tell a story in their lush secondary worlds, the plot spins its wheels. How can a writer have planned every detail of his fantasy world down to the…
June 6, 20234 Comments

How to Master Perspective and Tense

If you've taken up the challenge of writing fiction, two essential steps toward achieving your goal are understanding narrative point of view and narrative tense. Too many new authors either don’t understand these powerful authorial tools, or they don’t use them to maximum effect. So today, we'll explore point of…
May 30, 20234 Comments
Genre Fiction

The Power of Genre

If you’re a new author reading this post, and you’re not out to become a self-help guru, odds are you’re interested in writing genre fiction. Let’s talk about how to approach writing fantasy, horror, mystery, and sci fi. First, it’s important to understand that genres aren’t just labels. They are…
May 22, 20231 Comment