Writing Tips
I run an award-winning writing tip blog at SeptemberCFawkes.com. I also serve as a writing coach on WritersHelpingWriters.net (home of the Emotion Thesaurus).
Below is an archive of sorts of my writing tips, organized by topic, along with a couple articles I refer writers to.
Backstory
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)
Beginning
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
Coming up with a Good First Sentence
How to Start Writing When You Have No Idea Where to Start
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Never Open with Introspection."
Save the Cat! Explained: The Beginning
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Beginning
7 Point Story Structure Explained in 5 Minutes
Using Character Arc to Create Story
Scene Structure According to Swain
Believability
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Brainstorming
The REAL Key to Brainstorming: Restrictions
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
Utilizing the 3 Types of Death
Stacking Your Brainstorming Ideas
Coming up with a Plot (from scratch)
How to Come up with Great Titles
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Brainstorm Your Antagonist's Plotline Earlier
How to Add Dimension to Your Story's Theme
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
Obligatory Scenes and Conventions
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
Using Character Arc to Create Story
The 8 Types of Conflict (with Examples, Possible Resolutions, and Stakes)
How to Actually use a Story Structure
Scene Structure According to Swain
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Breaking Writing Rules
Learn the Rules so You Can Break Them, Explained
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Show, don't Tell"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use 'Was'"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only Use 'Said'"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Write What You Know"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Never Open with Introspection."
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Write Direct Dialogue"
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Characters
Using Character Arc to Create Story
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
Character's Want vs Need (Explained 4 Different Ways)
Complex Characters and the Power of Contradiction
Dramatica's Character Archetypes
Writing the Influence Character
Making Unlikeable People into Likeable Characters
Getting Passive Protagonists to Act
Character Traits that Hike Up Tension
Creating Stunning Side Characters (and Why They Matter)
Relationship as a Character: Crafting Duos, Trios, Groups that Readers can't Resist
Pairing Behaviors with Odd Demeanors for Originality
Making Characters Stuck in the Background Pop Out
Flat Characters vs. Round Characters (Definitions, Differences, Purposes, and Examples)
Debunking 6 Myths about Steadfast, Flat-arc Characters
Principles of the Steadfast, Flat-arc Protagonist
3 Categories of Steadfast, Flat-arc Characters
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Beginning
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Middle
The Steadfast, Flat-arc Protagonist in Story: The End
"The Emotional Range of a Teaspoon": Your Characters' Spectrum of Emotions
Considering the Irrationality of Your Characters
How to Pick the Right Character Names
Fixing the Mary Sue Character in Your Story
Making Characters Stuck in the Background Pop Out
The "Twins as Clones" Writing Epidemic
Writing Extreme Characteristics
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Never Confuse Characterization for Character
What You Need to Know Most About Character Voice
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
10 Methods to Make Your Characters Likeable
How to Write Excellent Introspection
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Crafting a Body Language Voice
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
3 Redemptive Character Types
8 Archetypes of The Hero's Journey
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Cliffhangers
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Conflict
The 8 Types of Conflict (with Examples, Possible Resolutions, and Stakes)
Coming up with a Plot (from scratch)
Are Your Conflicts Significant?
The Struggle is Real: Make Your Protagonist Suffer for Success!
Character's Want vs Need (Explained 4 Different Ways)
The Oft Forgotten Conflict and How to Make it Work: Man Vs. God
Utilizing the 3 Types of Death
Picking the Right Pain for Your Protagonist
Scene Structure According to Swain
Context
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
Context vs. Subtext (Context Should Not Become Subtext)
Making Strengths into Weaknesses (and Vice Versa) through Context
Description
Three Tweaks that Keep Details Interesting
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
Purple Prose: What it is, How it Works, How to get Rid of it
When and How to Weaken a Passage
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Dialogue
5 Most Common Mistakes with Dialogue
Writing Realistic and Complex Dialogue
Kicking "Great" Dialogue up to "Killer" Dialogue
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only Use 'Said'"
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Write Direct Dialogue"
(Don't) Tell Me How You Really Feel
When to Use Single Quotation Marks in Fiction
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Discovery Writing
Discovery Writing: 2 Tripwires and a Pitfall
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
Editing
6 Things I've Learned as a Professional Editor
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
How I Write an Editorial or Critique Letter
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
7 Tricks to Refresh a Scene You've Edited 68345.27 Times
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Breaking Writing Rules: "Never Edit During Your First Draft"
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
How to Actually use a Story Structure
Emotion
Writing Empathetically vs. Sympathetically and Sentimentally
Raw vs. Subdued Emotions: Getting them Right in Your Story
"The Emotional Range of a Teaspoon": Your Characters' Spectrum of Emotions
Gaining Incredible Emotional Power by Crossing Opposites
Choosing Relatable Descriptions to Power up Empathy
Selecting the Right Sentence Structure for the Right Emotion
Dealing with Melodrama: What it is, How it Works, and How to Get Rid of it
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Ending
How to Write Exceptional Endings
Story Structure Explained: Climax, Denouement, Epilogues, and Endings
The Hero's Journey Explained: The End
5 Keys to a Satisfying Denouement
Save the Cat! Explained: The End
7 Point Story Structure Explained in 5 Minutes
The Steadfast, Flat-arc Protagonist in Story: The End
Using Character Arc to Create Story
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Epilogue
Story Structure Explained: Climax, Denouement, Epilogues, and Endings
Feedback
The Real Reason You NEED to Give Positive Feedback!
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
Flashbacks
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Flashbacks"
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
Foils
Grammar and Punctuation
Dangling Modifiers and How to Correct Them (Purdue OWL)
How to Use an Ellipsis Properly
How to Use a Dash—in Fiction Writing
When to Use Single Quotation Marks in Fiction
The Easiest Explanation of Semicolons ;)
How to Use a Dash—in Fiction Writing
Hooks
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Reeling Readers in via Curiosity
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Surprising Your Readers in Every Scene
Scene Structure According to Swain
Humor
Guardians of the Galaxy and the Art of Constructing Jokes (Film Cit Hulk Smash)
Info-Dump
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)
Lifestyle
How to Write When You Don't Have Time
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
6 Skills Fiction Writing Will Give You
Accepting that You'll Disappoint Readers
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
How Seriously Should You Take Writing?
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
Micro-Concepts
Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Mastering Midpoints (The Saviors of Saggy Story Middles)
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Middle
Utilizing the 3 Types of Death
Save the Cat! Explained: The Middle
7 Point Story Structure Explained in 5 Minutes
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Middle
Using Character Arc to Create Story
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Mystery
The Mechanics of Rendering Mysteries and Undercurrents—How to Withhold Info Right
The Secret of a Successful Mystery: Making the Reader a Participator
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Originality
"Everything Has Already Been Done Before"—Has it Really?
Obligatory Scenes and Conventions
Outlining
What to Outline When Starting a Story
How to Outline When Starting a Story
On-Page or Off-Page? Discerning Significant Scenes
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Discovery Writing and Outline Writing—Kinda the Same Thing Actually
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
How to Actually use a Story Structure
Pacing
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Surprising Your Readers in Every Scene
Scene Structure According to Swain
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Plot and Structure
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
"No, and" vs. "Yes, but": Consequences and Tension
Utilizing the 3 Types of Death
Using Character Arc to Create Story
Understanding the Mirror Moment
What to Outline When Starting a Story
Coming up with a Plot (from scratch)
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Story Structure Explained: Climax, Denouement, Epilogues, and Endings
Obligatory Scenes and Conventions
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Beginning
The Hero's Journey Explained: The Middle
The Hero's Journey Explained: The End
Positive and Negative Scene Values
Save the Cat! Explained: The Beginning
Save the Cat! Explained: The Middle
Save the Cat! Explained: The End
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
7 Point Story Structure Explained in 5 Minutes
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Beginning
The Steadfast, Flat-Arc Protagonist in Story: The Middle
The Steadfast, Flat-arc Protagonist in Story: The End
How Each of the 5 Major Plot Points Turns a Story
The 8 Types of Conflict (with Examples, Possible Resolutions, and Stakes)
How to Actually use a Story Structure
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Scene Structure According to Swain
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Point of View
Pros and Cons and Types of Third Person
Pros and Cons of First Person, How to Deflate the Cons
Picking the Right Viewpoint Character for Your Scene
The Technicalities of Writing Thoughts
How to Write Excellent Introspection
How Plotlines Complete the Audience's Viewpoint
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Never Open with Introspection."
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
Publishing
Traditional Publishing: Short Stories and Poetry
Traditional Publishing: What it is, How it Works, and How to Do it
Self-Publishing: What it is, Who it's For, And How it Works
How to Stand Out in the Slush Pile 101
Prologue
How Prologues Actually Function & 6 Types
Story Structure Explained: Prologues, Hooks, Setups, Inciting Incidents
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
Profanity
Reader's Experience
Deviating the Reader's Experience from the Character's
Hiding What the Main Character Knows from the Reader
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability
How to Dump Info without Info-Dumping (Shallee McArthur)
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
Validating the Reader's Concerns
Working with a Large Cast of Characters
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
Annoyance vs. Resonance--One Small Difference
Making Your Manuscript Reader-friendly
100+ Questions to Help Evaluate Your Manuscript
How Plotlines Complete the Audience's Viewpoint
Surprising Your Readers in Every Scene
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
How Stakes Set up Expectations
Relationships
Writing Relationships Readers Can't Resist: Crafting Duos, Trios, Groups
How to Convey an Established Relationship Quickly
Writing the Influence Character
Setting
5 Most Common Mistakes with Setting
Maximizing or Minimizing Your Setting
Appealing to Wonder Powerfully in the Modern Age
Common Mistakes When Working with Light Sources
Sequels
The Most Important Part of Sequels and Retellings
Scenes
Scene vs. Summary & When to Use Which
Scene Structure According to Swain
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Starting a Scene: Two Important Questions
4 Key Elements of Scene Openings
On-Page or Off-Page? Discerning Significant Scenes
Creating Mini Character Arcs Within a Scene
The Story Shape that Permeates Just About Everything
2 Tricks for Scene Transitions
Obligatory Scenes and Conventions
Positive and Negative Scene Values
Surprising Your Readers in Every Scene
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Shock/Dark Content
Why We Need Stories about Dark Things
Writing What's Evil >:D (without Promoting it)
Showing
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Show, don't Tell"
Short Stories (specifically)
Tips on Writing a Great Short Story
Traditional Publishing: Short Stories and Poetry
Stakes
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
How Stakes Set up Expectations
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles
Story Structure Explained: Pinch Points, Midpoints, Plot Points, and Middles, con't
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
Utilizing the 3 Types of Death
Getting Passive Protagonists to Act
The 8 Types of Conflict (with Examples, Possible Resolutions, and Stakes)
Style
Purple Prose: What it is, How it Works, How to get Rid of it
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Adverbs, Adjectives"
Structuring Events in the Correct Sequence
Please Don't Write this Sentence in Your Opening
Boom! Bang! Pow! Using Onomatopoeias Well
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Passive Voice"
How to Write Excellent Introspection
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Don't Use Filter Words"
How to Use the Thesaurus Properly
How Often Should I "Refresh" a Pronoun?
When and How to Weaken a Passage
When Descriptions Turn Boring . . . (And How to Fix Them)
Scene vs. Summary & When to Use Which
Annoyance vs. Resonance--One Small Difference
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Subtext
How to Write What's Not Written (Subtext)
Context vs. Subtext (Context Should Not Become Subtext)
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
Summary
Scene vs. Summary & When to Use Which
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Sequel Structure According to Swain
Surprise
Surprise vs. Suspense--Which is Better?
Surprising Your Readers in Every Scene
Suspense
Surprise vs. Suspense--Which is Better?
The Backbone of Cliffhangers & 4 Types
Symbolism & Motifs
Mastering Motifs for Thematic Power
Teasers
How "In Medias Res" Actually Works (& When to Use It)
Telling
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Show, don't Tell"
Scene vs. Summary & When to Use Which
Temptations
Tension
Tension vs. Conflict (Hint: They aren't the Same Thing)
Look Forward, Not Backward, to Pull the Reader In
How to Write Stakes in Storytelling
Accidentally Undercutting Tension (and How to Stop)
"No, and" vs. "Yes, but": Consequences and Tension
Text
Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help With Storytelling
The 5 Types of Lines We Use to Craft Stories (and How to Use Them to Reveal Character)
Theme
How to Write Your Story's Theme
Implementing Theme into Your Story
How Theme and False Theme Affect Your Protagonist (Amanda Rawson Hill)
How Theme is Your Story's Shadow
How to Add Dimension to Your Story's Theme
Understanding the Thematic Pendulum
Mastering Motifs for Thematic Power
Character's Want vs Need (Explained 4 Different Ways)
Giving Your Protagonist a Ghost (or Wound)
2 Types of Truth in Fiction: Do You Know Which One You are Telling?
Why We Need Stories about Dark Things
How to Focus a Novel: 3 Key Things
Variations on Story Structure: A List
Titles
How to Come up with Great Titles
Tone
Exactly How to Create and Control Tone
Undercurrents
The Mechanics of Rendering Mysteries and Undercurrents—How to Withhold Info Right
Crafting a Killer Undercurrent for Your Story
Please Don't Write this Sentence in Your Opening
Undercurrent vs. Subtext vs. Theme
Vague Writing
Vague Vs. Ambiguous: Which are You Writing?
Voice
What You Need to Know Most About Character Voice
Dos and Don'ts for Writing Your Viewpoint Character's Voice
Crafting a Body Language Voice
Well-being
6 Skills Fiction Writing Will Give You
Accepting that You'll Disappoint Readers
To the Unpublished Writer: You're Doing Okay.
What Does it Mean to Be Gifted?
Why Some People Don't Support Your Writing Goals
How to Deal with People Who Don't Support Your Writing
How Seriously Should You Take Writing
Help! I'm Stuck on a Story and I Can't Move on!
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle
Lessons on Failure: Kingdom of the Sun
Exactly Why Failure is Key to Exceptional Success
What to Do When You Want to Quit Writing
Worldbuilding
Creating Fictional Species and Societies
Tips on Creating Your Own Fantastic Beasts
Sanderson's 3 Laws of Magic Systems
Writing (Magical) Items: Weapons, Attire, Potions,Tools, Steeds
Appealing to Wonder Powerfully in the Modern Age
Breaking Writing Rules Right: "Only One Impossibility"
Creating Fictional Languages (Conlangs)
Worldbuilding: Cause & Effect > Explanations
Writer's Block
Why We Get Writer's Block (and How to Overcome it)
How to Start Writing When You Have No Idea Where to Start
What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
Dealing with Dumb Ideas--Placeholders, Building Blocks, and Portrayals
Writer's Block with Depression and Anxiety
Why Story = Cause and Effect (and How to Utilize that)
"No, and" vs. "Yes, but": Consequences and Tension
Young Writers
Tips for Young, Aspiring Authors
Writing Advice for Middle-School Writers
