Let’s be honest, writing villains is fun. There’s something about tapping into your inner chaos goblin and giving your character permission to lie, manipulate, or light the world on fire that just hits different. But great villains? They don’t come from monologuing about world domination. They come from something deeper and personal. So, if you’ve ever struggled to make … Read more
Ever watched Finding Nemo and thought, “Why does this story just work so well?” That’s because it’s built on a simple yet powerful storytelling framework out there – the story spine. And it might be just what you need to save your story (and your sanity). So, stick around, and I’ll walk you through how to use The Story Spine … Read more
Paraphrasing. How hard could it be? Just rearrange around some words, use synonyms, and boom, you have something that is ‘original.’ If that’s what you believe about how paraphrasing works, you have to sit down for this—everything you know about paraphrasing is wrong. Real paraphrasing is more than scouring the thesaurus for formal alternatives to the word … Read more
Already built a solid main plot for your story? How about the B plot? If your side characters feel flat or your pacing drops halfway through, it’s probably because your B plot isn’t pulling its weight. But here’s the good news: fixing it doesn’t mean rewriting your whole story. You just need to give that B story some … Read more
Most writers think a good hook needs to be clever or profound. Wrong. You’re still reading because I just challenged what you believed about hooks – and that’s exactly how ‘misconception hooks’ grab attention, by the way. The truth is, crafting hooks that capture attention isn’t about being Shakespeare; it’s about understanding what makes readers tick. … Read more
You’ve got deadlines, a stack of research papers, and way too many tabs open. Sound familiar? It’s time to pass some of that burden to ChatGPT and give your eyes (and brain) a much-needed break! But what research burdens can ChatGPT do for you, and will it retain academic integrity? You’ll soon find out: Summarize Academic Papers Picture this: You’ve … Read more
We’ve all stared at a blank page wondering where to start, right? But it doesn’t have to be like this. So, if you’ve ever spent more time planning your article than writing it, you’re not alone. And ChatGPT will be the answer to help turn your scattered thoughts into neat templates. That means writing becomes … Read more
Mindmaps, complex frameworks, and expensive writing seminars. We often search high and low for the next big thing in brainstorming. But the truth is, you mastered the most powerful brainstorming tool in kindergarten: the alphabet. What Is the ABC Brainstorm Strategy? The premise of the ABC brainstorm strategy is fairly simple: So, why do many people swear by … Read more
Let’s be real: Padding your writing with ‘fluff’ – empty words that don’t add real value – isn’t the best way to make paragraphs longer. So, if you need to hit a word count requirement and actually want to add clarity, detail, or depth, check out these six techniques instead. Have a Different Perspective or … Read more
Struggling to explain complex concepts clearly? The SEE-I method can be your secret weapon—hopefully before your editor, teacher, or critique partner starts chasing you for that draft! SEE-I is short for State, Elaborate, Exemplify, and Illustrate. But let’s be real—just knowing the letters S-E-E-I doesn’t magically make you a better writer, nor does simply asking … Read more
