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Check Your Story Pulse

Be true to your story

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The Missing Ingredient: Why Your Characters' Motivation Matters More Than You Think

Flat characters often come down to one missing ingredient: motivation. Here's how you can bring them to life.
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Quiet Scenes and the Two Axes of Story

Quiet scenes aren’t filler, but a place where readers connect with your characters and your story moves from plot to heart.
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When Characters Go Off-Script (and Why You Should Let Them)

Discovery scenes are short, exploratory scenes you write to uncover your characters’ true motivations. Here's how to use them.
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Why ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ Isn’t the Whole Story

Struggling with ‘show, don’t tell’? Learn what it is, how to use it and why it matters.
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Three Tools For Resilience

Discover three powerful tools to build resilience, overcome impostor syndrome, and keep writing with confidence.
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Ways to Write a Novel

Ever wondered how to write a novel? Try out these three approaches.
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Writer's Toolkit #3: Podcasts for Writers

Here are my recommended podcasts for authors.
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How to Avoid Info Dumps

Info dumps can stifle your prose and take the reader out of the story. Here's how to tackle them.
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Don't Make These 5 Common Dialogue Mistakes

To craft great dialogue, avoid making these 5 common mistakes.
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Dialogue in Storytelling

Dialogue can make or break your story. Here's why it matters.
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