Writing a story can feel like navigating a labyrinth. Many writers face the daunting choice of whether to outline their plot or dive in without a plan. This decision often leads to confusion, as countless approaches exist, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Over the years, I’ve seen writers wrestle with this […]
Writing is a journey, and every writer has their unique way of navigating it. Some embrace the thrill of the blank page, discovering their story as they go. These are the pantsers. Others prefer a structured approach, meticulously outlining every twist before they even begin. These are the plotters. Then, there are those who blend […]
I was in a coffee shop in Portland, staring at a 120,000-word manuscript. It was a mess. Every chapter was too long. Every character was the same. I’d written for eight months. A stranger, a retired editor from Penguin Random House, saw my screen. She said, “Your story needs less stuff.” She was right. I […]
I once spent six months building a fantasy world for a short story. I drew maps and invented languages. But when I started writing, I realized I didn’t need any of it. The story was just about two people arguing at a kitchen table. This taught me a lot about storytelling. A short story is […]
