Search results

I ended up discussing flat character arcs this week, which led me down a hole I wasn't expecting. If you have any questions, comments, or whatever, well, it's here. I have been using this more when not doing positive arcs. In fact, I put this into practice in the opening chapter of my new...

The first chapter of my second novel is now out! So for those who want to give it a chance, you can now. And if you don't have time to read, you can listen to the audiobook. For those wondering what this is, it's a mystery/thriller story. Read the chapter! And for those who'd like to listen...

Here's my process for creating the foundation for making stories. It's my way of trying to help those getting started or maybe dealing with writer's block. If you're interested in taking the framework I use, here you go. Adopt the whole thing, aspects of it, ditch it, do whatever since it's your...

I got asked about mystery writing again, so... Here we go. It's a simpler lesson that's great foundational work. It's something I practice quite a bit. ...Also, I WISH I REMEMBERED AN EXAMPLE FOR THIS VIDEO BEFORE THIS MORNING! GAH! Oh well... Anyway, hope it helps, ask questions if needed, etc.

So, I'm going to be trying a little something on my YouTube channel that I wish to announce here... As I say in the video, this is my way of being what I'd want to watch and providing even more value beyond the Sunday videos I create. So, for any interested in seeing how this plays out, you...

I got asked to make a video that focuses more on how genre can impact showing & telling this week, so...I did. @DarkDuck09, I address a question you once asked in this a bit more with how to world build without info dumping. Full disclosure, I have no clue what book planted the realization...

It's Sunday. You know what that means. I even got to show what I meant on an old question I was asked by @owotrucked regarding how to do something in prose that they wished to replicate from manga. As I maintain, knowledge of craft can increase one's ability to express what they want to...

It's Sunday. You know what that means. This has been one of the most helpful realizations as a mystery writer for me. I wish I knew it sooner since... argh, it feels so obvious... Ever since it did click with me, I've been rethinking mysteries and able to construct them with so much more ease...

This one goes a bit longer than I usually do, but it was what I needed to share what goes on in my head in as concise a way as possible. Besides, eh, I don't really try to optimize for YouTube so much as create the videos I want to make. ...Which, in a way, fits perfectly in with what this...

Since I discussed how gritty, brutal, and quick real fights are last week, I figured this might be a good follow-up for discussing the storytelling potential for more quick, one-sided battles. Hopefully this can get you thinking about more things you can do in your stories. If you want to...

This topic comes up so much all over and I just have so much I can say that I don't see others bringing up. I mean, I've both studied actual martial arts, fight experience, and tons of knowledge about theatrical stuff. So, with this, consider this a foundation for more fighting stuff. I can tell...

Wanted to do something simple after all that prose stuff. So, want some stuff to get you thinking on ways you can name stuff? Here you go! If you want to vote on what the next video is, pop over to my community tab and give a vote. The choices for this week are... 1) Character analysis...

This week completes the 5 part series I made for helping writers who are interested in learning what I know about prose. This is the one I was most looking forward to, cadence. If you're someone who is looking for direction beyond "just write," this (and the entire series) is my way of paying...

At this point, most of you know I run a YouTube channel where I share my expertise to help people better tackle various things. Due to how I am, I have this rich storehouse of information, examples, and so forth. In truth, I own over two thousand books due to how I am. This means I have a lot I...

In the spirit of the topic, this video is the shortest since it's concise. I'm finally almost done with this series of videos on prose. I'm so tired of this, to be honest. I need to do something different... Something that can maybe drive numbers even, as I feel this will be most useful when...

Meant to post this earlier, but I've been constructing my new bicycle for the last 2 hours or so. Anyway, I'm continuing my dive into prose, this week going over the third C: Coherence. This translates to paragraph-related stuff, which led me to talk about pacing, how to organize a paragraph...

I'm back on prose this week. In fact, for those who haven't subscribed to my channel (which I'd appreciate it if you do, it helps me grow, which makes it easier for me to help more people who are interested), I'm going to devote this month to just completing the full series on The 5 Cs for...

I know lots of people like having lots of main characters and POVs. I also know how tricky this can get with ease. So, to help people wade through that sea, I made this. As always, I hope it helps out.

There's something I once heard that eats at me from time to time. It went "as knowledge of grammar increases, creativity goes down" or something like that. I pushed back then and this is an even bigger pushback against that. No. It doesn't. Knowledge of such things INCREASES one's ability to be...

Full disclosure: While I dislike citing "show, don't tell" as advice, I also dislike ignoring its wisdom. It's all a balancing act that depends on pacing, among other things. I've often told people this stuff when I work with them more closely, but I haven't had the chance to go in-depth with it...