Everything you need to know to write a Western.
Category: On Writing
How to Write a Love Story
Everything you need to know to write a Love Story about courtship, obsession, marriage, or romance.
How to Write a War Story
So, you started writing a War story and got stuck along the way. Maybe you aren’t sure if your story meets all the obligatory scenes and conventions of its genre. Maybe you’re wondering if your controlling idea or theme addresses the overall values at stake in a War story. Maybe you’re asking, what are the…Continue reading How to Write a War Story
How to Write a Thriller, Part Two: Distinguish the Thriller from the Horror and Crime Genres
Everything you need to know to write a Thriller, Part Two.
How to Write a Thriller, Part One
Are you writing a Thriller; a story in which the protagonist is negotiating a complex world, struggling at the limits of human experience, and triumphing (usually) over seemingly overwhelming forces of antagonism? Maybe you’re confused about the difference between a Thriller story and a Crime, Action, or Horror story. Want to know if you’ve hit…Continue reading How to Write a Thriller, Part One
How to Write an Action Story
Do you want to write a Hollywood mega-blockbuster or novel thriving on excitement and action? Does the idea of a creating a story with high speed chases, last-second escapes, feverish plans, and desperate circumstances riding on life and death stakes rouse your imagination? Then come with me on a journey into learning about the many…Continue reading How to Write an Action Story
How to Write a Crime Story
Did you start writing a Crime story, because you love them, and then find yourself stuck along your pursuit? Did you just realize you’re missing a MacGuffin? And what about those Red Herrings; what do fish have to do with Crime? Do you know which one of thefourteen Crime subgenres your story falls under? Are…Continue reading How to Write a Crime Story
How to Write a Memoir
You decided to write a memoir and ran into trouble. Maybe you started writing the events of your life only to find your pages roiling in chaos. Maybe you don’t know where your story starts or ends and your middle build sags like an elephant’s behind. Or maybe you don’t yet know what kind of…Continue reading How to Write a Memoir
How to Write a Performance Story
Do you want to write a story that’s a sure crowd pleaser? Want to innovate on a classic story that almost everyone can relate to? Want to take your protagonist through a life changing moment of intense pressure, where they must perform to gain respect or suffer mortifying embarrassment? Then welcome to the Performance Genre,…Continue reading How to Write a Performance Story
How to Write a Horror Story
Do you want to wedge your Horror idea into the nightmares of readers but don’t yet know how to structure your story? Got some scattershot scary scenes that don’t really work together or entertain? Want to slice moments of heightened danger, plot twists, and reversals into your writing? You’re in the right place. Here, you’ll…Continue reading How to Write a Horror Story