Comics: Once Upon a Trope
Could you be dating a hero? The answer may shock you. Read more »
Q&A
My characters love interest is kind of a jerk but I don’t want this relationship to be toxic. Should he repent for his behavior, or should I change his character? What should I do? – Shelly Crumb Read more »
Analysis
Drama is a cornerstone of storytelling. Even the most action-heavy violence-fests need an emotional core if they want to be more than a forgettable special-effects reel. We have a number of articles covering how to get the right feels in your story, from character arcs … read more »
Storytelling
Most stories are better with some interpersonal conflict. That means sooner or later, we’ll need to craft a jerk. But whether they’re an insufferable roommate, an antagonistic hottie, a harsh parent, or even a protagonist with some growing to do, it’s easy to make bad … read more »
Comics: Once Upon a Trope
Villains: widely known for their simple and practical plans. Read more »
Q&A
Hello, Sorry for pestering you with questions lately, but I could once again use your advice. I have a world with two factions at war with each other and a magic system based on magical pigments. One side uses written words to alter people/things in … read more »
Podcast
Readers need to know things to understand your story. They need to know a whole bunch of things. But writing is a linear art form, meaning you can’t just download all the necessary info at once. So what are authors to do? That’s what we’re … read more »
Roleplaying
Multiclassing is by far my favorite mechanic in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. I love the weird and powerful combinations it unlocks and how it allows me to demonstrate an amount of creativity monoclassing simply can’t match. However, just because there are a ton of … read more »
Analysis
Special powers are a cornerstone of speculative fiction. Whether they come from ancient magics or alien evolution, we love to see characters with abilities that humans cannot possess. Such powers provide excellent novelty and wish fulfillment. But sometimes storytellers don’t think about how their powers actually … read more »