We’ve all been exposed to fear, usually quite early in our lives, but where does it start? I’d argue that a jump ‘scare’ is a physical response to unexpected sensory input and…
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The Calm Before The Storm: Why Peace Can Be Your Strongest Hook
I. The False Binary The first essay argued against opening with worldbuilding exposition or atmospheric wandering. It advocated for starting with stakes, with characters in situations that matter, with immediate tension. But…
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Your World Isn’t the Hook: Why Dark Fantasy Fails Before It Starts
I. The Opening Mistake: Information Without Investment Open any slush pile of dark fantasy manuscripts and you’ll find the same pattern repeating: a meticulously crafted world dying on the page before the…
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Point of View Mistakes That Confuse Readers
Have you ever been reading along, totally immersed in a scene, and then suddenly felt… lost? Like you blinked and now you’re not sure whose thoughts you’re reading or how the character…
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Pacing Problems: How to Diagnose What’s Dragging
You know that feeling when you’re reading a book and suddenly realize you’ve been skimming for the past three pages without absorbing a single word? That’s a pacing problem. As an editor,…
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Plot vs Character: Which Comes First?
Here’s a question that’s sparked more writing forum arguments than “how many spaces after a period”: Should you start with plot or character? I’ve seen writers tie themselves in knots over this…
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Brainstorming Ideas
Before you can plot your novel, you need a solid idea. This phase is all about exploring different concepts and finding one that resonates with you. Today, we’re going to embrace 80s…
