Resources, insights, and inspiration for writers at every stage of their journey.
From the instructors who have helped over 100,000 aspiring authors learn their craft.
Recent Articles
- Your Inciting Incident Is Probably in the Wrong Place
Most writers put their inciting incident in the wrong place because they’ve misidentified what it actually is. They point to the murder, the diagnosis, the letter on page three. Something happens to the protagonist, and… - The White Space Is the Bridge: How to Cut the Dead Weight Between Scenes
Most writers are terrified of the gap between scenes. So they build little bridges. “She drove home, made dinner, watched some TV, and went to bed. The next morning…” Three sentences of nothing to get… - Your Book Is on the Wrong Shelf: How Categories and Keywords Decide Who Finds You
Most self-published books die in a category they never should have entered. Writers pick “Fiction > Literary” because it sounds prestigious, then wonder why nobody finds the book. The category isn’t a label. It’s the… - Why Your Sci-Fi World Feels Like a Museum Exhibit
Most science fiction worlds fail because the writer explains them. You can tell within a page. Two scientists explain quantum drives to each other though they both already know. The seams show. The world feels… - What Your Characters Do When Nobody’s Watching
Most first drafts are full of sentences that tell us what characters are like. “She was generous.” “He was stubborn.” Those sentences do zero work. Character lives in what people do when nobody’s watching. The… - The Last Temptation Scene: Why Most Character Arcs Feel Incomplete
Most character arcs end at the climax. That’s where the protagonist demonstrates new behavior under pressure — the big moment. But the scene most writers skip comes right after. I call it the last temptation… - The Gold Thread: How Theme Really Works in Fiction
Most writers confuse subject with theme. Subject is what the story is about. Theme is the question it refuses to stop asking. “My story is about grief” isn’t a theme. It’s a filing cabinet category…. - The Backwards-Clock Problem: Why Writers Speed Through Emotional Scenes
Most writers have the pacing backwards. A fight scene gets every punch described in slow motion. A character discovers her husband has been lying for 20 years, and the writer gives it one sentence: “She… - Choosing Your Story’s Viewpoint: A Guide to POV
Every story is told by someone. The question is: who’s doing the telling, and how much do they know? Viewpoint—or point of view (POV)—is one of the most powerful decisions you’ll make as a writer…. - Why Your Draft Doesn’t Have to Start at Page One
Most writers assume the manuscript works like reading—start at page one and go until “The End.” That assumption kills more novels than any craft problem. The draft isn’t the story. It’s the excavation. And no… - When Both Characters Are Right: The Real Definition of Conflict
Writers confuse argument for conflict. They’re different things with different effects on readers. Argument is one character wanting something while another objects; that’s an obstacle wearing a person’s face. Real conflict is two people who… - Why Most Chapters Give Readers Permission to Put the Book Down
Most chapters end too quietly. The writer finishes a scene, wraps it up cleanly, and moves on. Readers set the book down. A chapter ending has one job: make setting the book down feel like…
About Writing Academy
Writing Academy offers comprehensive video courses for aspiring authors. Whether you’re writing your first novel, exploring screenwriting, or ready to publish, our self-paced courses provide the structure and guidance you need.
Fiction Writing
- Novel Writing Workshop
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- Short Story Writing
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Craft & Publishing
- Nine Secrets of Story Structure
- Scenes That Sell Your Story
- Navigating the Editing Process
- Publish Your Book Now
- Write Your Life Story
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Your Instructors
Steve Alcorn
USA Today bestselling author of twenty novels and non-fiction books, including mysteries, young adult novels, children’s books, and the acclaimed writer’s guide How to Fix Your Novel. Steve also founded Alcorn McBride Inc, which provides audio and video systems for theme parks worldwide.
Dani Alcorn
Author, instructor, editor, and mentor. Dani trained in screenwriting at Northwestern University and the University of British Columbia and worked as a professional medical writer. She is the author of screenplays and a science fiction novel.