Writing & Editing

December Writing Prompts: Magic, Endings & New Beginnings

❄️ Magic, Endings & New Beginnings December is filled with wonder—snow and starlight, endings and beginnings, celebration and quiet...

Katie Zeliger

Dec 5, 20252 min read

I Wrote a Book... Now What?

You did it. You wrote a book! Whether you sprinted through 50,000 words for Novel Writing Month or slowly crafted your manuscript over months, this is no small feat. Writing “The End” is worth celebrating — but it’s also just the beginning of your publishing journey. So what happens next? Let’s walk through the key steps that take your rough draft from messy brilliance to a polished, publishable book. Revise and Edit First things first: take a break. Distance gives you perspe

Katie Zeliger

Dec 1, 20253 min read

Building Complex Villains: Why Your Antagonist Deserves More Depth

A story is only as strong as its villain. Think about it, would Harry Potter be as compelling without Voldemort? Would The Dark Knight hit as hard without the Joker? A weak antagonist doesn’t just make for a forgettable character; it drains tension from your entire story . Readers want a villain who challenges the hero, shakes them to their core, and, maybe, makes them question whose side they’re really on. Let’s talk about how to build a villain that lingers in your reader

Katie Zeliger

Nov 28, 20254 min read

Character Arcs: How to Make Readers Fall in Love with Your Protagonist

A great plot might keep readers turning pages, but it’s the characters that make a story unforgettable. Readers don’t just want to watch events unfold—they want to feel something, to root for (or against) a character who evolves throughout the story. That’s where character arcs come in. A strong character arc transforms a protagonist from who they are at the beginning of the story to who they become by the end. But not all arcs are the same. Let’s break it down. The Differe

Katie Zeliger

Nov 21, 20254 min read

Writing Natural Dialogue: The Do’s and Don’ts

Dialogue is the heartbeat of a story. It reveals character, drives the plot, and immerses readers in your world. But writing dialogue that feels natural yet engaging is a tricky balancing act. Done well, it makes characters come alive; done poorly, it can make them feel robotic or unrealistic. So, let’s break down the do’s and don’ts of writing compelling dialogue. Do: Make Dialogue Sound Realistic Without Being Boring Realistic dialogue doesn’t mean transcribing everyday con

Katie Zeliger

Nov 14, 20252 min read

Bringing Your Setting to Life

How do you make readers feel like they're inside your story? With a great setting! A great setting is more than just a backdrop, it’s a character in its own right . Whether you’re crafting a sprawling fantasy world, a small-town mystery, or a heart-pounding thriller, your setting should immerse readers, making them feel like they’ve stepped inside the story. But how do you bring your setting to life without overwhelming your reader with endless descriptions? Let’s dive into t

Katie Zeliger

Nov 7, 20254 min read

November Writing Prompts

November is often thought of as the season of gratitude, but it’s also National Novel Writing Month ( NaNoWriMo , or now referred to as Novel November, NovNov ), when thousands of writers around the world dive headfirst into drafting a new story. Whether you’re participating in writing a novel this month or just trying to rekindle your creativity, this month is all about perseverance, reflection, and imagination. Below you’ll find prompts for every kind of writer from introsp

Katie Zeliger

Nov 3, 20253 min read

World building Mistakes That Can Kill Your Story (And How to Avoid Them)

To help you succeed with Novel November, we'll be focusing our blogs on writing craft and fiction elements all month long! So let's dive in! World building is the foundation of any immersive story, whether you’re crafting a high-stakes thriller, a sprawling fantasy, or a dystopian future. But even the most creative worlds can fall flat if they suffer from common world building mistakes. A well-built world should feel alive , with its own logic, depth, and personality. So, let

Katie Zeliger

Oct 31, 20253 min read

What’s Next for Novel-Writing Month?

Every November for years, writers around the world have circled their calendars, cleared their desks, and made a pact with their inner selves: “This month, I’ll write a novel.” That tradition has been largely carried by one banner event — but the landscape is shifting. If you’ve participated, watched from the sidelines, or always meant to dive in, it’s worth pausing to reflect on what was, what changed, and what now lies ahead. What was NaNoWriMo? The acronym stands for Natio

Katie Zeliger

Oct 24, 20255 min read