d e f i n e d

A few months ago I did a post about identity. Not sure how many of you read it, but in case you missed it, click here to read it. Inspired by impromptu speeches my friends had made at a speech and debate tournament, I took the same prompt and wrote a speech of my own--talking about the … Continue reading d e f i n e d →

Writing Tropes Part 7: Evil King

At long last, we come to the end. It's been an interesting journey, that's for certain. I've learned a lot--and I hope you all have too. But without further ado, let's tackle the last writing trope I'm going to talk about: the Evil King. Before we begin, let's make this a bit of a broader … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 7: Evil King →

Writing Tropes Part 6: Secret Princess

Here we come to the second to last installment in this writing mini-series! Today, let's talk about another of the minor writing tropes: Secret Princess. The Secret Princess is either one of the main characters or is one of the secondary characters in the story that interacts with the main character at one point during the … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 6: Secret Princess →

Writing Tropes Part 5: The Hero

And we're back with another installation in this mini-writing help series! May I present one of the most common character tropes in writing: The Hero The Hero: They're the protagonist. Almost always right, are friends with all the good guys, and a perfect person with little flaws. Usually have good skill sets (though they're usually … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 5: The Hero →

Guest Post: Three Ways to Improve the Romance in Your Novel

Hey everyone! This week I have the privilege of featuring a post by my fellow writer, Ocean McAllister, on the topic of romance in literature and writing. You can follow her on her blog here. Without much further ado, here it is! ~~~ Three Ways to Improve the Romance in Your Novel… From a Non-romantic Writer Elaborate … Continue reading Guest Post: Three Ways to Improve the Romance in Your Novel →

Writing Tropes Part 4: Damsel in Distress

Welcome back everyone! This week we are talking about a lesser known trope called the damsel in distress. This trope is essentially when a female character is placed in a perilous situation from which she cannot escape on her own; thus needing to be rescued by a male character. Usually said damsel is very beautiful, very … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 4: Damsel in Distress →

Writing Tropes Part 3: Mary Sues

Sorry this post is a bit late, everyone. My weekend was crazy busy so I had no time to sit down and actually write this. Mary Sues. My most hated trope. These are the most common tropes, especially in contemporary literature and movies, and they drive me nuts. But what are they, you might … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 3: Mary Sues →

Writing Tropes Part 2: The Chosen One

Hey everyone! We're back with the second installment in this series of posts about various writing tropes, and this week's topic is the infamous Chosen One trope. You have probably seen this one a lot as it's one of the most common tropes and appears everywhere--though especially in the fantasy genre. As I've mentioned before and will … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 2: The Chosen One →

Writing Tropes Part 1: The Wise Old Mentor

Tropes. We see them everywhere. Hiding within the pages of books, leaping out of the television screen, hovering in writing discussions, lingering in the recesses of our minds. Used so often, they've become hated clichés in the writing communities--especially considering how so many are badly used. Are they necessarily evil, you might be asking? Well, … Continue reading Writing Tropes Part 1: The Wise Old Mentor →

Shipwrecks, Burning Churches, and Why It’s Okay

This has been a very momentous week. Momentous not in great memories, but in events. Take this past Monday, for example. April 15th. At 2:20 a.m., 116 years ago, the great steam-liner Titanic slipped beneath the waves of the icy Atlantic, sending 1,503 people to a watery grave. At 7 p.m., April 15th, 2019, the … Continue reading Shipwrecks, Burning Churches, and Why It’s Okay →