Concept and Premise: What Is the Difference?

Concept and Premise: What Is the Difference?

In writing, a concept and premise are often used interchangeably. However, while they are linked, the two are not the same. Both are different steps in the story-building process. Let’s talk about the reasons why you, as a writer, need to know their differences. What...
How to Write a Hero Who Is Not a Cliche

How to Write a Hero Who Is Not a Cliche

Gone are the days when heroes simply need to embody Good. It doesn’t matter what genre you’re writing in, your character must not only be memorable but unique enough to avoid being derivative. After all, premises and settings get your readers diving into a book but...
6 Everlasting Coming-of-Age Tropes

6 Everlasting Coming-of-Age Tropes

Coming-of-age stories explore a character’s transformative experiences—particularly their transition from adolescence to adulthood. Such stories echo the maturation, personal growth, and self-discovery you encounter as you grow older. In these stories, certain themes...
Crash Blossoms: When Headlines Take An Ambiguous Turn

Crash Blossoms: When Headlines Take An Ambiguous Turn

Language—with all its oddities and variations—can often lead people down amusing paths. One such path is the crash blossom, a headline so confusing and weird that it will leave you scratching your head. Crash Blossoms Crash Blossoms gained its name when editor Mike...
10 Weird Sentences in The English Language

10 Weird Sentences in The English Language

English is weird—even experts in the language agree. Though a sentence can look and sound bizarre, it is probably still grammatically accurate. What’s the weirdest, most tangled English sentence you’ve ever encountered? Chances are, there’s plenty more where that came...
11 of the Best Comic Relief Characters in Fiction

11 of the Best Comic Relief Characters in Fiction

Stories aren’t just about the hero and villain. To create a well-rounded narrative, plenty of supporting characters act as foils. They shine a light on the main characters but also become iconic story elements.  One such character is the comic relief, who is...