Author Surrogate: Definition and Examples 

Author Surrogate: Definition and Examples 

Long before digital avatars came on the scene, authors were already putting themselves into their books, sometimes disguised or using a different name.  In literature, when an author projects themselves onto a character (whether or not the reader is aware), it’s...
How to Build Tension and Keep Your Readers Hooked

How to Build Tension and Keep Your Readers Hooked

Tension is one reason readers keep turning pages, even into the wee hours of the night. You know the feeling: I need to find out what happens. Just one more page… Before you know it, the sky is turning red with the sun peeking out from the horizon, and you’re still...
Eye Rhyme: Definition and Examples

Eye Rhyme: Definition and Examples

Reading poems can be fun, thought-provoking, and relaxing. The melody and rhythm of the words, the rhymes at the end of the lines, and the beauty of the words and syllables evoke emotion like no other piece of writing can.  But have you ever read a poem that, at...
How to Create a Compelling Character Backstory 

How to Create a Compelling Character Backstory 

The best characters feel so three-dimensional that we think of them almost as real people. This happens when writers make the effort to formulate clear backstories for the characters: these characters don’t fall onto the page as blank puppets; they’ve experienced...
How to Write an Artist Statement: 7 Tips for Success

How to Write an Artist Statement: 7 Tips for Success

When someone asks you what you do as a visual artist, it might be challenging to explain your kind of work. The good news is, an artist statement can act as part of your portfolio and help to summarize your work when you need to apply for things like grants. It also...