by Cole Salao
You’ve seen this plenty of times in fiction: A woman dies horribly, thus fueling the male protagonist’s journey. This is a controversial storytelling technique called “fridging”. Is it a legitimate way to create progress, or will you alienate...
by Cole Salao
Just how short can a story be? Can you capture a character’s journey, a world of emotions, or a dramatic twist in just a handful of words? Many writers have taken up the challenge, and so far, six words are leading the pack. What is a Six-Word Short...
by Cole Salao
Plenty of writers love the challenges of a tight word limit. It’s why short stories always have a place in their portfolios. But have you heard of a drabble—a complete story told in 100 words? What is a Drabble? A drabble is a type of microfiction that is 100 words...
by Cole Salao
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...
by Cole Salao
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...
by Cole Salao
Fantasy is one of the most enduring genres of fiction. Its broad spectrum captures anything that involves magic and the supernatural. However, the way these magical and supernatural elements interact with the world greatly varies from story to story. This has resulted...