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Cartoon spaceship blasting off with a blue background.
Genre

How to Design a Sci-Fi Spaceship: A Complete Guide for Authors

Spaceships are a cornerstone of the sci-fi genre, and they're incredibly fun to create and write. In this article, we do a deep dive into everything you need to consider when writing your spaceships.

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Genre

How to Write an Adventure Story That Leaves ‘Em Breathless

You want to know how to write an adventure story—the kind of heart-pounding saga that keeps readers up until the wee hours, whispering, “Just one more chapter,” until their eyes dry out. Well, this is how it's done.

A knight swinging their sword.
Genre

The Author's Guide to Writing Fantasy Characters

Fantasy stories are epic tales filled with interesting and compelling characters, but coming up with that cast of imaginary people can be difficult. We cover everything you need to write your fantasy characters in this guide.

Intense close-up of a bright light shining on a green eye, the face otherwise obscured in darkness.
Genre

What is Dark Fantasy? Your Guide to Literary Devastation

Learn how to write dark fantasy, the subgenre that invites you to explore nightmarish landscapes, meet darkly complex characters, and ask unsettling questions about morality.

A stone sculpture of Medusa with snakes for hair, solid green eyes, and a screaming mouth.
Genre

Author’s Guide to Fantasy Monsters, Creatures, and Humanoids

Need inspiration to fill out the corners of your world with magical beings, horrifying monsters, and everything in between? This list of fantasy creatures should do the trick.

Watercolor illustration of a person in a baseball cap sitting on a clifftop, looking out across calm water to a rocky island
Genre

Memoir vs. Autobiography: What’s the Difference?

While memoirs and autobiographies share many characteristics, but they are far from the same. What are the differences? Find out in this article.

A person wearing an ambiguous animal mask with horns stares down at the viewer.
Genre

Grimdark Fantasy: Your Guide to Literary Devastation

Love unthinkable horrors, dark magic, morally questionable protagonists, and grotesque creatures? Then you're gonna want to know about the grimdark fantasy genre.

A person in a mask and cape sits at a computer.
Genre

Everything Great About Fantasy Comedy (And How to Write It)

What could be more fun than combining the wonder of fantasy with the delight of comedy? Learn how to master this magical genre with our comprehensive guide.

The Colosseum at sunset.
Genre

Writing an Enchanted Past With Historical Fantasy

Learn how to blend the fantastical with the historical in a genre that's more popular than ever.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy between two bookends.
Genre

High Fantasy vs Low Fantasy: Demystify the Difference

What do people mean when they talk about high and low fantasy? And which one are you writing? Finally get the answers right here.

Hands coated in a black substance reach out against a dark and smokey background.
Genre

How to Write Dark Fantasy Your Readers Won’t Recover From

Want to write a thrilling dark fantasy that will haunt your readers for the rest of their lives? Here's how to get it done.

Person showing glowing sparkler against night sky.
Genre

Dabbling in Magic: How to Write Fantasy with Dabble (Guide + Template!)

Dabble is a powerhouse of a writing tool, but it feels extra strong in the hands of a fantasy writer. If you're looking to pen a grand adventure full of magic and monsters, use this guide and template to leverage all Dabble has to offer.

Close-up of a person with a shocked expression.
Genre

The Plot Thickens: Writing Twists in Mystery Stories

Plot twists are a thrill for the reader, but they can be pretty overwhelming for the writer. How do you craft a shocking reversal that totally makes sense but still catches your audience by surprise? We've got the answers right here.

Two detectives look into a cardboard box.
Genre

What Makes a Good Clue in a Mystery? Here’s the Big Reveal.

The puzzle makes the mystery. Everyone knows that. But how do you come up with clues that move the story forward without giving away the ending? Here's everything you need to know.

A wand sits on an open leather-bound spell book.
Genre

Must-Know Fantasy Tropes for Aspiring Authors

Want to write the kind of fantasy stories that draw readers in and get them hooked? Then you need to know your fantasy tropes. Here's a quick guide to the most popular conventions of the genre.

Silhouette of a person holding the moon.
Genre

Unlocking the Universal Power of Cosmic Irony

Is the entire universe conspiring against your characters? Then you might be dabbling in cosmic irony. Enjoy this guide to all things cosmically ironic, from where you've seen it to how to write it yourself.

A concerned-looking fairy stares off into the distance.
Genre

​​Subgenres of Fantasy You’re Gonna Want to Know About

What subgenre does your fantasy novel fall under? What does that mean for your readers' expectations? And why does any of this matter? If you don't know, you're about to find out.

Stars projected onto a person.
Genre

The Creative Writer’s Ultimate Guide to Science Fantasy

Does science fiction alone feel too limiting for your vast imagination? Do you feel like your fantasy world could use a dash of futuristic technology?

A small model of R2D2 from Star Wars.
Genre

68 Sci-Fi Tropes You’re Gonna Want to Know About

Sci-fi tropes are key to writing science fiction that resonates with fans of the genre. Here are 68 tropes worth knowing, plus a few tips for making them feel brand new.

A crowd of people in a busy city street with a person in a leprechaun outfit on the sidewalk.
Genre

How to Write Urban Fantasy and Put Magic in the Mundane

Urban fantasy occupies a unique and exciting spot in the fantasy genre, bringing magic and supernatural elements to our modern world. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about how to write urban fantasy, from worldbuilding to common plots and themes.

Eerie light shines through a dark forest.
Genre

How to Write Cosmic Horror and Unleash an Abomination

Bone-chilling monsters, powerless humans, and absolute buckets of existential dread? Must be cosmic horror. Here's everything you ever wanted to know about writing this nightmare genre.

A person with a painted face plays chess against a Grecian sculpture.
Genre

How is Science Fiction Different From Fantasy?

What's the defining line between sci-fi and fantasy? There's actually a lot more to it than magic versus technology.

A writer wearing headphones holds a pencil and rests their chin on their hand as they stare off into the distance.
Genre

Creative Truth Telling 101: How to Write a Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are proof that you don't have to stretch the truth to tell a good story. Here's everything you ever wanted to know about turning reality into a compelling tale.

Silhouette of a person in a dark room with computer code projected onto their face.
Genre

40 Sci-Fi Writing Prompts to Supercharge Your Imagination

Struggling to come up with a fresh idea for a science fiction story? Wake up your imagination with these unique sci-fi writing prompts.

An open journal full of writing sits underneath a stack of old letters and an old photograph.
Genre

Memoir vs. Autobiography: How Will You Tell Your Life Story?

The terms "memoir" and "autobiography" are often used interchangeably, but these two styles of personal storytelling are actually very different. Here's how to tell one from the other... and how to decide which is best for your life story.