Kinda wish you didn't have to choose between genres when you write your next novel? Maybe you don't have to! Get to know hybrid genres and what it takes to write a great cross-genre story.

Narrative writing shows up in multiple forms and nearly every genre. Get to know the four most common types of narrative writing and learn how to tell a great story in any context.

Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.

What's the difference between narrative writing and expository writing? What does a technical writer do? How do you nail descriptive writing? Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the most common types of writing styles.

Technical writers are pretty much always in demand. Learn what it takes to survive and thrive in this line of work.

While it's not for every story, tragic irony can be a great way to mess with both your characters and your readers... in a fun way, of course. Learn all about it in this article.

Got a lot of writerly types around you talking about archetypes but have no idea what they're going on about? No worries! You can find a full explanation here and learn how to use archetypes to write a story that resonates.

If you're a confused about what a trope actually is, you've got good reason to be. This one literary term covers a ton of storytelling devices, and nailing down the definition isn't always easy. Fortunately, we've got a whole bunch of trope examples to help clarify things.

You may have heard people talk about purple prose. More specifically, you may have heard the phrase "purple prose" used an explanation for why someone didn't like a book or doesn't read a particular author. But what is purple prose? Why is it so bad? And how do you avoid it in your own writing? Find all those answers here.

What's the purpose of an epilogue? Do readers prefer to have one? How do you know if your story needs a little something extra beyond the happily ever after? Find the answers to your most urgent epilogue questions right here.

Diction is about so much more than choosing the right words. This aspect of your writing can help you create engaging characters with realistic voices. Here's how.

The way you start your novel is one of the most important decisions an author can make. In medias res (literally "in the midst of things") is one of the most effective options you have to open your story. Learn more about it, including how to write an in medias res opening, in this article.

An epilogue is a crystal ball, offering your readers a sneaky little glance into your characters' future. But is it always a good thing? And how do you write an epilogue that doesn't step on your carefully crafted final chapter? We've got some hot tips for you.

A hook can be a great way to start a story, but it requires skill and a bit of finesse to pull off properly. That's why we've put together this guide to writing good hooks!

Hooks can be incredibly powerful openers, especially to draw your readers into your book from the first line. In this article, we're covering everything you need to write a hook to start your novel.

Metaphors are powerful literary devices to enhance our writing, and the strongest of them is the almighty extended metaphor. Learn all about it and how to incorporate it into your own writing in this article.

What's the difference between situational and dramatic irony? How does verbal irony fit in? What the heck is Socratic irony? And do you really need to know all this? This guide untangles irony and shows you how you can use it in your own stories.

Socratic irony is sneaky, manipulative, and a great way to make a big reveal even more delicious. If you want to learn how to incorporate this device in your own story—or if you just want to get better at identifying it—you've come to the right place.

Using alliteration in your writing is a beautiful balance between subtlety and annoying your reader. But if you get it right, you can craft killer prose that gets your audience to read exactly the way you want.

Literary devices are the tools authors whip out to add a little extra polish, a bit more pizazz to their writing. Situational irony is just one of those tools, a form of misdirection that will hook your readers until your last page.

Dramatic irony is a fantastic tool for ramping up tension, building suspense, and stressing your readers out in the best possible way. Read on to learn what it is, what it isn't, and how it works.

What's verbal irony? How do you know when a statement is ironic? Is this a tool you should be using in your own writing? If so, how does it work? If your head is spinning, don't worry. We got you.

What's the difference between chapter books and middle grade fiction? Can you write for more than one age group? Is young adult really that different from adult fiction? Here's everything you ever wanted to know about connecting with readers of all ages.

You may have heard that your success as an author depends on your ability to write within the confines of your literary genre. But does that mean you have to produce dull, cookie-cutter novels? Here are the answers to your biggest questions about genre.

Ready to get inspired by some of the best opening lines in literature? Here are some of our favorites, why they're so brilliant, and how you can write a stellar first line that draws readers into the world of your story.

Knowing how to pace a story is absolutely mandatory if you hope to write an unputdownable novel. The tricky part? The formula isn't the same for every book. Use this guide to learn how to pace your one-of-a-kind tale.

These free Don't Tell worksheets will help you perfect your prose and write a story that feels real for your reader. Learn how to stir emotions and communicate theme without all the clunky explanations.

Want to learn how to write a flashback? Consider this your comprehensive guide to recreating your character's backstory for the reader. Discover tricks for doing it well... and deciding whether it makes sense to write a flashback in the first place.

Chekhov's Gun is a fundamental principle in writing. Join us as we examine what this principle is so you can apply it to your own writing.

One of the biggest challenges in writing a novel is ensuring your characters sound different from one another. You don’t want carbon copy characters who all talk the same. After all, reading isn’t a visual medium, so while you can use descriptions to differentiate characters, in the end, your readers are really going to differentiate them in how they speak and act. Your readers are building these characters in their heads, so you want to offer them as many cues to tell them apart as possible. It will make for a better reading experience and ensure your characters are more memorable. 

Realistic dialogue makes your readers feel like they're peering in on the private lives of strangers. Creepy? Maybe. But it's also the secret to writing a story that connects and resonates. Here's how to write dialogue that feels real.

Studying the best first lines of books not only helps you write your own brilliant opening, it also sharpens your writing skills overall. Here are some of the best first lines ever written, plus some great tips for nailing your own.

A prologue can be a powerful addition to your story, but only if you get it right. In this article, we discuss how you can find the perfect length for your prologue and what you should include in it.

Want to learn how to write exposition that's not so explainy? Divulge compelling backstory using these tried-and-true tips.

How do you write a good inciting incident? And what makes it good? These nine, easy-to-follow tips will help you devise a story catalyst that captivates your readers and launches an unforgettable adventure.

The first chapter may very well be the most important in your entire book. But how do you write a first chapter that makes it impossible for your reader not to go to the next? We cover everything you need to know in this article.

How long should your chapters be? On average, chapters tend to range from 1,000-5,000 words, with most falling in the 2,000-4,000 range.

Not sure how to describe clothing writing? It's easier (and more fun) than you might think. Here's everything you need to know.

The words you use to start a story are some of the most important you'll write. We'll help make sure you get them right!

Just like a compelling opening, a good ending is a bit of an art form and can take some practice. As with anything in writing, the best way to learn is to read. Think about books with memorable endings that you’ve enjoyed: read them again with a critical eye and think about how and why they work. 

Have you ever read a book that just seems to flow? The writing feels effortless and smooth and almost like the literary equivalent of honey? Well, then you’re reading lyrical prose, my friend. It’s a style of writing that relies on a few techniques that make use of similar sounds and cadence to help create a more fluid and musical style of writing. 

Think about the worst pain you’ve ever experienced. How would you have described it when you were in the moment? What did it feel like? Did it have a color and texture? Maybe even a sound or a smell? Did it make you perceive your world in different ways? Did you notice what was going on around you? 

Clichés are phrases you’ve heard so many times they’ve lost all meaning. They’re as dead as a doornail. They’re stones thrown in glass houses. They make your writing seem derivative, boring and lacking in imagination. 

Dialogue is an important part of writing a story. It's how characters plot, fall in love, and even how they can fight. In this article, we cover everything you need to know to write powerful dialogue.

Great stories contain great dialogue. But writing good dialogue isn't easy, so we're going to cover what makes for good dialogue, why it's important, and cover examples of good dialogue in pop culture.

If you know how to convey emotions in writing, you know how to draw your reader in, hold them captive, and make them remember you forever. Here's how you can inspire all the thrills, chills, swoons, and more.