Daily Short Stories from The Penned Sleuth

Dialogue, much like any part of writing a novel, has its own challenges. There are many examples of dialogue falling flat, of dialogue being used for small-talk and other unnecessary conversations. I have organized this 5-step process to ensure you get a grip on great dialogue. Let’s jump into it!

Confident writing is a sure-fire way to let your reader know they are in for a great story. Avoiding the basic mistakes, such as flowery language, helps you create a more believable world. You show your belief in the world through the language you use and confident writing is exactly how you do that. Here are 7 practical tips for confident writing!

The antagonist, a character or characters that counter our protagonists, being an obstacle or an end goal. If the main character is the most important character, then the antagonist ties for that place. The importance of the antagonist cannot be understated, but we will talk more about that in a moment. Here are 7 Tips for Writing an Amazing Antagonist!

You’ve started writing your book, but your character seems to be drifting. Their interest in the plot isn’t as sincere and you can’t help but force them to play their part. Be it a protagonist or antagonist, this problem with purpose is common in writing. I am going to show you a five-step method to give your character purpose in your novel. Let’s jump into it!

One of the goals as a writer is to create a character that stands out. Your world is unique and wonderfully interesting, but are your characters? Can you tell who is speaking without a tag? Does your character even surprise your reader at times? Let me give you 7 tips that will help you write unique characters. Let’s go!

It all begins with an idea. Not necessarily a great idea in the beginning, but an idea nonetheless. With creative energy, you can turn that idea into a story and that story into a full novel. Yet, there are more steps to take before you can write that novel in a month. Let’s run through them!

Writing a powerful scene where one character gives up something valuable for another is not easy. Authors have struggled to convey the gravity of the situation to their readers, so what they read is a messy idea that falls flat. Yet, there is hope for your self-sacrifice scene. ​ Here’s how to write a jaw-dropping scene, oozing with character!

It is a trope that is often used in fantasy and for a good reason. The main protagonist is thrown into a new world, as clueless as to the threats and wonders it contains. Much like the reader, lending the reader an attachment to this protagonist, the reader learning as the main character learns. Yet, why should the main character even care? Let’s talk about motivation.

Bad habits and weak words hold us back. We have ideas, dreams ready to be put on paper, but we find ourselves making the same mistakes. Our writing doesn’t strike the right chords. Luckily, it isn’t so difficult to fix those problems, break those habits and build an enjoyable novel or article. Let’s talk about that!

From the poor advice of the inexperienced to the recommended videos, there are many lies forced upon writers. The fact is, we have all been recommended those make-six-digits-a-year videos and articles. We are tired of falling for those traps. If you have just started writing, here is the difference between clickbait and information. Let’s begin!

The mystery genre has always been an interesting topic. Many of my students believe it to be a difficult genre, as you need to lay down a series of clues without arousing the reader’s suspicion. Yes, it is better if the reader doesn’t expect what happens next, but that isn’t what will make your mystery great. Allow me to explain in this handy checklist for writing a mystery!

Be it in literature or film, when a character does something you don’t expect, it is a surreal experience. You always expect them to do something more fitting with who they are, but they sometimes go in the entirely opposite direction. I am going to go through these breaks in character with you and how you can write them. Let’s jump into it!

The idea of doing anything creative without planning is common enough. In our youth, whether it was art or writing, we just started. We were either eager to write or eager to get it over with. For some writers, writing without planning is their way of doing things. Perhaps you are considering writing this way with your next novel, so here are some pros and cons of writing this way. Let’s begin!

Writing a protagonist is fun, there is no doubt about it. Developing their style, their winning personality and forming an attachment to them. It is a powerful feeling. Yet, there is a mistake beginner writers often make when creating and writing their character. The character is flawless, they cannot go wrong. Here is why you should go the other way and write flawed characters.

Pacing is something that few writers ever consider when writing their novel. Perhaps this is a good thing, as many writers have a natural sense of how to pace their novels. However, there are those who have too many quiet moments or far too many action scenes in their novel. I am going to show you how to pace your novel with an easy step-by-step process. Let’s jump into it!

It is the eve of Halloween and my thoughts turn to that of terror. The night used to be filled with horrors that kept me awake and my heart pounding. Now, as I’ve grown older, what stresses me isn’t fictional monsters, but the same stresses every adult has. In that sense, it’s difficult to write a thriller to scare my readers. Or is it?

The occult, the supernatural, science fiction and dark fantasy are just a few words to describe the works of H. P. Lovecraft. The cosmic horror from his works have spread around the world, images recognizable or not, his monsters and deities are a favorite among readers. Yet, what does it take to write a cosmic horror, a dark fantasy such as the Lovecraftian mythos? It takes a nightmare.

We all have our own ways of writing. Writers prefer to write for themselves, writing a story in a way that they enjoy reading it. Some writers prefer to write for the readers, giving them a structure the reader is no doubt familiar with. Yet, the question is raised whether you can write an enjoyable story and novel if it were written as a TV show? Let’s find out!

Writing a book is by no means a simple task, but it can be made easier through a rather interesting method. Whether you write a book with several perspectives or only one, writing the story in the character of the protagonist can have a profound effect. Let’s jump into it!

Whether you have been writing for years or for weeks, writing in a group has a profound effect on your work. From speeding up the process of fixing basic mistakes, writing in a group is certainly a method to consider. Let us check out what it has to offer!