What’s Not Said – Using Subtext in Dialogue The deadliest words in fiction aren’t shouted. They’re whispered, avoided, or never spoken at all. Quick Poll: Which of these Notion workbooks would you be interested using the most? Hero's Journey Workbook Horror Story Workbook Romance Story Workbook Action/Adventure Story Workbook Heist Story Workbook Fantasy World Building Workbook We’ve all written dialogue that just… sits there. Characters talk, information gets shared, but the scene feels...
8 days ago • 2 min read
The Climactic Moment: One Choice That Ends Your Story Your finale isn’t about fireworks. It’s about one brave choice. We all know the climax—the big sequence near the end where everything collides. Battles rage, secrets spill, tensions spike. That’s fun. But the audience doesn’t actually care about the spectacle. They care about the climactic moment. The climactic moment is smaller and sharper. It’s the precise beat where the central conflict ends. If the climax is the entire boss fight, the...
14 days ago • 2 min read
The Lie Your Character Believes: The Secret to Great Arcs Every unforgettable character starts with one thing: a lie they believe. Without it, your story is just pretty scenery and noise. Quick Poll: Which of these platforms do you use the most for online communities? Discord Facebook Groups Circle Slack None of the above A lot of writers overcomplicate character development. They chase personality quizzes, elaborate worldbuilding, and detailed backstories. But here’s the truth: your...
22 days ago • 2 min read
How to Write a Type 9 Enneagram Character Type 9s aren’t wallpaper. They’re dynamite that hasn’t been lit yet. Quick Poll: What writing skill are you wanting to improve the most? Character Development Plot + Structure World Building Theme + Symbolism Prose + Dialogue Why Type 9s Get Misunderstood You know the character who’s always chill, agreeable, and never picks a side? That’s a Type 9 Enneagram. And writers often treat them like background scenery. The problem is, peacekeeping gets...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Time Jumps: The Secret Weapon for Story Pacing Your story isn’t a security camera. Stop recording every boring moment and start skipping ahead with purpose. Let’s talk about time jumps. They’re not just for sci-fi or shows with confusing timelines and string boards. They’re one of the best tools you have to tighten pacing, add emotional weight, and actually make your story readable. Too many writers feel stuck writing every breakfast, every walk, every Tuesday morning that adds absolutely...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
The Character That Makes or Breaks Your Main Character Your protagonist isn’t your story’s only MVP. Sometimes, the real magic comes from the second-most important character. Quick Poll: Would you use a Notion-based guide/workbook to help outline a story in your specific genre (like mystery, fantasy, romance, etc.)? Yes No Ever heard the word deuteragonist? It sounds fancy, but the role is simple: they’re the second most important character in your story. And when written well, they can...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Stuck in Revision Hell? Try Failing on Purpose. Here’s the secret most pantsers won’t admit: They’re not rewriting because they’re messy. They’re rewriting because their story keeps changing shape—over and over and over. But here’s the thing: that might not be a bug. It might be the plot model you accidentally started using without realizing it. The "One Problem, Many Attempts" Model This plot structure is a workhorse. Your protagonist has one big problem. They try to solve it. They fail. So...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Plot Spine Diagnosis: Cut the Fluff, Keep the Heart Your Story Has a Spine. Is It Broken? Every story has a backbone—the major plot beats that carry everything else. But when you’re knee-deep in rewrites or staring at a bloated middle, it’s hard to tell which scenes matter... and which are just filler dressed in clever dialogue. This is where plot spine diagnosis saves your draft. How to Find the Core of Your Plot A clean narrative usually hits these four essential beats: The First Turning...
3 months ago • 2 min read
The One Thing They’d Never Do You know that moment in a movie where the character stares down a choice so hard it could break them? That’s what we’re talking about today. The “What Would They Never Do?” framework is one of the best tools I’ve found for writing truly compelling character arcs. Let’s break it down. What’s Their Moral No-Fly Zone? Every character has a line they won’t cross. A belief so central that going against it would wreck their identity. Maybe it’s “I’d never hurt a...
3 months ago • 3 min read