The Blog
Writing craft, product updates, and thoughts on the creative process.
The Secret Weapon of Prose: How to Master Internal Monologue
Internal monologue is a book’s unique superpower, but too much of it can stall your story completely. Learn how to balance your character's thoughts with external action, avoid the "navel-gazing" trap, and use internal tension to keep your readers hooked.
Your protagonist is cornered. The antagonist has a knife. And then... a light explodes overhead, glass flies, and she gets away clean. Satisfying? Not even close. Your reader just felt cheated. Deus Ex Machina is one of the oldest plot devices in history, and one of the easiest traps to fall into. Here's how to spot it, fix it, and know the one time it actually works.
Every item you introduce in your story is a silent promise to your reader. Learn how to keep them — and when breaking them is exactly the right move.