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Writers are fed a bevy of mantras—“show don’t tell,” “kill your darlings”—which provide the security that there are rules, but little else. A new book by Lucy Ives offers a more expansive view of ...

Whether this is your first or your hundredth time rolling up a character for a new roleplaying game campaign, coming up with a compelling backstory can be tough. Maybe you’ve spent a ton of time ...

So you’ve got a fantastic idea for a screenplay and are anxious to start creating it. You know the premise, the conflict, the stakes, the twists—pretty much everything you need to start writing, right ...

Whether they’re humans, supernatural creatures, heroes, or villains, fully developed characters drive narratives. The art of character development is essential to crafting characters that audiences ...

Even if you’ve led a law-abiding life, you might have a friend or family member who gets into serious trouble and faces time in prison. That’s when you could be asked to write a letter on this loved ...