In the writing world, you get mixed answers about writing backstories. Some people advise you to write pages and pages of background on your character, from the moment he was born until the moment your story starts. Others will tell you to keep backstory minimal. How can you reconcile these two ends of the spectrum?
Category: On Writing
These posts are designed to pass along lessons in writing and editing to the next generation as well as be a source of inspiration when writers have hit the wall.
Festivals/Holidays YA Books Always Have
Celebrations are important to humanity, both in real life and in storytelling. YA books are great at devising these celebrations and traditions. Here are four common ones you may see and consider creating in your own story world.
Being Productive During the Craziest Time of the Year
The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is crazy. Even if we do find that rare moment of free time, our brains are so taxed we can hardly get any words to the page.
So, how do we re-fuel?
Five Taylor Professional Writing Traditions Every Writer Should Use
Graduating in January, I already find myself nostalgic for the professional writing program at Taylor. When I leave, though, I hope to carry with me a remnant of the following traditions.
Bookish Life Cliches that Need to go Away Forever
Hanging out in a writing community, you’ll start to hear a few things that can be detrimental to your writing and reading lives and motivations. Here are a few things I think should stop being said for the betterment of the writing community.
Writing a Good Tragic Ending
A story doesn’t need to end with good winning. It simply needs to show that good should have won or will eventually win. But what might that look like, exactly?
PWR Blog 