Category Archives: Writing Communities

Less Can Be More

We want readers to see our worlds as we see them, but that doesn’t mean they want whole scenes describing every detail inside our heads. It’s safe to assume that readers can fill in some of the blanks for themselves. Besides, isn’t that why we like to read?

Making A Mystery

I think one of the most challenging genres anyone can write in is mystery. As an author, the last thing we want to do is bore the readers with predictable outcomes and in a world where we’re desensitized towards shocking elements, it can be difficult to surprise people.

To Kill A Character

No one loves to kill off a character in their story, but sometimes, it must be done.

The Broken Male Lead

Why do we love our romances with male leads who are bad, broken, possessive, and, frankly, out of control? This may come as a shocker, but women gravitate towards these bad boys, and I think it has a lot to do with it being fantasy and not real life. Maybe it’s the drama that keeps us intrigued or the mystery, but we can’t seem to get away from these book boyfriends. It’s definitely a toxic relationship.

The One-Dimensional Bully

This post is about the stories where the bully or bullies are minor characters with the sole purpose of popping up every now and then to remind the reader that the main character is relatable and/or a social outcast. We can talk about enemy-to-lover romances later, but those are entirely in their own category. These types of bullies tend to be forgotten as the main character comes into their own. It becomes less about the obstacles the main character has to endure and more about what they can accomplish. Can’t showcase that with a bully still in the way, right?

Horrific or Shocking?

I remember when horror used to be suspenseful. The kind of stuff where you didn’t want to read too late into the night so you wouldn’t have nightmares or suffer from paranoia. It used to be where you’d read a book, wanting to put it down, but you couldn’t look away. I miss those days because this newer stuff seems to be heavy on the shock value but light on actual horror.

To Sequel or Not to Sequel?

As a writer, have you ever started writing a book that you meant to be a standalone and then realize that there’s too much going on with the plot to wrap it all up in one book? That’s where I’m at. As hard as I try to make standalone stories, I happen to find a way to turn it into a sequel, trilogy, or even a series.

How to Review Poetry

I currently have a blog post about how to write good and constructive reviews for stories, but what about poetry? Poetry can be a little tricky for me to review because it usually reflects a deep emotional connection with the writer.

Writing and Mental Health

For those of you who don’t know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Inkitt made an announcement about it a while back and are even hosting a contest for books that place mental health at the forefront. I thought it would be a good time to talk a little bit about the benefits of writing on one’s mental health and share some of the experiences that I’ve had.