A science fiction short story Gary left his therapist’s office, still not feeling any better. Doctor Evans was supposed to be the best in the city, but she mostly just nodded and took notes. Once, he managed to peek in her notebook and saw the last three pages were nothing but doodles of corgis. He was paying thousands of dollars […]
Twist Endings Are All About The Foreplay Writing a story with a twist ending is a lot like writing a mystery. Both have to be set up properly to avoid confusing or frustrating your readers. You have to play fair and use foreshadowing to plant clues to the twist. When the twist is revealed, it should feel like finding the
Writing a Shocking Finale, Plus Story Ideas With a Twist Read More »
Choosing the right story order for your anthology If you’ve never published a short story collection or anthology, it might seem simple. You already have all the material, so all you need is a title and cover art, right? But wait, you have to think about the order! A well-planned arrangement of stories can keep readers turning the page and
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A Supernatural Fantasy Story Willie Ratcliff put on his battered top hat and tucked his violin under his arm. He hummed a jaunty tune as he walked to the park, his moth-eaten coat swishing. He strolled past peddlers selling flowers and trinkets and food vendors offering candy and roasted peanuts, finally stopping at the gazebo where jazz bands played in
Creating godlike super heroes who still feel human Every writer wants to create sympathetic characters, but when you’re writing a super hero with godlike powers, the wrong origin story can make them unrelatable. Unstoppable Man may have witty dialogue and original powers, but if he doesn’t feel like a real person, readers just won’t care. One of the foundational super
