Writing inspiration: unleash your creative potential
Stuck for a story idea? Find writing inspiration in the stories you love: list your favorites, pick the elements you like best, and remix them into your own.
Online-Spellcheck Blog
Creative Writing
Creative writing tips for stories, novels, poems, and journals: characters, dialogue, world building, and finding ideas to write about.
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Stoic journaling: a path to clarity and self-discovery
Learn Stoic journaling: write for yourself, keep it simple, focus on what you can control, and start with 3 prompts inspired by the Stoic thinkers.
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How to write a novel in Google Docs
Learn how to write a novel in Google Docs: split your manuscript into chapters with headings, then build a workspace for outlines, characters, and research.
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Creative writing: 10 ways to write better sentences
10 ways to write better sentences in creative writing: prefer the active voice, cut weak similes and filter words, choose strong verbs, and keep it natural.
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What is stream of consciousness writing?
Stream of consciousness writing shows a character's thoughts as they flow. Learn where the term comes from, its features, famous examples, and 6 writing tips.
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15 tips on how to write a science fiction story
15 tips on how to write a science fiction story: find ideas in real science, build a believable world and characters, then shape the plot, conflict, and voice.
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Best ways to describe eye color in writing
Learn how to describe eye color in writing: what each color can say about a character, and vivid words for black, blue, brown, gray, green, and rarer eyes.
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What is wilderness journaling?
Wilderness journaling means keeping a handwritten journal of the plants, animals, and places you meet outdoors. Learn what goes in one and how to start.
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What makes a good novel ending? 5 signs
What makes a good novel ending? Learn 5 signs of an ending that satisfies, from a twist readers did not see coming to no loose ends and a clear feeling.
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The hardest part of writing a novel: 6 challenges and how to beat them
What is the hardest part of writing a novel? Learn 6 common challenges, from the first sentence to self-doubt, and a practical way to deal with each one.
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5 tips to improve your creative writing
Hit a creative wall? These 5 tips help you improve your creative writing: research new topics, break your patterns, find fresh metaphors, and build scenes.
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Web novel writing tips: schedule, proofread, and find readers
Web novel writing tips for your first serial: set a publishing schedule with buffer chapters, proofread every chapter, and go out and find your first readers.
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How to add emotions to your story: 6 tips
Learn how to add emotions to your story with 6 tips: make readers care, show instead of tell, challenge your characters, use dialogue, and make details matter.
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How to write a good short story: 7 tips
Learn how to write a good short story: stick to one theme, know the ending first, challenge your characters, cut extra details, and draft first, edit later.
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5 travel writing styles: take your pick
Learn 5 travel writing styles: destination, special event, how-to, travelogue, and guidebook, what each one asks of you, and how to find your own style.
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6 tips for travel writing that draws readers in
These 6 tips for travel writing help you tell readers about a trip the way they enjoy: natural, well structured, vivid, free of clichés, and honest.
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Writing a memoir: 4 tips for telling your life story
Writing a memoir? Build it around your turning points, make it vivid, tell the truth, and show how you have grown. These 4 tips explain how.
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Writing as a stress relief: 2 ways that help
Writing as a stress relief is easy to try: escape into a made-up story for an evening, or keep a journal to sort out your feelings and see problems anew.
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Past tense vs. present tense: which should you use for your novel?
Should you write your novel in the past tense or the present tense? Learn what each tense does for a story, when present tense works, and the mistake to avoid.
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Tips for writing comedy: 5 ways to make people laugh
Writing comedy is harder than it looks. Learn 5 techniques comedy writers use: unexpected pairings, misdirection, repetition, callbacks, and observation.
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How to write a horror novel: a quick guide
Writing a horror novel is like writing any novel, with a few differences. Learn how characters, pacing, setting, and a twist on the clichés scare your readers.
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6 tips for writing dialogue that sounds real
Learn how to write dialogue that brings your characters to life: show emotion, act it out, skip needless tags, give each character a voice, and add action.
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The basics of world building for fiction writers
World building creates the place, rules, and daily life of your story. Learn where to start, how to avoid an info dump, stay consistent, and why a map helps.
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How to pick a title for your new book: 3 tips
Learn how to pick a title for your new book: make it stand out, make it say what the book is about, and check that no other book already uses it.
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How to write non-fiction in 6 steps
Learn how to write non-fiction in 6 steps: choose a specific topic, research your market, find a title, finish a first draft, edit it, and get a good cover.
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4 storytelling basics for beginners
Learn 4 storytelling basics: a simple framework, a clear start, middle, and end, consistent details, and a story that your readers can relate to.
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50 feelings you can portray in your writing
A list of 50 feelings you can portray in your writing, grouped under anger, happiness, sadness, fear, and love, each with a short note on what it means.
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What's the fuss about initials? Why authors use them
Why do so many authors use initials instead of their first names? Learn the reasons, from hiding a woman's name to formality, and who hides behind them.
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Writing help: how to describe different emotions
Emotions are hard to put into words. Learn how the wheel of emotions helps you contrast feelings, how to show instead of tell, and rare words for feelings.
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7 useful creative writing exercises to get your ideas flowing
7 creative writing exercises that break a writing block: a letter to your future self, the 7x7x7 prompt, the dictionary game, a new persona, and more.
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How to write a perfect character description
Learn how to write a character description that lets readers see your character without stopping the story: skip the mirror, use encounters, show the unusual.
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Why you should write your family history now: 5 reasons
A family history keeps the stories a family tree cannot hold. Here are 5 reasons why you should write your family history now, and what it gives your family.
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Poetry tips from famous authors: 7 writing habits
Poetry tips from famous authors: the writing habits of Samuel Johnson, Amy Lowell, Poe, Wordsworth, and others, and how to find a writing ritual of your own.
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The difference between comics and graphic novels
Comics and graphic novels both tell stories in words and pictures. Learn how they differ in format, length, tone, publishing, and price, with a quick table.
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Trilogies: why are they so popular?
Why are so many stories told as trilogies? Learn the main theories, from Aristotle and Tolkien to the rule of three, and why readers and publishers love them.
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Writing your family history, part 2: scope, research, and writing
Writing your family history, part 2: decide whose story to tell, set deadlines and a theme, interview your relatives, research their world, and proofread.
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How to write your family history, part 1: choose a format
Learn how to write your family history, starting with the format: who it is for, how much time you have, and whether a book, cookbook, or scrapbook fits best.
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Different types of literature: fiction and non-fiction
Literature has two branches, fiction and non-fiction, and each holds many types. See the different types of literature, from fables and satire to travel guides.
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Over 50 writing prompts for stories, lists, and freewriting
Stuck for ideas? Here are over 50 writing prompts: freewriting exercises, lists, short story ideas, point-of-view challenges, and words to combine.
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5 tips for writing internal monologue
Internal monologue lets readers feel with your characters, but too much stalls the story. Learn when to use it, how to show feelings, and how to balance it.
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How to write your own book in 10 steps
Want to write your own book? Follow 10 steps from the first idea to publishing: outline, research, write every day, then edit, format, and proofread it.
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Why you should use a writing prompt
A writing prompt is a word or short phrase that gets you writing. Learn how to use one, 4 reasons it helps you past the blank page, and where to find prompts.