Explore the captivating world of fantasy book reviews, writing tips, and Bookstagram advice on our blog. Join L.T. Ellis on a journey through enchanted realms, where imagination knows no bounds. Discover hidden gems, sharpen your writing skills, and create stunning bookish content with L.T. Ellis Blog Posts.

Learning how to create tension in writing is important whatever your genre. Read more on writing a page-turning novel.

Writing the first draft of your novel. First draft, rough draft, draft book, I want to write a book, how do I write a book, writing a first draft.

What makes a good story? Unforgettable characters, strong beginnings and endings, satisfying structure, rhythm, and change. Learn more.

A Case of the Writes is a blog dedicated to helping aspiring writers develop their voice and finish their stories. Bi-weekly posts detail writing tips and tricks.

Wondering how to 'raise the stakes' for the characters in your story or script? Let's take a look at why stakes are important and how to write them!

How to write a book in 30 days? Is it really impossible? A feat on par with slaying a dragon? Maybe so, but writers engage in this adventure every single year

Emotions are hard to capture authentically in fiction, maybe in part because as a society we tend to want to express things more in terms of what we’re doing or thinking. This diving deep int…

Want to write a Ruler archetype character in your short story, novel, or screenplay? Click to learn all about how to write a great ruler archetype!

Are you wondering how to write in third person omniscient? This article will shares 5 top tips on this topic!

This list outlines some cliches I commonly see in modern fantasy novels.

Common writing errors include SPAG, tense, POV and narration trouble, issues with argument, dialogue and more. Read tips to fix easy mistakes.

Comparing The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker to Dramatica Story Theory

Wondering how to 'raise the stakes' for the characters in your story or script? Let's take a look at why stakes are important and how to write them!

✏️ This book of dystopian and science fiction writing prompts includes dialogue prompts, opening lines, setting prompts and story ideas for your speculative fiction. ✏️ Writing prompts are great for quick writing exercises as well as for finding more inspiration for your writing projects. ✏️ The prompts are not super gritty but there are still a lot of upsetting themes included like death and the end of the world. ✏️ These are WRITING PROMPTS for humans - not AI prompts! ✏️ Find the rest of our unique writing prompts here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WriterLifestyle?section_id=34402488 ✏️ WHAT IS INCLUDED: - a PDF ebook with 80 different writing prompts ✏️ You might also like these dark writing prompts: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com/listing/1108744384 ----------------------------------- ✏️✏️ Have any questions? Hit the message seller button and I will be happy to help! ✏️ See the rest of our resources for writers, readers and book clubs: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com ✏️ Get our FREE Start Your Novel course: https://bit.ly/3uzzO7K ----------------------------------- This DIGITAL PRODUCT is an INSTANT DOWNLOAD. Nothing physical will be shipped to you. You will need to print it out yourself or take it to a print store. You can open the file with anything that can open PDF files, usually your browser is enough. If you have any issues accessing your files, let us know. You can find your download link when you click "Purchases and reviews" in your Etsy account. This does not work in the mobile app, and you need to click the download link in the receipt email you received from Etsy. Digital products cannot be returned or refunded.

Ah yes, torturing readers, your favourite hobby!

Discussing The "Gray" Character No. I'm not talking about everyone's favorite BDSM-loving red-room character. When I say "the gray character" I mean the character who's neither good nor evil, but walking the line between both. Hi all! It's cold outside and I'm sitting here watching the snow fall and thinking about my favorite characters in fiction. I've realized that so many of them are what I'd term "the gray character". I think back over the books that I love and continuously re-read and that's one commonality between them all. There's a difference between the anti-hero character, who does something noble or good contrary to his nature for his own gain. Those kinds of characters are fun, too, but they're not truly gray. They are mostly dark characters with little redeemability aside from the one good act we may see them do in the story. A truly gray character stands firmly on the line between light and dark, good and bad. Gray characters do equally as many "good deeds" as bad, and could kill and maim as easily as they help and heal. Typically, the gray character believes in the balance of light and dark and does follow at least some moral imperative that keeps him from going fully bad. He may have lines he refuses to cross, or past experiences that have predisposed him to feel empathy for one kind of person over another. Oftentimes, the gray character is the one who kills in battle indiscriminately, but would save a woman/child from being attacked on the street or in their home. Why do I love gray characters? In both reading and my own writing I find that the gray character is more like most of us than those who are too good, or too bad. Most of us have done things we aren't proud of, but we strive to do good things, too. Likewise, most villains in the world have some redeeming characteristics like their love of small animals or their respect for their mothers. No one rarely sits squarely in the good or evil realm, but most are more or less one or the other. The gray character is fun to write and read because he is unpredictable. Depending on his view of the situation he could either save the people from the fire or be the one burning down the building. Characters like these keep readers guessing, but also have stories that make readers feel for them. Examples, Amy! Okay, readers. Okay. Let's see. One of my favorite gray characters in fiction is Kaleb Krychek from Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh. Kaleb appears as a relatively shadowy character in the other books of the series up until this book, which is his story. While he was mostly assumed to be a villain, it's interesting in this book to learn that Kaleb isn't as dark as he seemed. He controls a vast amount of power, and one particular goal that, when learned by the reader, turns all of his previous acts on their heads. His motives, you see, redeem (in part) his actions prior. He's still not good as we would define it, but neither is he the villain we imagined him to be. There has never been a better flip from villain to hero for a character in romantic fiction, in my opinion. Find it on Amazon Another of my favorite gray characters is Roland of Gilead, main character of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. Roland is both hero and villain of his story, an opus that spans millenia and worlds in his quest to see The Dark Tower. Somewhat based on the legends of King Arthur, The Dark Tower stories follow Roland as he travels toward the center of existence where the tower stands. The thing about Roland is that he is both a loveable and unlikeable character at the same time. He is selfish, determined to see the tower at any cost, and his single-minded pursuit of the tower costs the lifesblood of his greatest friends. King's ability to weave a tale in which you both worship and despise the last gunslinger in a world that has moved on, is one of the best pieces of character fiction in the industry. Find it on Amazon So now you know that I'm slightly obsessed with characters who straddle the line between the light and the dark. When I was writing Resonance Factor, book IV of the Aeon Project series for Takamo Universe, I wanted Sevyn to be just this type of character. He's both broken and strong, angry and terrified, good and determined to win at any cost. He's my favorite Aeon Project hero so far, because he had the most to gain if only he could give love a chance. Start the series on Amazon or Kindle Unlimited Now, I put this question to you, dearest readers. Who is your favorite character in fiction, and WHY? Happy Reading! ~AR DeClerck

In this post, we share 10 words that help answer the question how to describe a nightmare in a story?

Learn how to use the 12 steps of the Hero's Journey to structure plot, develop characters, and write riveting stories that will keep readers engaged!

If You’re a Woman Writing a Male Character Avoid these Bad Writing Tips. As a male reader and writer I have been seeing some really bad advice pop up regularly about writing characters in general and specifically about writing males.

There are times when writers struggle to start their writing pieces. On that note, there is plenty of writing prompts for adults and in this post, there are 51 prompts to choose from.

If You’re a Woman Writing a Male Character Avoid these Bad Writing Tips. As a male reader and writer I have been seeing some really bad advice pop up regularly about writing characters in general and specifically about writing males.

There are times when writers struggle to start their writing pieces. On that note, there is plenty of writing prompts for adults and in this post, there are 51 prompts to choose from.

4 Scenes you can write That Reveal Who Your Character Is Seamlessly and professionally. Use these scenes to reveal your characters in stories

Before you start to write a novel, you should work on your outline. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to outline a novel in one day.

There are seven main types of conflict in fiction. How can you weave these into your story to keep readers engaged and intrigued?

This list features some gorgeous words that fantasy writers can use for inspiration.

Here Are 30 Epic Fantasy Story Ideas to Spark Your Imagination For Your Novel, Novella, Or Short Story You Want To Write

Explore the art of writing compelling redemption arcs with our insightful guide. Featuring iconic examples like Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Fiction University is a site dedicated to helping writers and authors improve their writing craft and their publishing careers.

Dive into the elegance and complexity of writing a ballroom scene with our step-by-step guide.

If you want to know how to write a book with no experience, this post shows you exactly how to get started writing. Yes, even without a degree.

✏️ This collection of romantasy writing prompts includes 80 unique ideas for your romantic fantasy fiction. ✏️ You get dialogue prompts, scene ideas, opening lines and story ideas. ✏️ Each prompt has a bit of fantasy, a bit of romance, or both! Some are slightly suggestive but none are overly graphic. ✏️ Find the rest of our fun and interesting writing prompts here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WriterLifestyle?section_id=34402488 ✏️ WHAT IS INCLUDED: - a PDF ebook with 80 different romantasy writing prompts ✏️ You might also like these fantasy writing prompts: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com/listing/1610718113 ✏️ This romance novel outline template helps you plan and structure your story: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com/listing/1464243318 ----------------------------------- ✏️✏️ Have any questions? Hit the message seller button and I will be happy to help! ✏️ See the rest of our resources for writers, readers and book clubs: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com ✏️ Get our FREE Start Your Novel course: https://bit.ly/3uzzO7K ----------------------------------- This DIGITAL PRODUCT is an INSTANT DOWNLOAD. Nothing physical will be shipped to you. You will need to print it out yourself or take it to a print store. You can open the file with anything that can open PDF files, usually your browser is enough. If you have any issues accessing your files, let us know. You can find your download link when you click "Purchases and reviews" in your Etsy account. This does not work in the mobile app, and you need to click the download link in the receipt email you received from Etsy. Digital products cannot be returned or refunded.

I asked my Instagram followers,“What are some signs of amateurish writing, in your opinion?” Here are the results!

✏️ This bundle of two writing prompt collections includes Dark Writing Prompts and Dystopian & Science Fiction Writing Prompts. That's 160 inspiring prompts in total. ✏️ Writing prompts are great for quick writing exercises as well as for finding more inspiration for your writing projects. ✏️ The prompts are not super gritty but there are still a lot of upsetting themes included like death and the end of the world. ✏️ In Dark Writing Prompts, you get character prompts, opening lines, dark locations and dialogue prompts. They work for different genres but they're all sad and depressing! ✏️ Dystopian & Science Fiction Prompts includes dialogue prompts, opening lines, setting prompts and story ideas. Use any of them separately or together to inspire your speculative fiction. ✏️ Find the rest of our unique writing prompts here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WriterLifestyle?section_id=34402488 ✏️ WHAT IS INCLUDED: - Dark Writing Prompts PDF ebook (80 prompts) - Dystopian & Science Fiction Writing Prompts PDF ebook (80 prompts) ✏️ You might also like these dark writing prompts: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com/listing/1108744384 ----------------------------------- ✏️✏️ Have any questions? Hit the message seller button and I will be happy to help! ✏️ See the rest of our resources for writers, readers and book clubs: https://writerlifestyle.etsy.com ✏️ Get our FREE Start Your Novel course: https://bit.ly/3uzzO7K ----------------------------------- This DIGITAL PRODUCT is an INSTANT DOWNLOAD. Nothing physical will be shipped to you. You will need to print it out yourself or take it to a print store. You can open the file with anything that can open PDF files, usually your browser is enough. If you have any issues accessing your files, let us know. You can find your download link when you click "Purchases and reviews" in your Etsy account. This does not work in the mobile app, and you need to click the download link in the receipt email you received from Etsy. Digital products cannot be returned or refunded.

Sometimes dialogue sounds stiff, clunky, or unnatural. Try these tricks to make your dialogue sound more natural and less written.

I asked my audience which things would make them quit a novel.

Panic attack is a topic that interests a lot of writers, over a broad range of genres, and it's easy to see why- writers are always looking for ways to pull an emotional reaction from their readers, and what better way to do that than by putting their characters through a traumatic, panic-i

Want to write a dystopian story, but don't know where to begin? Our ultimate guide in how to write dystopian fiction will help!

Ah yes, torturing readers, your favourite hobby!

Elizabeth Gilbert has created an easy note-taking system for writing a novel that helps her avoid writer’s block and keep her research and ideas organized.

Welcome back to the second part of my trilogy writing series. (You can read part one here if you missed it.) Today we're going to be...