Molly Rookwood
Compelling Relationships: Shadow and Bone's Downfall
What makes a relationship compelling? We'll look at why Shadow and Bone fails to create a compelling relationship, and how you can do better!
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Molly Rookwood
Mar 27, 20234 min read
No Swords, No Flowers: Anatomy and Sex Scenes
When writing sex scenes, relying on metaphors is distracting at best and cringey at worst. Let's talk about sex scenes and anatomy!
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Molly Rookwood
Jan 30, 20234 min read
Romance Tropes: Friends to Lovers
It’s the season of love (or blanket burritos, or both), so I’m continuing my romance tropes series with the obvious sequel to my enemies...
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Molly Rookwood
Oct 7, 20225 min read
Words Left Unsaid: When to Tell, not Show
Were you taught "Show, don't tell" as a golden rule of writing? It's time to break it, and Guy Gavriel Kay is here to show us why.
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Molly Rookwood
Jul 22, 20224 min read
Using Story Maps for Self-Revision
Self-editing is scary, but using developmental editing techniques can help! Let's talk about story maps and how to make them work for you!
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Molly Rookwood
Mar 11, 20227 min read
Romance Tropes: Enemies to Lovers
Ah, romance tropes. Where would we be without you? Romance novels are built on established and well-loved tropes. Other genres, of...
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Molly Rookwood
Feb 11, 20225 min read
Something to Prove: Internal and External Goals
Characters, like us, have goals that drive and motivate them. What are your characters' internal and external goals? What are yours?
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Molly Rookwood
Jan 10, 20225 min read
When to Let Go: A Writer's Insight
If a story just isn't working, when do you choose to let go and set it aside? Jack Wong joins me this week to provide an author's viewpoint on letting a story go.
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Molly Rookwood
Nov 15, 20216 min read
Who's Telling the Story: Narration and Point of View
Choosing the correct point of view for your story changes how your readers receive your words. Which point of view is right for you?
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Molly Rookwood
Oct 28, 20216 min read
What Makes a Villain: Part Two
It's important to make monsters and villains scary for the right reasons. Let's look at racism and ableism in fantasy and how to avoid them.
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Molly Rookwood
Oct 18, 20213 min read
What Makes a Villain: Part One
Villains are an important part of fantasy writing. Let's look at what makes a convincing villain—and why some villains fall flat.
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Molly Rookwood
Oct 4, 20214 min read
The "Romance Novels Are Less Legitimate" Mindset
Many writers and readers view romance novels as less legitimate than other genres. But romance holds an important place in the literary canon, and is so much fun!
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Molly Rookwood
Jun 21, 20214 min read
"Oytmeal Middaht Milk": Accents and Dialects in Writing
When writing about characters from different backgrounds or cultures, should you include accents and dialects in your writing? Let's discuss!
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Molly Rookwood
May 25, 20215 min read
Oy Gevalt: Non-English Words in English Writing
Think about the last time you read a book and a non-English word was set in italics. How did that change your reading experience? Was the...
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Molly Rookwood
May 25, 20213 min read
"Interesting Is a Non-Word. Be Specific."
A few weeks ago, my partner and I watched Captain Fantastic , the quirky Vigo Mortensen movie about a man living in the woods with his...
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Molly Rookwood
Apr 26, 20214 min read
First Impressions: "A Truth Universally Acknowledged"
The opening sentence to Pride and Prejudice is our first impression to the book. What are the first impressions we give in our own writing?
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Molly Rookwood
Apr 12, 20214 min read
What Are Ambiguous Pronouns?
Ambiguous pronouns leave sentences muddled and confusing. Today we explore ambiguous pronouns and how to keep your writing clear!
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Molly Rookwood
Feb 22, 20214 min read
Sentence Structure & Characterization in Persuasion
Characterization is strongest when we consider tone, word choice, and even sentence structure. Take a lesson from the master: Jane Austen!
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Molly Rookwood
Feb 9, 20215 min read
Unlearning "Show, Don't Tell"
Young writers are often told, "Show, don't tell!" However, effective description is a mix of techniques. It's time to let "show, don't tell" go.
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Molly Rookwood
Jan 25, 20214 min read
Just Use "Said"—On Speech Tags
The purpose of speech tags is just to tell the reader who is speaking at a given moment. Use "said" or "asked" to avoid distracting your reader.
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