Fiction University | Writers In The Storm

Freshen Up Tired Tropes Without Losing What Readers Love

Guest Blogger — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:46:00 +0000

Trope trouble starts when "expected" slips into "predictable." Janice Hardy provides 5 solid solutions to liven up your tropes and keep your readers engaged.

The post Freshen Up Tired Tropes Without Losing What Readers Love first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

When the Second Draft Feels Like a Step Back

Guest Blogger — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:41:00 +0000

Why second drafts often shock writers with the amount of work required, and three ways to make it easier. Great post from Janice Hardy!

The post When the Second Draft Feels Like a Step Back first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

5 Red Flags Your Novel Might Be Too Much Work to Read

Guest Blogger — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Some choices authors make may make reading your book too much of a chore for some readers. Learn 5 things that can make your novel "too much work" to read.

The post 5 Red Flags Your Novel Might Be Too Much Work to Read first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

5 Questions to Ask Before Adding a Subplot

Guest Blogger — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:45:00 +0000

Janice Hardy offers 5 key questions you can ask to determine whether your subplot is helping your story or hurting it.

The post 5 Questions to Ask Before Adding a Subplot first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

3 Ways Writers Can Instantly Spot Telling

Guest Blogger — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:20:00 +0000

It’s important to examine the different levels of telling so you know what to look for. Here are three places to look for told prose.

The post 3 Ways Writers Can Instantly Spot Telling first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

10 Ways to Get a Stuck Story Moving Again

Kris Maze — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 08:40:00 +0000

Janice Hardy of Fiction University shares 10 tips for avoiding writer's block. Look at the key elements of plot, figure out what's missing, and get the words flowing!

The post 10 Ways to Get a Stuck Story Moving Again first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Plot Backward to Move Forward with Your Novel

Guest Blogger — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 11:01:12 +0000

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Unless you're playing with a non-chronological story structure, plot unfolds as time marches on in a novel. It starts when the problem is discovered (more or less), and ends when the problem is resolved. But just because the story is in chronological order, doesn't mean we need to plot it that […]

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6 Ways Your Setting Can Create Conflict

Guest Blogger — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:01:05 +0000

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy No matter what form it takes, conflict is at the core of every story. It’s part of what drives the plot, and it’s what makes readers eager to read on to see if the protagonist succeeds. Characters face problem after problem, and with each trouble found, they’re forced to make tough […]

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How Judgmental Are Your Characters?

Guest Blogger — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 11:01:20 +0000

Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy In real life, being judgmental might cause a few problems, but in fiction, it's something every character should aspire to. How characters--especially the point of view characters--judge the world around them shows readers what that world is like and how it works (and even non-genre writers need to world build, it's just […]

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