Janice Hardy | Writers In The Storm

How to Make Readers Forget Your Story Isn’t Real

Guest Blogger — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:06:00 +0000

When you can make your reader forget they’re reading a made-up story, you’ve struck gold. And believability is all in the details.

The post How to Make Readers Forget Your Story Isn’t Real first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Want Stronger Writing? Start Writing Less.

Guest Blogger — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:23:00 +0000

Every word in your manuscript should earn its place on the page. Janice Hardy shows us how to edit to make a good story great.

The post Want Stronger Writing? Start Writing Less. first appeared on 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.

The Secret Weapon Behind Every Great Character Arc

Guest Blogger — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:09:00 +0000

We may think of fear as the monster under the bed, but fear can also be sneaky. Fear can protect, or ruin lives long before a villain gets the chance.

The post The Secret Weapon Behind Every Great Character Arc 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.

Is Your Protagonist Too Lucky?

Guest Blogger — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:11:00 +0000

If things are always working out in your protagonist's favor, something is not right. Janice Hardy share several possible fixes for the lucky protagonist.

The post Is Your Protagonist Too Lucky? first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

A Handy Trick for Brainstorming Your Plot

Guest Blogger — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:26:00 +0000

You can bet that half the writers you meet have had struggles with plot. Even when you enjoy it, and are good at it, plotting has its challenges.

The post A Handy Trick for Brainstorming Your Plot first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Serve Your Story and You Won’t Go Wrong

Guest Blogger — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 08:51:00 +0000

We want a story that grabs readers and hauls them into our worlds so they can play with our characters for a while, right? Janice Hardy tells us how.

The post Serve Your Story and You Won’t Go Wrong first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Mundane to Magical: Using Clichés, Metaphors, and Similes

Guest Blogger — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 09:34:00 +0000

If a cliché helps create a more vivid image or reveal character, then it's serving its purpose. Janice shows us how to use these mundane tools to create magic.

The post Mundane to Magical: Using Clichés, Metaphors, and Similes first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

3 Easy Tips to Help You Revise Your Novel

Guest Blogger — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:33:00 +0000

Revising your story can turn a literary lump of coal into a diamond. Janice Hardy shares three tips to help you make your novel shine.

The post 3 Easy Tips to Help You Revise Your Novel first appeared on Writers In The Storm.