Category Archives: Newsletter

Craft of Writing: Generate Tension by Leaving Reader in DoubtAny story you tell by definition has a plot, characters, setting, point of view and theme. But to really make a story pop, an author has to interweave and play these elements against one another so that the story has tension. READ MORE How to Format YourContinue reading “Generate Tension by Leaving Reader in Doubt – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for June 16, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Create an Uncertain Outcome for Your Main CharacterIf you’re story feels flat, you may want to look at the plot and ask yourself, “Do my readers have a sense of anticipation yet uncertainty about what will come next?” If the answer is “No,” then your story lacks suspense. READ MORE The Ultimate GuideContinue reading “Create an Uncertain Outcome for Your Main Character – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for June 9, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Sustain Dramatic Tension through Good PacingAs developing your story, maintaining a sense of tension is vital. Without dramatic tension – a feeling of uncertainty in the reader about how the main character will solve (or even if he will resolve) the central problem – the story will be flat and vanilla. READ MOREContinue reading “Sustain Dramatic Tension through Good Pacing – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for June 2, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Give Your Story Oomph! with Narrative DriveEver read a story before bed and find it so gripping that you stay up far later than you should just to find out what is going to happen? If so, you’ve been a “victim” of narrative drive. READ MORE Writing Advice: Using a Writing Process WhenContinue reading “Give Your Story Oomph! with Narrative Drive – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for May 26, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Watch for Verb Tense ShiftsA common mistake among novice writers is shifting within their story so that events occurred in the now but then in the next paragraph happen in the past. This is a sign that the writer is changing verb tenses. READ MORE Following a Writing Process for Fiction One of the biggestContinue reading “Watch for Verb Tense Shifts – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for May 19, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Pep Up Your Writing: Replace Overused VerbsEven when using active verbs, sentences still may sound flat. More than likely, that’s because those active verbs are also overused. READ MORE How to Write Engaging, Natural Dialogue in Your StoryOne of the most important tools in your writing kit is dialogue. It can help developContinue reading “Pep Up Your Writing: Replace Overused Verbs – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for May 12, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Turn Passive Passages into Active WritingSo you’ve written a scene packed with action, ripe with conflict, and filled with tension – but every time you read it, the writing feels flat. The problem may be that you’re writing in passive rather than active voice. READ MORE How to “Show Don’t Tell” Read any writingContinue reading “Turn Passive Passages into Active Writing – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for May 5, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Scour Fragments from Your WritingFragments should be used rarely. While they can be used for rhetorical effect, for that to be successful, the fragment needs to stand out from the rest of the text – and it won’t if your manuscript is full of incomplete sentences. READ MORE Writing Advice: Mastering PointContinue reading “Scour Fragments from Your Writing – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for April 28, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Vary Syntax to Give Writing Flavor, TextureWhen writing, you’ll want to vary the syntax, which is the pattern of the sentence’s words – that is, the order of the parts of speech within a sentence. READ MORE Writing Tips: How to Create Your Story’s CharactersSuccessful stories require characters who face some challenge orContinue reading “Vary Syntax to Give Writing Flavor, Texture – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for April 21, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Eschew Clichés Like a Toxic Waste DumpA quick way to strengthen your writing is to replace (or just avoid altogether) overused expressions and phrases. Such expressions and phrases are known as clichés. They include terms such as “avoid like the plague”, “beat around the bush” or “kiss of death.” READ MORE Writing Tips:Continue reading “Eschew Clichés Like a Toxic Waste Dump – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Apr 14, 2026”