Setting and Horror Certain things are true for all settings. If you want a sense of claustrophobic threat then small enclosed dark spaces ar...

In the last few posts I’ve discussed a story’s setting. Today I want to discuss a story’s setting and how it changes in the context of the h...

This post is a continuation of yesterday's post BUT in what follows I don't talk about horror stories. Alas. Horror stories are ver...

( FYI, this post is part of my How to Write a Genre Story series. By rights I should have titled it How to Write a Genre Story: Setting and ...

There are many stories that don't fit the hero’s journey. For example, the movies Psycho and The Princess Bride. And that's great! ...

What makes a story seem real? What gives it verisimilitude? I'm trying out a new idea or perhaps just putting a twist on an old one. I&#...

When writing a scene, how much description is enough? All writers have certain things we do well--or at least, that we do better t...

When I first started writing, I had no idea how important a well-developed setting was for enabling a reader to imagistically enter...

Today I continue talking about murderously good mysteries and how to write them . The Five Elements: Milieu, Victim, Murderer, Sus...

I'm finishing my series on setting today! Yes! I'm excited. Finally I'm getting to the material I've wanted to talk abo...