Inside/Outside: More Tips on Writing Conflict
When writing conflict, inner and outer conflicts are not two separate things. Outer conflicts offer an opportunity to explore inner ones better. Find out how.
Finding Your Author Voice
Your author voice has a unique and specific makeup. The way your word choice, writing style, tone, and perspective all make your voice unique to you.
Defining Types of Conflict in Children’s Books
Conflict in children’s books isn’t necessarily fights or arguments, it’s about the roadblocks that keep the character from getting what they want in the story.
Latalya Russell
3rd Place: DOES IT HAVE TO BE YOU
Conflict and Your Story Machine
Discover how the conflict the main character of your manuscript faces is the little piece of the story machine with the biggest impact on your reader.
Convey Emotions Through Dialogue
Dialogue is a powerful tool for conveying emotions. To write emotional dialogue that rings true, use these pointers from IFW Instructor Victoria Sherrow.
Plot: What’s At Stake?
Plot moves forward as pressure is applied to characters to motivate them to act. Pressure in a story is all about the stakes. Are your stakes high enough?
Nicole Groeneweg
4th Place: HAPPY IN NATURE: THE STORY OF EARTH DAY FOUNDER, GAYLORD NELSON
Worldbuilding and the 3 Stages of Writing
Many writers think worldbuilding is only for fantasy and sci-fi, but it’s important for all stories. Consider worldbuilding in these 3 stages of writing.
Get Started Worldbuilding
Good worldbuilding is an art. Writers must convince readers to live in their world. This writing exercise will help you build a world they won’t want to leave.
Irene Bennett
Battle of the Artisans: Making the Bells of Marquis Yi
May 24, 2024
4 Tips for Efficient Worldbuilding
Worldbuilding is the process of making decisions about setting and systems for a story. Check out these four tips for efficient and effective worldbuilding.
Nicki Jacobsmeyer
3rd Place: RISE OF AN UNDERDOG
4 Ways Setting Acts with and As Character
Setting can seem like a character all on its own, but only if the writer allows the setting to do its job. And that requires both research and imagination.
What is Worldbuilding?
Every story we read will take place in a world and readers need to be immersed in it. Here are the elements of worldbuilding—no matter what genre you write.
Tom Gauthier
3-time IFW graduate Tom Gauthier shares how taking one-on-on writing courses led to his publishing success.
Worldbuilding for Everyday Worlds
Worldbuilding is something every fiction writer needs to think about to create believable scenes rooted in a setting in such a way that readers feel it.
Angela Calabrese
1st Place: CRACK! CHICK! BOOM! THE STORY OF LEGENDARY JAZZ DRUMMER CHICK WEBB
Backmatter: When “The End” Isn’t The End
Backmatter is becoming more popular in nonfiction and fiction picture books. It can include timelines, photographs, and indexes. Will it work for your book?
Showing, Not Telling, Backstory
Backstory may be necessary to fill readers in on the history of a character. Victoria Sherrow shares how to include it in ways that show and don’t tell.
