Tag: Writing Tips

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Should You Invest in Scrivener?

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Scrivener is a program I mention a fair bit for two reasons. First, full transparency, because I’m an affiliate for them. I make a small commission if you buy a Scrivener license through my affiliate link (and, yes, this post contains affiliate links, marked with an asterisk). But secondly, because it’s genuinely my go-to writing tool; I don’t join affiliate programs for tools that I don’t actually use and find valuable. My primary goal is not to make a commission, but to help you find the tools that will best serve your writing process! That’s why today I’m going to talk about why Scrivener might be a worthwhile investment for you… or why you might be better off going with something else.

Scrivener is for You If…

…Every Project Has Numerous Files

I used to have numerous files for each project I was working on, in folders within folders, and if I wanted to reference them I would have to open multiple separate Word documents and swap back and forth.

Then I found Scrivener.

Scrivener’s binder lets you Continue reading “Should You Invest in Scrivener?” →

Portraying Characters When Your Worldviews Clash

Portraying Characters When Your Worldviews Clash

Posted on by R.M. Archer

As authors, we want our stories to reflect the values that we believe in. We want to write with integrity, discouraging those things we believe to be wrong and championing those things we believe to be right. But our characters don’t always believe the same things we do (nor should they; we write stories, not sermons!), which can lead to a tricky balancing act: being true to the characters and their stories without compromising what we believe or endorsing behavior we believe to be wrong. How do you handle that tension? Here are some tips.

This question was originally brought up by an email subscriber. Thanks to Joshua for the question!

There are two things I try to show in my writing when characters are Continue reading “Portraying Characters When Your Worldviews Clash” →

How to Avoid 5 Common Worldbuilding Pitfalls

How to Avoid 5 Common Worldbuilding Pitfalls

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Like any element of storytelling, worldbuilding has the potential to greatly elevate the quality of a project. But, also like any element of storytelling, it can be easy to fall into common pitfalls and fail to tap into the full potential of your worldbuilding. Today I’m addressing some common pitfalls that authors can fall into when it comes to worldbuilding, and how to avoid them.

*This post contains affiliate links, marked with an asterisk. Purchases made through these links earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Under-Valuing the World

One pitfall I see fairly often is that authors don’t value worldbuilding in the first place. They see their world as Continue reading “How to Avoid 5 Common Worldbuilding Pitfalls” →

4 Tips for Revisiting Goals

4 Tips for Revisiting Goals

Posted on by R.M. Archer

I’m back! At least, I’m easing into being back. And as we near the final portion of the year, it seems an appropriate time to discuss how to effectively revisit and renew progress on the goals we set at the beginning of the year. Pull out those goals you set for this year, brush the dust off if you need to, and let’s get started!

Assess Progress

The first step to a productive Continue reading “4 Tips for Revisiting Goals” →

Developing Gender Roles for Fictional Cultures

Developing Gender Roles for Fictional Cultures

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Last month, it was brought to my attention that I didn’t yet have any articles on developing gender roles in fictional cultures, which led to the topic floating around in my brain until a post outline formed (likely helped along by the fact that I do have a section on gender roles in Building a World with a View, so this is a topic I’ve written about before even if it wasn’t in an available format until now). While some folks prefer to avoid gender roles as a fraught topic, knowing how your culture views the responsibilities and roles of men and women makes a huge difference in how they frame society as a whole; broader societal structure has its foundation in the structure of gender roles and family units, whether we like that reality or not, so gender roles are an important topic to consider when fleshing out a fictional culture!

Consider Natural Strengths & Weaknesses

Men and women have different natural strengths and weaknesses–biological and otherwise. The same is Continue reading “Developing Gender Roles for Fictional Cultures” →