by PassKey Publishing | Jun 25, 2025 | Writing Craft and Process
Sometimes, the key to creativity is simply stepping back. As this email goes out, I am sitting somewhere within the JFK airport, waiting on a plane that will take me to Paris. From there, I’ll drive to Normandy for a women’s autumn coliving camp at a chateau. For...
by PassKey Publishing | Jun 25, 2025 | Writing Craft and Process
The sharper the stakes, the more engaged your readers will be. Stakes are the risks or consequences a character faces if they fail to achieve their goal. The stakes create tension and emotional investment, making readers care about the outcome. When writing, we often...
by PassKey Publishing | Jun 25, 2025 | Writing Craft and Process
Today, I thought I’d share a peek into my own writing process and encourage you to embrace your unique way of creating. I write while sitting on the floor. Everything I need—my laptop, reference books, scratch paper, writing utensils, tea tray, etc.—is spread out in a...
by PassKey Publishing | Apr 17, 2025 | Dialogue, Editing, Writing Craft and Process
As you probably noticed, in this post’s title, I put “overcoming” in quotation marks. Why? Because I think this idea of overcoming fear is not actually that helpful. I think this notion causes us to redirect our energy. Not to sound like a downer, but I don’t believe...
by PassKey Publishing | Apr 17, 2025 | Dialogue, Editing, Writing Craft and Process
As we conclude our series on dialogue, this article’s focus is on one of the most nuanced aspects of writing: using subtext. Subtext enriches your narrative, offering depth and complexity that engage readers on a deeper level. The Power of Subtext Subtext is the...
by PassKey Publishing | Feb 13, 2025 | Dialogue, Editing, Writing Craft and Process
Welcome back to our series on mastering dialogue! Today, we’re going to focus on the importance of keeping dialogue concise to maintain reader engagement and ensure a dynamic narrative pace. Why Conciseness Matters in Dialogue Concise dialogue is key to keeping your...
