Jacqueline Halase 1/8/25 Jacqueline Halase 1/8/25

Rhythms for Writing

A few considerations for healthy rhythms we can establish as writers

Jacqueline Halase 11/19/24 Jacqueline Halase 11/19/24

Discovering the Unexpected in Everyday Settings

Unexpected things are happening in the real world, every day, in thousands of different ways. Those moments make our stories—both real and imagined—richer and more compelling.

Jacqueline Halase 11/5/24 Jacqueline Halase 11/5/24

Mental Health for Writers

What are we doing to look after our mental health as writers?

Jacqueline Halase 10/23/24 Jacqueline Halase 10/23/24

What’s Your Problem? Hooking Readers with Conflict

Conflict is at the heart of every powerful story. If nothing ever went wrong for our characters, their journeys would be unrelatable, and therefore, uninspiring.

Jacqueline Halase 8/26/24 Jacqueline Halase 8/26/24

Character Inspiration: Opera Singer

Michaela Chiste shares about her life as an opera singer.

Jacqueline Halase 8/20/24 Jacqueline Halase 8/20/24

Writing Convincing Characters

Three tips that have helped me to shape my characters in fiction

Jacqueline Halase 7/29/24 Jacqueline Halase 7/29/24

Make Your Characters Specific

Specific details are the secret to good characterization – the very heart of the craft. This strategy can be applied to every single character in your story, from your main protagonist to the random guy they pass on the street on page 97.

Jacqueline Halase 6/27/24 Jacqueline Halase 6/27/24

6 Responsibilities of Good Writers

Six thoughts about using our passion and writing abilities responsibly

Jacqueline Halase 4/21/24 Jacqueline Halase 4/21/24

What Do Your Characters Do with Heartbreak?

Conflict is central to any good story. The best stories go beyond the surface-level problems and show us a glimpse of a character’s heart. What is breaking them apart inside? What is causing them agony or fear or dilemma? And more importantly, what are they doing about it?

Jacqueline Halase 3/18/24 Jacqueline Halase 3/18/24

Character Inspiration: Emergency Call Taker

Bry lives in England and works as an emergency call taker. Here, she offers some insight into a day in the life!

Jacqueline Halase 1/21/24 Jacqueline Halase 1/21/24

Setting: Ruins

“The presence of something ruined always reflects the presence of something lost. The question of what has been lost can spur incredible stories into motion.”