The Chopping Blog

"But staying focused while being so close to Oliver—with his smouldering glances and surprising sparks of tenderness—is harder than Scarlett thought."

"Crossing The Wilds on a bicycle with her baby in tow, Ina battles tornados, wild ostriches, and kidnappers."

 "This is my new favourite craft book."

Honor the tiny beat and it will carry the weight of a whole character for you.

Patchett writes about something that is very hard to make interesting: the triumph of goodness over evil. Her tricks: the use of tension, and the transformation of character.

Sanderson's masterful intertwining of family dynamics with the epic fantasy setting offers a rich, multi-layered narrative experience that showcases his ability to blend personal motivations with grand-scale storytelling.

While every genre is susceptible to the problem of info-dumping, it is most commonly an issue in speculative and historical fiction where world-building is of prime importance.

Obstacles in a plot are like roadblocks a character must get around. Reversals, however, require a total change of direction.

In crafting The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho dared to prioritize narrative context—in this case his personal philosophy—over traditional story elements like subplots and character development.

The complexity that we would normally find in subplots instead takes the form of extensive world-building.

CJ normally writes Viking fiction, but this time he takes us into the American fur trade for an adventure brimming with romance.

Understanding industry genres isn't just about fitting into a box; it's about connecting with readers who are looking for books just like yours.