The Chopping Blog

Planting false clues or intentionally distracting the reader from what’s actually happening can be a great way to avoid predictability in a plot and create a satisfying twist. Foreshadowing is the tool you need for this type of misdirection. 

Setting is the key organizational tool in Jane Eyre.

"A great novel is honed, not hatched."

Perhaps your story’s hero is a loose sock who has woken up on the bottom of the dryer all alone. How will it be reunited with its pair?

It’s easy for life to intrude on writing time. Setting aside time exclusively for your creative work is a way to honor your commitment to the craft. 

There are two pillars to effective storytelling: immersion and emotional draw. Immersion is what transports readers into your story world. Emotional draw is what keeps them there.

A truly effective hook doesn't just make promises—it's also the initial evidence that those promises will be fulfilled.

In the run-up to a series of autumn writing conferences, the Darling Axe senior editors are offering five free webinars.

Pre-orders open mid-August—join our launch list for updates by sending a note to editors@darlingaxe.com.

"I’m always going to have my books edited professionally, but I also appreciate help at the marketing level—from an expert."

The Darling Axe will be hosting our first-ever exclusive writing retreat in magnificent Tofino during storm-watch season—February 2024.

To me, an unpublishable manuscript is simply not publishable yet.