The Chopping Blog

We’re pleased to offer more affordable pricing this year, and on top of that, we’re catering most of the meals. Win-win! 

"Tragic climaxes typically end in catastrophe—the final consequence of the protagonist’s fatal flaw."

In real life, people have many internal conflicts, which means that a protagonist should too. Everything bouncing around inside a character’s head contributes to their complexity and, therefore, their authenticity.

Allen has much wisdom to share from his time working in the public school system

A great novel is honed, not hatched. And to hone your novel, you need feedback.

In short, this heartbreaking novella is about what it means to be human.

"I’m always looking for anything that's interesting and beautifully written."

"Whenever I’m analyzing the plot of a more structurally experimental novel, I start by considering what happens at the climax."

The First Page Challenge is a lot of fun, after all. So we're bringing it back.

All fiction is autobiographical in the sense that your characters and story world are drawn from your lived experience of people and places.

"So many things are well written, but very few things keep me turning pages with speed and dedication."

"Manuscripts don't need to start with the inciting incident, but they need to draw you in. An opening stuck in mundanity or incessant description or relentless backstory is a sign the story isn't starting in the right place."