Authenticity applies to Tolkien’s work too, you know? — I’ve just learned of the passing of Priscilla Tolkien. Such sad news. And not only because it’s always sad to hear about a passing, but because she was the last of Professor Tolkien’s children. The last of the Numenoereans, as one of my friends aptly said. In memory of Priscilla Tolkien | Lady Margaret Hall The college announces with regret the death of Priscilla Tolkien on 28 February 2022, at the age of 92, after a short…www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

What do we mean when we say that we need to know ‘everything’ about our characters to write about them with awareness? — There’s no denying that characters are the lifeblood of storytelling. Creating realistic, relatable characters is crucial to readers’ involvement. When they perceive the characters as real people, readers will care about them and what happens to them. While characters are a wildly personal matter for any authors (likely the most…

No. The author and the narrator are never the same. And this is good for the story. — Storytelling jargon may be confusing. Many terms are familiar to us even outside of the storytelling field, but they take up a very specific meaning when used in a narrative context. The discrepancy between the common and specific use is what may create confusion. It’s the case of ‘narrator’. In…

Act II is where the story truly expresses itself, and it does it one terrible crisis after another. But there should always be hope at the end of the tunnel. — The 3-Act Story Structure is one of the most effective narrative structures. It’s straightforward, but it’s in simplicity that resides its power. The 3-Act Story Structure comprises a beginning, middle (with a big crisis) and end, and every act also has its own beginning, middle and end. This sequence is…

We tend to use chapter breaks pragmatically, but do you know an emotional use will irrevocably bind the reader to the story? — Chapters are the humblest of narrative tools. We tend to use them without really thinking about what they can do for us. A bit randomly, let’s be honest. But have you ever thought about what chapter may do for our story? Trust me. They can do a lot more than…

The opening might be the least exciting of the three acts in a story, but lay it down with awareness, and it will sustain your story to the very end. — The 3-Act Story Structure is one of the most effective narrative structures. It’s straightforward, but it’s in simplicity that resides its power. The 3-Act Story Structure comprises a beginning, middle (with a big crisis) and end, and every act also has its own beginning, middle and end. This sequence is…

A character’s ‘organic’ characteristics aren’t everything there is to it. Narrative characteristics also define a character. In a previous article, I’ve talked about what are the main traits of a compelling character, touching on physical looks, background and psychological and emotional states. I would define these ‘organic characteristics’, because they…