Głęboka woda / Deep Water 2022
Should You Tie Up Loose Ends in Your Story—or Leave Them Open?
Are loose ends in fiction a good thing—or a bad thing? The phrase itself sounds accusatory, as if loose ends are something writers ought to...
The Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story
When writers start talking about story structure, usually the first things people think of are beats, turning points, and acts. But underneath all of...
The Mirror Moment in Fiction: A Midpoint Method for Plotters and Pantsers
Note From KMW: One of the first writing teachers I remember learning from was James Scott Bell. When I started religiously reading the Writer’s...
Story as Cosmology: Understanding Story as a Framework for Meaning
As storytellers, we spend our lives thinking about story. How does it work? What makes it resonate? What makes certain narratives feel true while...
6 Reasons Writing for Change Requires an Engaged Community
Note From KMW: If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know how often we circle back to the idea that story is, at its heart, about...
Why Writers Need a Sense of Wonder in Fiction More Than Ever
We live in a storytelling moment deeply fascinated by darkness—and for good reason. Stories have always descended into shadow to help us...
Story Stakes: When to Reveal Them—and Why Timing Is Everything
Here’s what’s most important for writers to understand about story stakes. Story stakes are what characters stand to lose if they...
How My Writing Career Evolved in 2025—and the Author Business I’m Building for 2026
I began the year thinking I knew where I was headed and ended it realizing how my writing career evolved into something I couldn’t have...
The Best of Helping Writers Become Authors in 2025
Welcome to the final post of the year! And what a year it’s been. As I look back on 2025, I’m filled with gratitude for the amazing conversations,...
A Christmas Letter to My Fellow Storytellers
Dear Wordplayers, I love this moment in time, as the warmth and blessing of Christmas juxtaposes the deepest darkness of the year. For me, it feels...
