I think this is one of those punctuation marks that people mix up most often. I know there's a lot of debate out there about how to properly use it but let me teach you about the most commonly agreed upon way. ✨ The core rule An ellipsis is three dots (…) used to show omission, hesitation, or unfinished thought. 📝 The 4 main uses of ellipses in fiction 1. Trailing off When a character stops mid‑thought or lets their words fade. “I thought I could handle it, but now I’m not s

What tense should you write it? How do you know it's the right one? Let's explore tension before we all make ourselves crazy! First, you should choose the tense that best matches the experience you want the reader to have. The right tense isn’t about rules---it’s about effect. Each tense creates a different kind of intimacy, pacing, and emotional texture. 🎯 Takeaway Write in the tense that matches the distance and urgency you want your story to feel. Present tense feels im

I know a lot of people have questions on the proper way to write dialogue and the best way to do it. Not to mention how to write it properly. Let's talk about that. You write dialogue well when it sounds like real people talking but reads cleaner than real speech. And you write unspoken speech well when you understand the different tools fiction gives you---thoughts, internal monologue, telepathy, written notes, gestures, texts, and more. Here’s how to handle both with clarit

Every writer hears these terms tossed around in author circles: alpha reader, beta reader, ARC reader. They sound similar, but each group plays a very different role in shaping your book. Understanding how they differ---and how to use them effectively---can transform your writing process. 🧪 What Is an Alpha Reader? An alpha reader is your earliest test reader---the person who sees your story while it’s still raw, messy, and full of potential. What they do Give big‑picture fe

I can't tell you how many times I've edited a story that didn't have basic paragraphs in it. That takes up a lot of my time when editing a story. I have to read the page, find the paragraphs, then add them in. Here's the thing, as you're writing, you should naturally be able to hear where they should go in your head. Pay close attention. This post will help you figure out when to add them in. ✦ When to break a paragraph Paragraphs are about clarity and rhythm. If a chapter is

One of the most challenging things to remember is to break your chapter at the right time. But how do you know when to do that? You know it’s time to break a chapter when the reader’s experience benefits from a pause, a shift, or a reset. The trick is learning to feel those moments in your own writing. Here’s a clear, practical way to tell when to add that break. Let's talk about chapters and how to know when to create one. 📘 When to break a chapter A chapter break works bes

Em dashes have been the topic of writing and editing culture for quite some time. We've all seen them, but what are they? Em dashes are used to replace commas, semicolons, parathesis, and colons. They can be used pretty universally. They are used to set off additional information, usually added facts, examples, explanatory and descriptive phrases, and even show disruption in thoughts and interruptions in dialogue. When using em dashes, you'll want to pay attention to the freq