Tropes? Yes, please.

A lot of times what makes a book feel new and different isn’t that the author created a never-before-seen plot structure, but that they added their own unique flair or twist.

Am I in a Cult? What examining cults in fiction can reveal about the real-world intricacies of belief, control, and influence.

Seeing how far these fictional cults go to control people highlights the true litmus test of a cult: motive.

Villains: Those We Love, Hate, and Don’t Want to Live Without

In a lot of ways, the villain makes the hero, and there’s something so satisfying when a hero meets his match.

World Building: Don’t let it read like a textbook

I am by no means an expert in fantasy writing or world-building, but my lifelong love for the genre has led me to the conclusion that while there is no right way to build a fictional world, a wrong way is to give your reader a textbook instead of a story.