In a world where talents and experiences can be transferred between people through an advanced technology called the E/T Bank, Topher Broderick's life takes a dark turn when he finds his parents murdered and his sisters kidnapped. The kidnapper leaves behind a chilling demand... Topher must acquire specific talents and abilities through the E/T Bank to save his sisters. As he navigates the dangerous underworld of illegal talent transfers and battles against time, Topher discovers a shocking truth about his family that changes everything.

After a twenty-two-day hiatus due to health issues and Thanksgiving that made posting feel overwhelming, I'm finally feeling well enough to get back to writing. Sometimes we need to listen to our bodies and take breaks, but now I'm ready to resume sharing content with you all.

In this sneak peak Gabrie Mortan, a graduate student obsessed with the idea of time travel, uncovers a mysterious online user who accurately predicts future events. His discovery propels him into a dangerous quest to expose her true identity, only to learn she’s a time traveler sent to subtly shape history. As Gabrie pushes to reveal the truth, he faces resistance from powerful forces and warnings about the catastrophic consequences of his actions. The story delves into moral dilemmas, secrecy, and the high stakes of tampering with the fabric of time.

In a world where talents and experiences can be transferred between people through an advanced technology called the E/T Bank, Topher Broderick's life takes a dark turn when he finds his parents murdered and his sisters kidnapped. The kidnapper leaves behind a chilling demand... Topher must acquire specific talents and abilities through the E/T Bank to save his sisters. As he navigates the dangerous underworld of illegal talent transfers and battles against time, Topher discovers a shocking truth about his family that changes everything.

In this sneak peak Gabrie Mortan, a graduate student obsessed with the idea of time travel, uncovers a mysterious online user who accurately predicts future events. His discovery propels him into a dangerous quest to expose her true identity, only to learn she’s a time traveler sent to subtly shape history. As Gabrie pushes to reveal the truth, he faces resistance from powerful forces and warnings about the catastrophic consequences of his actions. The story delves into moral dilemmas, secrecy, and the high stakes of tampering with the fabric of time.

After a twenty-two-day hiatus due to health issues and Thanksgiving that made posting feel overwhelming, I'm finally feeling well enough to get back to writing. Sometimes we need to listen to our bodies and take breaks, but now I'm ready to resume sharing content with you all.

I maintain an ever-growing collection of 527 unique character names, deliberately avoiding common or popular choices. These carefully curated names range from Aalailey to Zuhailyn, each selected for their distinctiveness. While I'm still working on adding proper pronunciation guides for each name (which will take some time given the extensive list), I wanted to share this resource with fellow writers who might be searching for truly unique character names.

This is my take on the three-act structure, focusing on two crucial doorways that transform the protagonist's journey. I break down how these transition points work with a story's disturbance and climax, creating a clear path through your narrative. While it works beautifully with adventure and sci-fi, I've found this framework adapts well to any genre where characters face life-changing choices, from emotional journeys to romance.

I've crafted a story exploring the complex relationship between Bodhrán O'Shea, a wealthy helpline volunteer, and "Luisella," a regular caller who becomes special to him over their year of conversations. When they finally meet in person, the revelation of her false identity forces both characters to confront difficult truths about trust, deception, and human connection. Through their struggle to reconcile their bond with this new reality, I examine how relationships formed in vulnerability can survive when masks fall away.

I've developed a political thriller exploring the consequences of Hawaii's vote for independence from the United States. Through multiple viewpoints - including student activist Makaio Kamalani, doctor Leimomi Hōkūlani, and California Governor Santiago - I examine how Hawaii's secession triggers a cascade of similar movements across America. The story weaves together themes of sovereignty, civil rights, and the potential for peaceful protest to descend into civil war as the federal government responds with military force to maintain control.

I've crafted a sci-fi survival story about Rheesor and his crew aboard The Hannu, who find themselves trapped inside a massive space worm after being swallowed whole. When they discover a village of multi-generational survivors living inside the creature, tension builds between getting repairs done and convincing the skeptical villagers to escape. Through Rheesor's connection with young villager Asiri, and a race against rising digestive acids, I explore themes of leadership, belief, and adaptation while building toward a dramatic escape attempt.

A few cynics or humorists will glance at the many story motifs layered on top of one another, throw up their hands asking, "Why are you making it so complex?" I suppose that's like wanting to build a house, so you go to a lumber yard to buy the wood and they present you with fifty-seven varieties. You don't need but one kind to build the outer structure of your house—perhaps maple. But when you get to the window frames, maybe oak would look better. And perhaps the banisters would be nice in mahogany. The Story Diamond is like a lumber yard. Walk in, take a look around, and pick the motif or wood that works best for your particular story or for a specific beat. The Story Diamond should give you confidence that regardless of which one you pick, and at whatever beat you're at, you're still within the realm of telling a good story, because good stories follow the natural structure that forms the backbone of the Story Diamond.

I explore how unreliable narrators can add complexity and intrigue to storytelling by deliberately misleading or withholding information from readers. Whether through personal bias, mental instability, deception, or limited understanding, these narrators force readers to question the narrative's credibility and draw their own conclusions. I examine how this technique fundamentally alters a story's tone compared to using objective or omniscient perspectives, creating deeper engagement through uncertainty.

I examine the trope I call "A Cavalier Risk" - that crucial moment when a character's early success breeds dangerous overconfidence. Just before the story's midpoint, protagonists often feel invincible after initial victories, leading them to take reckless actions that set up their downfall. Using metaphors like "poking the bear" and "messing with the bull," I describe how this plot point reveals characters' true nature while setting them up for the harsh lessons waiting at the midpoint. This dance between pride and consequence is essential for character development.

I break down the key differences between illustrative and non-illustrative scenes in writing. Strong scenes actively challenge characters and show them making decisions in varied environments, revealing growth through their changing responses to similar situations. To help writers create more dynamic scenes, I've developed a checklist of essential elements - from setting and timing to emotional arcs and conflict sources. This framework helps identify whether you're truly showing character development or merely telling readers what to think.

This framework is for understanding how character wounds shape story arcs. By examining the relationship between traumatic past events and current behaviors, we can trace how wounds generate fears, false beliefs, and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. I provide targeted questions to help writers identify their characters' basic human needs, motivations, and conflicts that stem from these formative wounds. This flowchart approach helps create more psychologically complex character arcs.

This is a tool to help writers identify their characters' core internal conflicts by examining the interplay between emotional wounds, outer goals, and inner needs. By understanding how past trauma shapes current motivations, writers can develop more compelling character arcs. This framework helps uncover the deeper psychological struggles that drive character growth and plot development.

This is The Adrenaline Machine, which focuses on creating relentless tension through cycles of progress and setbacks. Starting with an intense opening plunge and moving through nine distinct stages of advancement and regression, this framework keeps readers engaged by alternating between moments of hope and despair. The outline culminates in a pivotal pause that leaves everything hanging in suspense, maximizing dramatic tension.

I've created a detailed outline for a Western pioneer story following a wagon train's journey from the Northeast to California's gold country. Through 33 beats, I track their progression from initial preparations through disasters, diseases, indigenous encounters, interpersonal conflicts, and eventual settlement. The outline balances external challenges like treacherous river crossings and confrontations with internal struggles like budding romances and betrayals, culminating in the pioneers establishing new lives and passing their legacy to future generations. This template provides a framework for exploring both the physical and emotional journeys of westward expansion.

In this daily reflection post, I share both the challenges and bright moments of my day. Despite dealing with chronic pain, late starts, and worried moments, I found joy in unexpected places - like some meaningful progress with my work. I'm learning to acknowledge both the ups and downs, celebrating small victories like posting content even when I don't feel like doing it. This kind of honest daily check-in helps me stay grounded and might become a regular feature of my blog.