Top 10 Writing Posts of 2019

Goodbye, 2019. Hello, 2020.

As you look back on 2019 (and the whole decade really), I hope you’re able to remember all the challenges you’ve conquered, the goals you’ve met, and the ways in which you’ve grown—as both a writer and a human.

For me, 2019 was a year of deep growth, mostly on an internal level. It was a year in which I struggled with things I never thought I’d struggle with (including writer’s block), but it was also a year that brought me deep insights and perspective shifts. Largely because of this, I see 2020 as a new chapter, and I look forward to what the turn in the road may bring.

I was super-kind to myself (mostly) when it came to writing this year. I kept plugging along on my outline for Book 3 in my Dreamlander trilogy, but it’s admittedly been slow going. I have plans for next year that I hope will help me return to the creative flow in a strong way.

Looking back on 2019, I’m actually pleasantly surprised to realize how much I did accomplish:

Publication of my gaslamp fantasy  Wayfarer .

Release of audio versions of 5 Secrets of Story Structure and  Dreamlander .






Deals for Russian and French translations of Structuring Your Novel .

6th mention of Helping Writers Become Authors in Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers

Finished rough draft of a new writing-craft book Writing Your Story’s Theme.

Next year, my modest (but exciting) plans include publishing the aforesaid Writing Your Story’s Theme, possibly producing a paperback version of Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration (at your request), finally migrating my podcast over to a new platform that’s more friendly to those who use platforms other than Apple, finishing that outline for Book 3 in my fantasy trilogy, and hopefully getting a good start on edits for Book 2 aka Dreambreaker.

As always, I’d also like to stick in some traveling, although I’m not sure where yet (ideas?).

Thanks so much for joining me throughout 2019, and I hope to see a lot of you in the coming year! Just in case you missed or would like to revisit them, here are my top 10 posts from 2019, according to page views.

My Top 10 Posts of 2019

1. How to Use a “Truth Chart” to Figure Out Your Character’s Arc

2. Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance

3. 8 Quick Tips for Show, Don’t Tell

4. 6 Requirements for Writing Better Character Goals

5. Plot, Character, and Theme: The Greatest Love Triangle in Fiction

6. How to Write Interesting Scenes

7. 7 Things to Try When Writing Is Hard

8. 4 Pacing Tricks to Keep Readers’ Attention

9. What Is the Relationship Between Plot and Theme?

10. 5 Ways to Use Theme to Create Character Arc (and Vice Versa)

Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! What was the most memorable writing event in your 2019? Tell me in the comments!

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