The Author Alchemist Blog

Turn your words into gold.

Talena Winters 5/13/24 Talena Winters 5/13/24

The Unbreakable Promise: Hooking Readers through Expectations

In this first post in the “Strong Beginnings” series, we’ll explore the promises made in a compelling first act that engross your reader so completely they don’t stop reading until they get all the way to the satisfying conclusion of your story.

Talena Winters 7/31/20 Talena Winters 7/31/20

May I Offer You a Conflict Sandwich?

Balancing descriptive details with a compelling narrative can be tricky. Use this Conflict Sandwich recipe to help you make a pièce de résistance.

Talena Winters 5/15/19 Talena Winters 5/15/19

Going Deep: How Deep POV Hooks Your Reader

Deep POV is immersing ourselves so deeply into the character’s head that we forget we’re reading about someone else. But how do you do that?