January 2025

Dracula vs. Nosferatu: How Murnau’s Vampire Improved on Stoker’s Classic

Illustration of Count Orlok’s shadow creeping toward Ellen, who holds a book on vampires, set in a bold, angular mid-century horror art style with dramatic red, orange, and black tones.
/ 2.09 The Art Of Adaptation, 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES

Reading Time: 3 minutesCryptic and shadowy greetings, my Fang-Inflicted Fiction Igniters! Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the granddaddy of all vampire tales, but F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) didn’t just adapt the novel—it transformed it. This wasn’t just about changing names to avoid copyright issues; Murnau’s changes actually made the story stronger, darker, and more thematically cohesive. One of the […]

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The Storytelling Playbook You Never Knew You Needed: A Deep Dive into John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story

Abstract mid-century graphic art illustration of storytelling elements inspired by John Truby's The Anatomy of Story, featuring dynamic geometric shapes and Fiction Ignition’s bold color palette.
/ 6. THE WRITER'S LIBRARY

Reading Time: 7 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! If you’ve ever wrestled a blank page like it owed you money, spent hours questioning your own genius, or tried to stitch together a story only to end up with Frankenstein’s monster instead of a masterpiece—boy, do I have a book for you! Strap in, my Incendiary Inkmasters, because today we’re cracking

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Touch Of Evil

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Grab your popcorn and pens because today, we’re diving into the deliciously dark and wildly innovative classic, Touch of Evil. This Orson Welles masterpiece isn’t just a cinematic marvel—it’s a masterclass in storytelling that slaps you in the face with brilliance and whispers, “Write better, you fool!” So, here are the Top

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Backstory Without Boredom: Layering Your Characters’ Histories

Abstract geometric art showing a silhouette standing before a fiery and shadowy path, symbolizing the layering of time and identity. Depicts a silhouette of a character standing before a vivid, fiery path contrasted with a shadowy, obscured trail. Incorporate the Fiction Ignition color palette: whitish grey (#E2E1E1), yellow (#FDC53E), orange (#E84711), red (#A10F1A), and black (#010101).
/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.01 Character Development

Reading Time: 5 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Let’s get real for a second: nothing kills a story’s momentum faster than a character stopping mid-adventure to monologue about their traumatic childhood… or that one time they saved a cat from a tree. We’ve all read books or watched movies where the backstory felt like it came out of nowhere, slapped

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How to Build a Plot That Hooks Readers from Start to Finish

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.04 Plot Development & Story Structure

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Gather ’round, because today we’re diving into one of the most electrifying challenges every writer faces: building a plot so gripping, your readers won’t just turn pages—they’ll sprint through them! If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your audience hooked from the first word to the final period, you’re in the right

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Mastering the Jump Cut: How to Move Time Without Losing Your Readers

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.04 Plot Development & Story Structure, 2.06 Narrative Techniques

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let’s talk about one of the most thrilling tools in a writer’s arsenal: the jump cut. No, this isn’t just for film directors with megaphones and berets. It’s a storytelling secret that can catapult your narrative through time, keep your readers hooked, and make you look like a narrative ninja! Done right,

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When AI Isn’t the Enemy: Why Writers Should See It as a Tool, Not a Threat

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/ 4. THE WRITER'S TOOLBOX: TECH & TRENDS, 4.01 AI & Writing

Reading Time: 4 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Have you ever been cornered by that buzzing debate about artificial intelligence—where half the crowd says it’s the dawn of Skynet, and the other half thinks it’s the Holy Grail of human creativity? If you have, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving deep into the fiery debate, torching misconceptions, and

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Player 120: How Squid Game Season 2 Nailed Inclusion Without Compromising Storytelling

Abstract art of Player 120 from Squid Game, symbolizing inclusion done right.
/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.01 Character Development

Reading Time: 4 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters!Let’s talk about one of the hottest topics in storytelling today—representation. Before you roll your eyes at the billionth debate over “forced inclusion,” let me introduce you to Player 120 from Squid Game Season 2, a masterclass on how to do inclusion right. This character—a trans woman—is proof that representation doesn’t have to

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Writing in First-Person vs. Third-Person: How to Choose the Right Perspective

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.08 Narrative Perspectives

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Gather ‘round because today, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most electrifying questions a writer can face: Should I write in first-person or third-person? Oh, the drama! The possibilities! The indecision! But fret not, because your resident Flamekeeper is here to light the way through this literary labyrinth. First vs. Third:

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Writing Time Travel Stories That Make Sense

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.03 Genres & Story Types

Reading Time: 4 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Have you ever found yourself tangled in the wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey mess of a poorly written time travel story? Fear not! Today, we’re going to master the art of crafting time travel tales that not only thrill but also make sense—the kind of stories that leave readers awestruck instead of scratching their heads.

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How to Create Relatable Heroes: The Key to Writing Compelling Protagonists

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/ 2.01 Character Development, 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.07 Dialogue Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let me ask you something right out of the gate: when was the last time you fell head over heels for a fictional character? You know, the kind that sticks in your mind for years, like Atticus Finch or Katniss Everdeen? You want to cheer for them, cry with them, and maybe

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Asterix

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Today, I’m taking you on a whirlwind adventure through the magical world of storytelling with a little help from a plucky Gaul and his eccentric village. That’s right—Asterix and his unforgettable escapades, masterfully written by the great René Goscinny, have taught me some invaluable lessons about writing that I’m dying to share

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Billy Wilder

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Ever wondered what a Hollywood genius can teach us about writing unforgettable fiction? Billy Wilder, the mastermind behind Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, and Some Like It Hot, didn’t just craft movies—he wrote lessons for storytellers of all stripes. So, I thought, why not dive into the Wilder wisdom and share the top

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Mad Men

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Have you ever watched a show so brilliantly written that it made you want to drop everything, pick up a pen, and craft your own masterpiece? That’s what Mad Men did for me. This isn’t just a TV series about advertising—it’s a storytelling masterclass, a crash course in character arcs, subtext, and

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Charlie Kaufman

A surreal mid-century graphic-style illustration of a labyrinth-shaped brain with characters exploring it, inspired by Charlie Kaufman.
/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Today, we’re diving deep into the beautifully bizarre world of Charlie Kaufman. The man behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Adaptation has taught me more about storytelling than any seminar ever could. So, let’s count down the top 10 things this genius has taught me about writing, from one humble

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Paris, Texas

Solitary figure walking toward a glowing neon sign that says "Paris, Texas," with a desert road stretching into the horizon at dusk.
/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let me take you on a journey where neon-lit diners and barren deserts collide with the timeless lessons of storytelling. Yes, I’m talking about Wim Wenders’ haunting masterpiece Paris, Texas. It’s more than just a movie—it’s a masterclass in narrative craftsmanship. So, grab your pen (or your keyboard), and let’s countdown the

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From David Lynch

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn Memory of a Creative Titan Hello, Fiction Igniters! Today, we’re gathered around the literary campfire with heavy hearts. David Lynch, the legendary filmmaker and creative maverick, passed away on January 15, 2024. His legacy is an eternal blaze of inspiration for artists, storytellers, and, yes, us fiction writers. From Twin Peaks to Blue Velvet,

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What We Can Learn from Shakespeare About Timeless Storytelling

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.05 Theme and Symbolism, 2.06 Narrative Techniques, 2.07 Dialogue Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let’s take a time machine back to the smoky theaters of Elizabethan England. Imagine a young Shakespeare pacing the wooden planks of The Globe, quill in hand, sweating over lines that’d one day become cultural bedrock. Yep, that’s right—William Shakespeare, the Bard himself, was once just another writer trying to pay the

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How to Write Romance Without Falling Into Clichés

A modern couple on a park bench surrounded by abstract symbols of romance, like hearts and puzzle pieces.
/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.03 Genres & Story Types

Reading Time: 3 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Gather ‘round the flame, my literary pyromaniacs! Today, we’re tackling one of the trickiest tightropes in storytelling: writing romance without tumbling headfirst into a steaming pile of clichés. You know what I mean—love triangles that feel like geometry homework, “meet-cutes” that make your eyes roll, and brooding billionaires who couldn’t buy a

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How Famous Authors Beat Writer’s Block (And How You Can Too)

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/ 1. FUEL YOUR CREATIVE FIRE, 1.02 Overcoming Writer’s Block

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let’s talk about the creative menace that’s plagued wordsmiths since quills were the hottest tech in town: writer’s block. Yep, that wall of silence that suddenly shows up between you and your best ideas, as if your muse decided to ghost you. But fear not, because even the legends of literature have

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Daily Writing Habits of History’s Greatest Authors

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/ 1. FUEL YOUR CREATIVE FIRE, 1.02 Overcoming Writer’s Block, 1.04 Writing Habits & Routines

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let’s start with a truth bomb: writing every day is like eating your vegetables—not always glamorous, but it keeps your creative muscles lean, mean, and ready to dream! Now, before you roll your eyes, thinking, Oh, here comes another productivity lecture, hold your horses. We’re not going down a dull, drab road

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World-building 101: Create Fantasy Worlds Readers Believe In

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/ 2. IGNITE YOUR WRITING TECHNIQUES, 2.02 World-building

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Pull up a chair, and let’s spark some storytelling magic together. Have you ever opened a book and been sucked right in, as if a portal had yawned wide and whooshed you to a whole other reality? That’s worldbuilding, my friends—the wizardry that turns ink into entire universes. And today, I’m spilling

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 4 minutesHello, Fiction Igniters! Gather around, my literary pyromaniacs, because today we’re diving into the swamp—literally and figuratively. I’m talking about Alan Moore’s legendary run on Swamp Thing is considered a pinnacle of comic book storytelling, redefining the horror genre within the medium. As a bearded wizard of words and ideas, Moore took a character that

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Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing From Ozark

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/ 5. TOP LISTS & HIDDEN GEMS, 5.01 Top 10 Things I Learned About Writing

Reading Time: 3 minutesGreetings, Fiction Igniters! Let’s light up this blog post with a deep dive into the brilliantly dark and twisty world of Ozark and the writing lessons it delivers. You know how they say inspiration can strike anywhere? Well, for me, it hit like a lightning bolt as I binged this show. Grab your coffee (or

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