Stuart Wakefield's Blog

This article provides worked examples of the same novel passage but with different point of view (POV) styles.

Let’s start with one of the most daunting moments for any writer - the blank page. There’s this idea out there that writers wait for...

Jaz Ampaw-Farr had a publisher. What did she didn't have was a book. That's where I came in as her book coach.

Here's how to be a great client for your book coach to... you know... coach.

Feeling stuck in your writing? An Author Accelerator book coach can help you clarify your vision, stay on track, and turn your draft into the book you meant to write. In this post, I break down what a book coach really does, who coaching is for (hint: not just beginners), and how to choose the right coach for your needs. If you’re spinning your wheels with your manuscript, this might be the support you’ve been looking for.

We all know a Spock. Maybe you are a Spock. The one with the perfectly structured outline, the colour-coded Scrivener files, the spreadsheet of inciting incidents. And let’s be honest: there’s a certain safety in logic. But if your brilliant, well-planned story still feels flat… it might be time to get dumb.

If you think writing romance is just about happily-ever-afters and smouldering glances, Noël Stark has news for you. With a career...

The Pixar Outline is a powerful tool for getting to the heart of your story.

All the tools you need to write your fiction with precision.

Time in fiction isn’t just about clocks and calendars—it’s about how a story feels as it unfolds. Readers experience time differently depending on how a writer structures scenes, reveals information, and controls pacing. Two key concepts in storytelling—instinctive time and dramatic time—help us shape a narrative that feels both natural and compelling.

What Is Instinctive Time?

Instinctive time is the natural rhythm of real life. It’s the way time moves in our everyday experiences—slow when...