“Ask Jane” Shorts

I'm often asked by writers whether to use real cities and geographic locations or create fictional ones. In my Josie Prescott Antiques mystery series, I...

Are your characters reacting impulsively or planning methodically? Understanding character transformation patterns changes how you build believable...

In this video, I walk through two transformation paths your character can take: from bad to good, or from good to bad. I use concrete examples so you can see...

Character transformation is at the heart of compelling fiction. But not all effective character arcs involve dramatic change. Your protagonist's journey can...

Escalating conflict in fiction starts with understanding your protagonist's stakes, not mining your own worries. Focus on what your protagonist stands to...

Where do story ideas come from? I break down the sources writers tap into—from daydreams to overheard conversations—and share a powerful framework that'll...

How long should chapters be? I get asked this all the time, and here's the truth: there's no magic number. Your genre sets reader expectations, but...

I keep a little note by my computer that reminds me to "escalate conflict." But how can you actually accomplish this in your own writing? In this video, I...

What if you could use two different perspectives, but keep just one voice telling the story? This video explores an unusual and powerful technique that lets...