As we reach the last Tuesday of the year, the 30th of December, it’s only fitting to talk about the art of waiting. Right now, the world itself is suspended in a strange pause—between the closing of one chapter and the quiet hope of another. The same is true in your fiction. Your characters—and your readers—can sit in that pause, in that unbearable space between what was and what’s coming. The tension of waiting isn’t just a pause in action. It’s the loaded silence before

In today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we dive deep into the art of crafting powerful endings—those that echo like a final note of a symphony, or a prayer whispered just before sunrise.

Today on Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we’ll explore how to write flashbacks that hit hard and heal slow. We’ll break down how to use them without disrupting your pacing, how to trigger them naturally, and how to make sure they elevate—not deflate—your story. Let’s get into it.

Letting your characters walk into the unknown is one of the most powerful tools in your writer’s toolbox. It’s what separates flat stories from unforgettable ones, and passive characters from legends.

Letting your characters walk into the unknown is one of the most powerful tools in your writer’s toolbox. It’s what separates flat stories from unforgettable ones, and passive characters from legends.

Some stories throw in arguments for drama, action for excitement, or misunderstandings for tension. But meaningful conflict? That’s what leaves a mark. It doesn’t just entertain—it transforms. In today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we’re diving deep into how to create conflict that matters, resonates, and changes your characters—and your readers—for good.

If you’ve ever read a book that lets you step into the shoes of multiple characters and feel every heartbeat, fear, or revelation from their unique lens—then you’ve experienced the magic of a well-crafted multi-POV story. But let’s be clear: this isn’t easy work. It’s a high-wire act between depth and confusion, clarity and chaos. When done well, multiple points of view don’t just tell a story—they reveal a world. So today, let’s break it down: the why, when, and how of writi

In this week’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we’re exploring how to write grief with authenticity and purpose—how to let loss shape your characters in a way that feels honest, moving, and deeply human.

Whether your character is a hero, villain, mentor, or sidekick, how they show up on the page shapes how your readers connect with them. So why waste the opportunity? Today, we’re talking about how to make your character’s first appearance unforgettable.

When you use it right, it gives your reader VIP access to your characters’ true hearts. The fears they hide. The doubts they wrestle with. The desires they bury. It's where the real story unfolds—not just in what happens, but in how your characters process what happens. If you’ve ever wanted to make your stories more emotional, more relatable, and more unforgettable, learning how to write inner monologues with authenticity is key. So let’s get into it.

Just like filmmakers did with the Back to the Future trilogy. The final moments of the first film flipped everything on its head: just as Marty settles back into normal life, Doc Brown returns with the unforgettable warning—“You’ve gotta come back with me! Back to the future!” In that moment, the hook was set. Cliffhangers like this don’t just drive sequels—they create legacy. In fact, the end of Part II launches us straight into Part III.

Friendships in fiction should be multifaceted, just like they are in real life. They can be loyal yet complicated, nurturing yet competitive, comforting yet confrontational. And when they’re written well, these relationships elevate your characters, deepen your plot, and move your readers. Let’s talk about how to write friendships that feel real, raw, and unforgettable.

A compelling villain doesn’t exist merely to “be bad.” They challenge your hero, force them to grow, and often embody the darkest mirror of the protagonist’s internal struggle. Villains are not obstacles—they are catalysts. If your readers remember your villain as vividly as your hero, you've done your job right.

This week’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ dives into the nuanced art of writing characters who protect others but not themselves—and why they leave such an indelible impact on readers.

This isn’t about romance alone (though it often is). It’s about belonging. About safety. About seeing and being seen. When a character finds that safe space in someone else, we as readers feel it. We crave it. And we remember it. Let’s explore how to write characters who find home—not in a house or city—but in another soul.

As a writer, your goal is to not just tell a story—but to deliver moments so emotionally potent, so immersive, that readers can’t help but go back. They reread not just because it was beautifully written, but because it touched something true inside them. These scenes aren’t about showing off your skill with words—they’re about tapping into the core of human experience and creating a shared emotional space between your characters and your readers.

Today’s post is a deep dive into not just understanding character motivation, but mastering it. Whether you're a novelist, screenwriter, comic creator, or storyteller of any kind—this is the heartbeat of your story.

Whether you’re building a new world, introducing a complex backstory, or creating high-stakes conflict, the temptation to explain everything right away is real. But dumping too much information too quickly can kill your story’s momentum, overwhelm your reader, and break immersion. Today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ is all about avoiding info dumps—and instead, mastering the art of showing, sprinkling, and layering information throughout your story.

A strong female character is not strong because she’s emotionless or flawless or invincible. She’s strong because she’s real. Because she has agency. Because she struggles, grows, leads, fails, and fights to define herself in a world that often wants to do it for her.

Great storytelling is like great music—it’s all about rhythm, balance, and harmony. In fiction, the balance between dialogue and action is one of the most critical aspects of your pacing, character development, and reader engagement. Too much dialogue, and the story can feel like a script with talking heads. Too much action, and readers may struggle to emotionally connect or understand motivation. So how do you strike that perfect balance? Let’s break it down.