Fiction Writing Advice | P. S. Hoffman

How to Easily Write Incredible Characters

The main reason we love stories? Great characters. Characters are addicting - they hook your readers into the world, and create an immersive, unforgettable experience. So how do you write a great character? How do you craft a living, breathing person from...

Read Now

More Writing Advice…

The 7 Essential Steps to Writing Better Villains

There are seven crucial steps to write better villains. Try these, and you will automatically start to create more compelling antagonists.

Writing Goals: The 2020 Ultimate Guide

Do you want to achieve your wildest writing goals in 2020? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to give you a complete strategy for setting your most important writing goals in 2020... and how to actually reach them. Here's the overview of what...

« Older Entries

Want More?

Get updates straight to your inbox...

Welcome to My Writing Blog!

Hey there, I’m P. S. Hoffman.

This is my blog, where I share writing techniques and other fiction-improving content.

I mostly write science fiction and fantasy, but my reading tastes range far and wide. So please, talk to me about anything writing related.

And feel free to comment on any article you read, because it helps me figure out what to write about next!

Don’t forget to subscribe for some (very infrequent) email updates.

ABOUT | CONTACT

The 19 Best Science Fiction Books of 2019

Looking for the best science fiction books of 2019? Check out this complete list.

How to Write Without Fear

When you’re stuck, writing is torture. This will show you how to overcome your writing fears… and conquer Writer’s Block.

How to Craft Distinct Character Voices

Do all your characters sound the same?You are losing readers. Read this to make all your dialogue rapid-fire and intense.

89+ Outstanding Gift Ideas for Writers and Storytellers

Need great gift ideas for a writer? Wouldn’t it be great if there was some giant, massive, so-big-it-could-serve-as-a-second-moon list of outstanding gift ideas for the writer in your life? You got it. This is the ultimate guide to gift ideas for writers. This list...

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Extraordinary Heroes

How do you write a hero who stands out? Not any ordinary hero... ...we're talking about writing a hero who is... Inspiring Full of character So addicting your readers will beg for sequels... This article will give you a firm grasp on how to write a truly engaging...

Should You Quit NaNoWriMo? 13 Reasons to Keep Writing

Should you quit NaNoWriMo? Or is there one really good reason to keep going…? This list is for the people teetering on the edge of “giving up.”

13 Smart Shortcuts to Write Brilliant Characters

Everybody loves reading about a smart character who wields her intelligence like a battle-axe. But actually writing a smart character? And building out a believable, yet rewarding, arc for geniuses? That's no easy feat. So I've sketched out some "shortcuts" to help...

The 13 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018

What are the best science fiction reads in 2018? This list has it all – wormholes, grimdark, Douglas Adams-style humor, and the very latest mind-bending scifi books.

12 Common Mistakes Editors are Sick of Seeing

What are the 12 most common mistakes authors make? I interviewed professional editors to find out…

26 Ways to Write “Instantly Likable” Characters (Part 2)

Want to write more likable characters? Want readers to “beg for more” of your protagonists? Check this out: the second half of the series.

26 Ways to Write “Instantly Likable” Characters

Want people to actually finish your stories? You need to make them care about the characters first. Here’s the first part of the list: “26 ways to write likable characters.”

How Brandon Sanderson Motivates His (Incredible) Main Characters

Writing great character motivations requires these 4 steps. With these, you will be able to turn any of your characters into living, breathing people with real lives.

…hopefully, their real lives are devastatingly interesting, so you’ll write books that people will beg to read.

7 Secrets to Powerful Character Motives

Armed with these seven secrets, you’ll have a much easier time creating characters that feel alive.

Your readers will cheer for them, feel every failure, and won’t be able to put your books down.

5 Ways to Describe Your Character (Without Actually Describing Them)

Want a better way to show what your character looks like? Stop describing them – and start using these 5 strategies to create vivid, beautiful characters.

How Can You Write Diverse Characters (without Stereotyping)?

Want to write characters from different Cultures? Backgrounds? What about other races and privilege levels? This will make sure you do it in a way that engages your audience… while respecting other demographics.

19 Best Writing Channels on YouTube

The Best Writing Channels on YouTube… are surprisingly plentiful. Find 19 of your next writing classes right here!

21 Quick Writing Tips from 21 Drafts

After 21 drafts of the same short story… I learned 21 things that I need to share with you. These will make a huge difference when you start writing your next story.