Scenes with dialogue provide an opportunity for readers to get outside of the character’s head and see how they present themselves. In this episode, we’ll talk about how characters talk, how you can make these moments engaging for your readers and how to give them weight in the broader narrative.

Is a piece of writing interesting? Does it have depth? These are issues that can be especially tricky for writers to spot in their own work, but there are tools to rely on.

In this episode, I’ll go over how to put your writing to the test, exercises to start understanding your own unique style, common features of unengaging writing and the importance of clarity in a narrative. Tune in to learn more!

Concerns about a dearth of originality have long haunted writing communities. What’s helpful to remember is that, like their authors, stories have vast and varied roots. One concept could have a thousand different interpretations under a thousand different pens. Even responding to another person’s work more directly—provided it’s done responsibly—can be of benefit to writers the world over.

In today’s episode of The Laboratory, I speak with my good friend, Nowreen Haque—a connoisseur of literary histories, pop culture and fan fiction—about the role that derivative works serve in the broader literary dialogue. We’ll discuss the concept of derivative literature, examples in both the literary canon and in fan fiction, what constitutes a “ripoff” of a work and, lastly, how writers can use derivative work to explore important concepts and strengthen their own skills with consideration to those creators that came before.