KN Magazine: Articles
Drop the Pen! What Every Writer Needs to Know About Real Police Work: Police Batons
In this installment of Drop the Pen!, David Lane Williams explores the history, use, and realities of police batons, offering writers an insider’s perspective on how and when these “less lethal” tools are actually deployed. Blending firsthand experience with practical guidance, the article helps writers portray law enforcement with greater accuracy and nuance.
Making History Relevant to Story without Slowing the Pace
In this craft article, Tori Eldridge explores how writers can seamlessly integrate historical and cultural detail into fiction without slowing the pace. Through practical techniques like embedding history in character genealogy and revealing information at impactful moments, she demonstrates how to enrich storytelling while maintaining momentum and reader engagement.
Literary Alchemy: Ingredients of the Story – Conflict
In this installment of Literary Alchemy: Ingredients of the Story, Chrissy Hicks explores conflict as the driving force behind compelling fiction. From internal struggles to external battles, she breaks down how conflict shapes character, builds tension, and mirrors real life—offering practical techniques and examples to help writers craft stories that keep readers fully engaged.
Drop the Pen! What Every Writer Should Know About Real Police Work: The Bladed Stance: Why Do Cops Stand Like That?
In this installment of Drop the Pen!, David Lane Williams breaks down the “bladed stance,” a subtle but critical detail in real police work. Blending practical insight with storytelling application, the article shows how posture, positioning, and body language reveal both tactical awareness and communication strategy—offering writers an authentic edge when crafting believable law enforcement characters.
Literary Alchemy: Ingredients of the Story – Misdirection
In “Literary Alchemy: Ingredients of the Story,” Chrissy Hicks explores the art of misdirection and how it fuels suspense, deepens character, and delivers unforgettable plot twists. Through examples from classic and contemporary fiction, she breaks down techniques like red herrings, unreliable narrators, and omission, showing writers how to guide readers toward false assumptions before revealing the truth in surprising yet satisfying ways.
Writing Historical Fiction
Historical fiction demands more than dates and dusty facts—it requires knowing how to transform real events into compelling narrative. In this practical craft article, James L. Hill explores three major approaches to historical fiction, from time-period-based storytelling to alternative history, and explains how much research each truly requires. Whether anchoring your story in the Battle of Trenton or rewriting the fate of the American Revolution, Hill shows how to balance accuracy, imagination, and storytelling power.
Japanese Literary Terms
Neil Plakcy introduces fifteen essential Japanese literary terms—like aware, jo-ha-kyū, mono no aware, and wabi-sabi—and shows how they can deepen emotional resonance in your writing. A guide to using cultural concepts to enrich storytelling, create atmosphere, and enhance character expression.
Between Pen and Paper: Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind – Writing at the Speed of a Melting Popsicle
Stream-of-consciousness writing captures thoughts in their raw, unfiltered form. In this essay, Andi Kopek reflects on memory, history, morality, and creativity—beginning with something as simple as a melting popsicle.
Name that Song…Just Don’t Use the Lyrics
Quoting song lyrics in your novel? Think again. This blog post explores the legal risks and creative alternatives for referencing music in fiction, including fair use exceptions and ways to work around copyright law without crossing any lines.
The Myth of the Five Senses
Should writers really cram all five senses into every page? In this sharp rebuttal to bad writing advice, bestselling author Lois Winston breaks down why less is often more when it comes to sensory detail. Learn how to use the senses effectively—and avoid killing your story’s pacing.
The Art of Paragraphing
In this article, Melissa Koslin explores the importance of paragraphing in writing, demonstrating how it influences pace, tone, and the reader’s subconscious experience. With examples from her own writing, she offers practical tips on how to use paragraphing to enhance narrative flow and intensity.
The Writer’s Playbook: A Lesson in Spray Hitting
Former pro sports exec turned writer shares a lesson from baseball legend Al Avila about the value of specificity—on the field and in your writing career. Discover how the concept of spray hitting applies to asking targeted questions, networking at writer’s conferences, and building meaningful professional connections.
Character as a Haunted House
What if your character was a haunted house? In this evocative metaphor, Aimee Hardy explores how to build emotional depth and complexity by layering secrets, fears, and façades into character development.
The Writer’s Playbook | A Ripe Kumquat
What do football fumbles and ripe kumquats have in common? Similes. This playful behind-the-scenes story from the Detroit Lions' radio booth morphs into a smart, engaging guide on writing vivid, effective similes in fiction—when to use them, how they work, and how not to kill your story with a clunky comparison.
Subplots Can Tighten Your Story’s Saggy Middle
Struggling to keep your story’s middle from dragging? Discover how subplots can add depth, drama, and momentum to your narrative—and keep readers turning pages all the way to the end.
Punctuation Is Power - Part 4: Finding your style: Free your mind and readers will follow
Finding your writing style is less about following rules and more about practicing until your voice emerges. Learn how punctuation, revision, and rhythm can help shape a voice readers will follow.
The Magnificent 7: Universal Story Plots and the Twelve Archetypes
Explore the seven universal story plots and twelve timeless archetypes that form the foundation of compelling storytelling, and learn how to apply them to your own writing.
The Writer’s Playbook | Fan Favorites
Every story needs a hero, but sometimes it’s the underdog—your supporting character—who steals the spotlight. Learn how crafting a “fan favorite” can elevate your novel and deepen reader engagement.
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