KN Magazine: Articles

Andi Kopek Shane McKnight Andi Kopek Shane McKnight

Between Pen and Paper: Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind – The API of the Human Heart, or Why Your Characters Keep Misunderstanding Each Other

What if human communication worked like artificial intelligence? In this thought-provoking craft essay, Andi Kopek compares APIs—Application Programming Interfaces—to the invisible emotional “contracts” we use in conversation. By exploring parsing errors, emotional bandwidth, and schema mismatches, he offers writers a powerful new lens for understanding character conflict, empathy, gaslighting, and love. When characters misunderstand each other, it may not be malice—it may be incompatible formatting.

Read More
Chrissy Hicks Shane McKnight Chrissy Hicks Shane McKnight

Literary Alchemy: The Ticking Clock

A ticking clock can turn an ordinary scene into a pulse-pounding race against time. In this installment of Literary Alchemy, Chrissy Hicks explores how deadlines—whether explosive, subtle, or psychological—heighten tension, sharpen character development, and eliminate the dreaded muddy middle. From 24 to The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Da Vinci Code, this craft article shows writers how urgency transforms plot momentum and emotional stakes.

Read More

Submit Your Writing to KN Magazine

Want to have your writing included in Killer Nashville Magazine?
Fill out our submission form and upload your writing here: