Write With Ozzy

Author: Ozzy

  • Your Work Should Stand By Itself

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    by

    Ozzy
    in ,

    If you need to explain your story after people read it, something’s not right. There’s work still to be done. That’s a harsh truth, but it’s one worth facing.

  • Your Two Whys

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    Ozzy
    in

    Everything in your story has two Whys: Why does this happen in the story? Why did you, the writer, add it to the story?

  • …and Now, There’s a Newsletter

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    Ozzy
    in

    Writing with Ozzy Kain: exactly what it sounds like: reflections, resources, and real talk for real writers. Once a week (ish), you’ll get something useful, honest, and actually worth your time.

  • Don’t Expose Your Ideas Too Early

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    by

    Ozzy
    in

    Ideas are fragile when they’re new—small, tender things just starting to put down roots. Pull them out into the light too soon, and they stop growing.

  • Involve (all) the Senses

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    Ozzy
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    Your readers live in their bodies, just like your characters do. If you want your story to feel real, you need to give us more than just what we can see. The creak of floorboards. The prickle of sweat. The tang of salt in the air. The feel of fabric under fingertips. The stinging burn…

  • The Confidence Game

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    Ozzy
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    There’s a tricky balance we all face as writers: the tension between self-belief and the desire for validation. At its best, writing is an act of confidence—saying, this matters enough to write down. That confidence is fragile and can crack early, especially if you share too soon or ask for opinions before you’ve even figured…

  • How Do I…

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    Ozzy
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    I’ve seen a lot of “How do I…” questions lately. “How do I make this feel more emotional?” “How do I write a compelling villain?” “How do I make my prose less clunky?” “How do I fix the pacing in my middle chapters?” And the truth is—none of these have a one-line answer. Not really.…

  • Inversion

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    by

    Ozzy
    in

    Empathy is about stepping into someone else’s shoes. Inversion is about reversing the whole damn frame. Not just, “What is this character feeling?” But: “What if they’re right, and my protagonist is wrong?” “What if this story goes the other way?” It’s a question I ask myself all the time. Inversion is one of the sharpest…

  • Empathy

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    by

    Ozzy
    in

    As a writer, you have to live a thousand lives that aren’t your own.

  • Your Idea Isn’t Worth Anything (Until You Tell the Story)

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    by

    Ozzy
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    This topic arises frequently in writing communities, especially among those just starting out. “I have this amazing idea. Do you think it’s good?” “Would you read a story where…?” “Is this too cliché?” And, my personal favourite: “Has this been done before?” (Answer: Probably. But not like you’d do it) Here’s the truth: Your idea…