The First Draft Pro Blog

We freaking love stories

You do too? Well, well, well. That smells like BFF potential.

Two sorceresses engaged in a magical battle.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to magical fantasy

A beginner's guide to magical fantasy: exploring a world of enchantment.
A very handsome character with cheek bones sharp enough to cut through the tension in your novel.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to the alternate history science fiction

Venturing into alternate history science fiction: the past reimagined.
A warrior with a flaming sword.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to historical fantasy

Historical fantasy explained: blending fact with fiction.
A woman in modern clothes with magical powers.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to contemporary fantasy

Understanding contemporary fantasy: a modern twist on timeless themes.
A woman in the most fantastic cape you can imagine, with a fighting stick strapped to her back.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to human fantasy

A beginner's guide to human fantasy, where reality meets imagination.
An illustrated image of a landscape from an aerial view.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to realism in story-telling

Exploring realism: its essence, techniques, and influence in storytelling.
A blue and pink image of a tree branch.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

Understanding reality genres

Delving deep into the reality genre in literature and media.
An absurd, dali-esque landscape.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to absurdism in story-telling

Absurdism in storytelling: a journey into the realm of the illogical.
An illustrated image of some leaves.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

Understanding the difference between genre conventions and obligatory scenes

Unraveling the nuances between genre conventions and obligatory scenes in literature.
An illustrated image of a landscape from an aerial view.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

A short guide to factualism in story-telling

An introduction to factualism and its role in crafting authentic narratives.
An image of a tree with many, many branches.
Genre & Theme
3 min read

Understanding genre

A comprehensive exploration of literary genres.
An illustrated image of the author, Neil Gaiman.
Writing Tips
3 min read

Neil Gaiman's 8 Rules for Writing

Neil Gaiman's eight rules for writing serve as a powerful guide for writers navigating their creative journey.