Scene Alchemy: Maps, Guides, and Lost Questions

Throughout the Scene Alchemy series, we’ve been looking at the single greatest problem I see as a developmental editor: a lack of scene structure, which…

Sep 2 • Cae Hawksmoor

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August 2026

Putting It All Together: Quiet Scenes, Pacing, and Breaking the Rules (Scene Alchemy #8)

Speculative fiction scenes come in all shapes and sizes, but the best tend to follow the same rhyming scheme:

Aug 19 • Cae Hawksmoor

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New Goals: The End is Never the End (Scene Alchemy #7)

Have you ever beta read for someone else, or exchanged feedback in a writing group?

Aug 5 • Cae Hawksmoor

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July 2026

Complications: The Art of Getting Lost (Scene Alchemy #6)

You’d be forgiven for thinking a scene ends with the outcome.

Jul 22 • Cae Hawksmoor

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Outcome: Your Crossroads of Consequence (Scene Alchemy #5)

The outcome of a scene is where we find out if all the character’s hard work has paid off.

Jul 8 • Cae Hawksmoor

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June 2026

Try/Fail Cycles: The Engine Room of Story (Scene Alchemy #4)

The secret to page-turning tension? Try/fail cycles. Learn how "yes, but" and "no, and" create momentum, build anticipation, and keep readers asking…

Jun 24 • Cae Hawksmoor

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Obstacles: The Point of Ignition (Scene Alchemy #3)

Conflict isn't just fighting. Learn how to use obstacles to ignite tension, raise stakes, and force your character to adapt, fail, and grow.

Jun 10 • Cae Hawksmoor

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May 2026

Action: Where Your Character Meets the Road (Scene Alchemy #2)

The single greatest way that speculative fiction authors can strengthen their novels is this:

May 27 • Cae Hawksmoor

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Goals: Your Narrative North Star (Scene Alchemy #1)

You don’t need to spend thousands to start editing your novel.

May 13 • Cae Hawksmoor

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April 2026

I didn’t believe in writing communities. Then I started one

Five years of silence. A community I never planned. And the slow, surprising shift that proved me wrong.

Apr 29 • Cae Hawksmoor

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Why Your Fight Scenes Feel Boring (And How to Fix Them)

Are your fight scenes boring readers? A developmental editor reveals 3 common mistakes that kill tension—and how to fix them in 10 minutes.

Apr 15 • Cae Hawksmoor

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If Stories Were Your First Safe Place, This Is For You

A guide to writing from our wounds, crafting healing stories, and facing painful truths.

Apr 1 • Cae Hawksmoor

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