#347 The Lie They Believe with Abbie Emmons

This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with Abbie Emmons! This contest’s winner will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive personal feedback from Abbie herself! Here's what she has to say about her takeover:

Hello, writers! I’m Abbie Emmons — YouTube’s most-watched creative writing coach and author of Make Your Story Matter. I’ve been writing stories since I could hold a pencil, and over the past eight years, I’ve had the joy of teaching over half a million writers how to craft emotionally powerful fiction by harnessing the psychology behind great storytelling.

One thing I’ve learned (both through studying craft and working closely with writers) is that plot alone doesn’t make a story unforgettable. What truly stays with readers is the internal struggle: how a character contends with a certain belief that shapes every decision they make. Sometimes that belief protects them. Sometimes it holds them back. And sometimes, it’s the very thing they must overcome.

For this week’s contest, I invite you to explore the theme of “The Lie They Believe.” With the prompts below, create a character driven by a powerful belief — and show us what happens when that belief is challenged, questioned, or completely shattered.

I can’t wait to see what you create.