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Narrative Problems — Aetia

Studio Academy

Diagnose structural blockages, trace narrative friction points, and explore targeted craft exercises to fix your draft on the next revision pass.

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Authorial Echo
Secondary characters mirror the exact moral stances, humor, and intelligence of the protagonist instead of challenging them.
4 min read
Dialogue Exposition
Characters tell each other facts they already know simply so the reader can catch up on backstory or lore.
4 min read
Flat Dialogue
Static conversations lack competing character subtexts, distinct internal goals, and contrasting behavioral rhythms.

3 min read

Distinct characters share vocabulary, rhythm, and sentence length until speakers blur together in the reader’s mind.

4 min read

Characters say exactly what they feel or explain themes aloud instead of competing through subtext.

4 min read

Characters exhibit extreme, explosive emotional reactions that far outweigh the actual narrative context or underlying stakes.

5 min read

Dialogue scenes take place in a sensory vacuum, leaving the reader unable to visualize the physical space or setting.

3 min read