Megan Maclaine

Professional Writer and Fiction Coach

Megan Maclaine is a professional writer and fiction coach based in Orlando, FL. A professional writer since 2017, Megan has published poetry, short fiction, and journalism, and has written three novel-length manuscripts. Her short story “Lightning on the Lake” was short-listed for the 2021 Aestas Short Story competition. In 2021, she became a writing instructor, using her experience to create a method for organizing the writing process so other writers can more easily finish their books. Megan offers writers courses, workshops, group coaching, and 1:1 coaching. She has an English degree from the University of Toronto and a graduate certificate in Creative Writing from Humber College.

Education

BA, English, University of Toronto
Graduate Certificate, Creative Writing, Humber College

Professional Achievements

Has published writing with Fabula Press, Urbana, Ink & Sword Magazine, Poets Choice, InterVarsity, Orlando Arts, and more

Certifications & Organizations

Member of the Florida Writers Association

Favorite Piece of Advice

Start with your character's journey, then build your plot around that. The entire outlining and writing process will be much clearer, and you're more likely to create a cohesive, meaningful story.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Co-authored Articles (8)

What to Write About When You're All Out of Ideas

Spark your creativity to write fiction, non-fiction, poetry & lyricsThere’s nothing worse for a writer than sitting down in front of a computer or pulling out a blank page of paper and not being able to think of anyth...

How to Create and Develop a Fictional Character

Create a character with a dynamic story arc Creating a character for a story can be a daunting task, as you want your character to feel complete, complex, and relatable to your readers—just like living people. To accom...

How to

Plot a Story

You might have a great idea for a story, but plotting it out can still be difficult. Fortunately, plotting your story doesn’t have to be frustrating! Start by planning out your story ideas, such as your premise, charac...

Common Universal Themes Found in Writing & Film

How to identify and define universal themes in a story Stories can connect us all, whether through heart-wrenching lyrics, iconic coming-of-age films, or classic novels that still resonate with us in the modern day. Ofte...

Which Morally Grey Character Am I Quiz

A morally grey character is someone who isn’t quite a villain or a hero. They’re complex, fascinating, and fan favorites. Answer these quick, thoughtful questions, and we’ll tell you which morally ambiguous you ar...

What’s the Difference Between Novels and Books?

Take a peek beyond their covers to see what sets books and novels apart As you’re strolling through the library, an interesting book catches your eye. When you inspect the shiny cover, you see “A novel” printed und...

How to

Determine the Reading Level of a Book

Reading levels of books vary greatly. While some are very challenging, others are intended for beginners or young children. Because of this, it is sometimes important for parents and young readers to determine the readin...

Everything You Need to Know About the Forced Proximity Trope

Plus, 29 of our favorite forced proximity book recommendations Forced proximity is a popular trope in novels, especially romances and thrillers, but what is it, exactly? In this article, we take a deep dive into the forc...