Plot and Structure
Dan Harmon’s Story Circle: Eight Steps to a Complete Narrative
Storytelling may be an art, but it’s also a craft. A good story contains a framework that’s like the hidden supports in a building. It not only has a beginning, a middle, and an end, but it has a series of events that tie into each other and give rise to each section of the…
Read MoreHow to Write a Mystery Novel: 6 Tips to Create Nail-Biting Suspense
In this article, we’re going to explore the art of mystery novels – looking at what makes a good mystery novel and how you can create suspense that keeps your readers on the edge of their seats, and weave a conundrum that keeps them guessing… What makes a good mystery novel? All good novels contain…
Read MoreA Mystery Novel Template/Cheatsheet/Outline
Thrillers and mysteries are one of the most popular genres. Mystery readers gobble them up and are hungry for more. So if you want to write novels, this is a great genre to get into. And writing a mystery can be hugely satisfying. But it’s hard. There are clues to seed, tension to ratchet up,…
Read MoreThe Hero’s Journey Examples in Popular Fiction
As part of our series of resources on the Hero’s Journey, we’ve put together some Hero’s Journey examples in popular fiction. The examples below are: Interview with a Vampire The Hunger Games Interstellar Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone We hope to add more as time goes on. For each story we identify how each…
Read MoreHow to End a Story: A Guide for Novelists
You’ve got a great idea for a story. You’ve got great characters, a gripping plot, and breathtaking locations. The only problem is, you’re not sure how to end your novel to give it the greatest possible impact. Should you have a happily ever after? Should you leave it on a cliffhanger to make sure the…
Read MoreNovel and Script Editing Tips for Beginners
We are extremely pleased to bring this guest post to you where top editor David Ferris shares his top tips for editing your work. David has 15+ years of editing experience, including with one of the Big Four publishers. Read on to gain insider guidance from a pro. Whether revising or rewriting, novelists and script…
Read MoreHow to Outline a Novel: Get a Novel Framework
Novels have shape. Not only do they have a beginning, middle, and end, but a good novel will have peaks of conflict and excitement and quieter moments of reflection and emotional connection. They will rise towards a satisfying climax and conclusion, but not without taking some detours and unexpected turns on the way. So how…
Read MoreInciting Incident: How to Grab Your Readers’ Attention
If you’ve been writing for a while it’s likely you’ve heard the term ‘Inciting Incident’. But do you know exactly what is meant by that term – and more importantly, do you know how to write an effective Inciting Incident? If you’d like to master this dramatic element and use it to strengthen not just…
Read More10 Plot Hole Types and How to Fix Them
Do you worry about plot holes in your story? You want to give your readers an engrossing, believable experience. You don’t want a glaring spotlight shining on the gaps you failed to correct in your story. So do you have to find and fix every plot hole you can? Well, it depends. Can glaring plot…
Read MoreHow to Write a Prologue That Sets the Tone and Captivates Readers
Guest Author: Dave Chesson Whether you love them or hate them, prologues are frequently a big part of fiction, especially in certain genres like fantasy or science fiction. A prologue can be a bit confusing. If it’s the first part of your book, why not just make it chapter one? What separates a prologue from…
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