Writing the First Act in a story used to terrify me. It felt like walking a tightrope. Blindfolded. In the dark. But that was my own fault. It felt that way for the simple reason that, back then, I had only a vague, intuitive grasp on what I was trying to accomplish in this oh-so-important part […]
September 25, 2013 by 28 Comments Beginning Your BookIn Medias Res: How to Do It and How Not to
It’s hard to be a writer and not know about—or at least have heard of—in medias res. This Latin term for “in the middle” applies to idea of beginning a story in the middle of things. In a nutshell, this means “cut the throat clearing.” Readers don’t need a long introduction to your character and […]
September 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment Structuring Your Novel5 Misconceptions About Your Story’s Normal World
Today, I’m guest posting on Kristen Lamb’s blog, with a post on “5 Misconceptions About Your Story’s Normal World.” Here’s an excerpt: Writers sometime balk at the idea of beginning with the story’s Normal World. Isn’t that kind of starting before the story? Won’t readers be bored if they have to wade through all that […]
September 5, 2013 by 4 Comments Structuring Your NovelLast Chance to Enter the Grand Prize Drawing!
Thank you all for a great launch week for Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys to Writing an Outstanding Story. The book hit #1 in the Writing Skills category in Amazon’s Kindle Store on Sunday and has remained there all week. Just a reminder: today is the last day to enter the drawing for the three-tiered […]
August 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment Beginning Your Book4 Big Pitfalls in Story Openings
Today, I’m guest posting on Jane Friedman’s blog, with a post on “4 Big Pitfalls in Story Openings.” Here’s an excerpt: Beginnings are difficult when you consider their weight in the overall story. They must accomplish all of the following: Plant an irresistible hook. Give readers a reason to care about what happens to the characters. […]
August 26, 2013 by 2 Comments Structuring Your NovelHow to Structure the Beginning and Ending of Your Book
One of the most important decisions you make as a writer is how to structure the beginning and ending of your book. Perhaps the one thing that most distinguishes a book from real life is the fact that a book has a beginning and an ending. In real life, stories don’t end. Even death doesn’t […]
July 12, 2013 by 26 Comments Structuring Your NovelWhere Should You Begin Your Story?
Just for fun, today I’d thought I’d give you a sneak peek of my upcoming book Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story. The book, available September 1, 2013, x-rays our notion of storycraft to get past the outer aesthetics right on down to the muscular and skeletal systems that make our books work. Once […]
May 24, 2013 by 24 Comments Prose3 Ways to Add Repetition That Pleases Readers
We all know to avoid “bad” repetition—our overused pet words, unintended echoing phrases, and repetitive sentence structure. But there’s also useful repetition that we can use to enhance our stories. Repetition can be used to reinforce a sense of unity or to supply readers with a satisfying feeling after tying up loose ends. Let’s look at three examples […]
September 23, 2012 by 26 Comments Beginning Your BookWhy Story Beginnings and Endings Must Be Linked
The ending of your story is a loooong way away from the beginning. Tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of words is an extraordinary journey. Contemplating the ending from the vantage point of the beginning is like looking up at the top of Mt. Everest and imagining yourself—in all your windblown, frostbitten glory—standing […]
June 17, 2012 by 36 Comments Writing LifeThe Top 25 Ways to Ruin a Book
There are only so many ways to do things right in creating a book. But there an infinity of ways to blow a book. Nothing anyone writes completely escapes every mistake and pitfall. But some of those mistakes are more costly than others. Let’s take a look at the top twenty-five ways to blow a […]
