Most writers understand that strong character goals are essential to a compelling story. But did you know that within every plot, three distinct types of goals shape every character’s journey? These are fundamental, primary, and secondary goals. In exploring these character goal examples for writers, you can gain a clearer understanding of how character, plot, […]
October 25, 2021 by 38 Comments Plotting Your Novel6 Questions to Help You Avoid Repetitive Scenes
It takes a lot of scenes to make a novel. Not only do we need enough scenes to progress the plot and get the characters from Point A to Point B, we also need to reach a certain word count so the book can be a novel. (Or the movie can be a movie. Ya […]
June 10, 2019 by 97 Comments Characters6 Requirements for Writing Better Character Goals
Quick. Tell me what your characters want. Maybe you have an immediate answer. Maybe your protagonist wants to save the world, survive, or live happily ever after. While those are all legit goals that have powered hundreds of good stories, what I’m talking about is what your characters want. I’m talking about the one thing your […]
December 19, 2016 by 44 Comments Plotting Your NovelThe #1 Way to Write Intense Story Conflict
One of the main pursuits of any writer is story conflict. The old saw tells us, “no conflict, no story,” so we’re always chasing after this little friction-causing engine. But as with so many things in writing, sometimes concentrating on the thing itself ends with us missing the forest for the trees. Story conflict is […]
July 4, 2016 by 46 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 52: Stagnant Story Conflict
What’s so hard about story conflict? You throw your protagonist and your antagonist onto the page–insta-conflict! Right? Actually, not so fast. Turns out creating a fascinating story world in which dwells a fascinating hero and an evil villain is not enough, in itself, to create integral and interesting story conflict. I’ve read quite a few unfortunate […]
June 27, 2016 by 47 Comments Characters5 Secrets of Complex Supporting Characters
Supporting characters don’t get nearly enough love. We come up with amazing protagonists who do amazing things and we labor to give them solid and complicated character arcs. But after all that work on the story’s forerunner, what happens to the supporting characters? Too often, they’re an afterthought. Of course, your protagonist needs a dad […]
June 3, 2016 by 42 Comments Plotting Your Novel3 Resources You Need to Unlock Fascinating Character Goals
Arguably, the single most important decision you can make in any story is that of character goals. What do your characters want and how will they go about trying to get it? This is the whole theory of story all in a nutshell. I receive many questions from writers who are struggling with plot problems. Easily […]
March 27, 2016 by 46 Comments Novel EndingsHow to Know When to Write The End
I wrote my first book when I was fourteen–and I had no idea when to write The End. I printed the manuscript in December 1999 (just in case Y2K crashed the world and I lost my beautiful story). This was a great accomplishment, of course. I’d just finished writing a book. Except, it turned out, I wasn’t […]
January 1, 2016 by 51 Comments Writing Inspiration5 Ways to Make Better Writing Resolutions in 2016
Better writing resolutions should be something we make all year ’round. But there is something about January 1st that always seems to get people to focus, both on everything you didn’t get done last year and everything you hope to do this year. But let’s stop hoping, shall we? This year, take your writing resolutions beyond wishful maybes […]
October 26, 2015 by 55 Comments Writing LifeHow to Win NaNo Using Totally Doable Daily and Weekly Writing Goals
What’s the one and only key to winning National Novel Writing Month? For that matter, what’s the key to writing a novel to its finish and being a successful writer, day in and day out, for the rest of your life? If you cheated by peeking at the title, then you’re probably already guessing “writing […]
