How peachy would the writing life be if we didn’t have to prevent plot holes. Just imagine—you could write anything you wanted to, and every single thing would make sense. No need to worry about the fact that your two awesome scenes actually don’t make sense side by side. They get to be in the […]
October 24, 2016 by 48 Comments Outlining Your NovelHow to Find and Fill All Your Plot Holes (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 4)
What is the single most important job of an outline for NaNoWriMo—or any other book at any other time of the year? We might come up with lots of answers, but they all tend to boil down to just this one: avoiding plot holes. I hate plot holes. They drive me bazooey. There you are, […]
August 26, 2012 by 42 Comments Plotting Your Novel5 Ways You’re Blocking Readers From Suspension of Disbelief
Unlike non-fiction or memoir, the whole point of fiction is that it isn’t true. Or rather, that’s half the point. The other half is that this untruth is constructed in the pattern of truth, in order to shine a light on the reality of our lives. As per Picasso: Art is the lie that tells the truth. Readers […]
May 11, 2011 by 32 Comments Editing Your NovelDoes Your Story Maintain Consistency in the Details?
Most authors are aware of how important it is to avoid plot holes and inconsistencies. But sometimes the little discrepancies bedevil us more than the large ones. You’d think, as authors, we would be so close to our own stories we would instantly realize the error of calling a minor character by a different name […]
September 5, 2010 by 51 Comments Plotting Your Novel6 Do’s and Don’ts of Creating Mystery in Your Novel
Creating mystery in your novel is important in every type of story, not just mysteries and suspense. The last time you stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, what was it that transformed your normally practical, serene self into an obsessive page-turning maniac? I’m willing to bet this month’s royalties it was something […]
