Readers are like fish. Smart fish. Fish who know authors are out to get them, reel them in, and capture them for the rest of their sea-going lives. Like all self-respecting fish, readers aren’t caught easily. They aren’t about to surrender to the lure of your story unless you present them with an irresistible Hook. […]
July 15, 2024 by 25 Comments Podcast5 Reasons Story Structure Is Important (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 1 of 12)
What’s the single most overlooked, misunderstood—and yet important—part of storytelling? If you read the post title, you already know the answer is story structure. Twelve years ago, I shared the series “Secrets of Story Structure” on this site. That series became the basis of one of my best-known writing-craft books, Structuring Your Novel. That original […]
July 8, 2024 by 356 Comments NewsLaunch Day! Two New Books for Writers (+Win a Freewrite Alpha!)
Hooray! Today, I am so happy to be sharing with you not one but two book launches—a revised and expanded second edition of Structuring Your Novel and a brand-new “sequel” Next Level Plot Structure. (And be sure to check out the giveaway for a Freewrite Alpha at the bottom of the post.) If you want to write a […]
April 15, 2024 by 6 Comments Beginning Your BookChecklist for Beginning Your Story: Plot Considerations
Welcome to this week’s post, which is a continuation of what we talked about in last month’s video when we started a checklist of important elements to consider for your story’s beginning. Last time, we specifically talked about what you need to consider in regards to character and all of the many elements you can […]
February 26, 2024 by 59 Comments CharactersHow to Use Antagonists in Your Story: The Right Way and the Wrong Way
How to use antagonists in your story is a critical skill that can either elevate or undermine your entire story. In many ways, antagonists are the true architects of unforgettable plots, and as you navigate the path between narrative brilliance and potential pitfalls, the art of utilizing your story’s antagonists becomes crucial to success. When […]
January 22, 2024 by 32 Comments Plotting Your NovelWriting Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know
Note From KMW: Hello and welcome to today’s post, in which I am trying something a bit different! Chances are you have either written or considered writing multiple plotlines in a story. These versatile and multi-faceted stories are all the rage (they always were—just ask Dickens!). But adding complexity to what is already the wonderfully […]
October 9, 2023 by 8 Comments CharactersHow to Use Archetypes in a Series
One of the most common questions I receive is how to use archetypes in a series. The short answer is: however you want! Archetypes are endlessly adaptable. However, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Most have to do with understanding the shape of the story you’re going to be telling over the […]
September 11, 2023 by 26 Comments Outlining Your NovelWhere Should You Start Plotting Your Story?
Where should you start plotting your story? Why, at the beginning of course! Except… when it comes to fiction, it’s not always that simple, is it? One of the key principles of story theory is “the ending is in the beginning.” What this means is that any consideration of how best to begin a story […]
August 14, 2023 by 24 Comments Plotting Your NovelWhat Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious)
What are plot devices? Basically, they’re exactly what they sound like: events that maneuver the plot in particular directions. All stories are built on plot devices. In truth, everything that happens in a story is a plot device. Story structure beats are plot devices. Character arc beats are plot devices. Plot devices are the little […]
March 20, 2023 by 48 Comments PodcastHere Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes
Organic themes are symbiotic with their stories’ plots. This is because when everything is working well in a story, plot and theme are two halves of a whole, each one “proving” the other. When plot and theme are not working together, that’s a sure sign your story is in trouble. Theme can be a tricky […]
