Figuring out how to outline a novel is not a linear process. Particularly in the early brainstorming stages, outlining is not a simple progression from Step A to Step B. Your brain is going to be bouncing all over the place: Step A makes you realize something about Step Z, which makes you realize something about […]
April 20, 2016 by 56 Comments Editing Your NovelTop 4 Editing Tricks for Creating a Seamless Narrative
Narrative flow can be difficult to define, which makes it difficult to understand. However, most writers are also readers, so you may be more familiar with narrative flow than you might think! While reading, have you ever: Found yourself turning page after page, unable to put a book down? Been so engrossed you haven’t noticed […]
August 24, 2015 by 187 Comments CharactersProtagonist and Main Character— Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story!
Writers tend to use the terms for protagonist and main character interchangeably. In fact, if asked to define one of these terms, we would probably come right back with the other term as our quickest explanation. And why not? Both describe a story’s central character, right? Not necessarily. This argument doesn’t even matter most of […]
June 7, 2015 by 29 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters’ Thoughts
These, days, writers have to be clever. There are so many guidelines we need to observe in order to make our plots, characters, and narratives as vibrant and powerful as possible. As this series on most common writing mistakes attests, there are so many things we try not to do in our writing. The problem […]
March 1, 2015 by 110 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name
In the time it takes you to write two small words, you might be dramatically distancing your readers from your story’s narrative. Scared? You should be. But don’t be that scared, because this one of our most common writing mistakes is just as easy to fix as it is to commit. And what are those two small but […]
November 2, 2014 by 19 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 35: Random Story Elements
Even the simplest of stories aren’t simple. Most of them feature dozens of characters, settings, POVs, themes, conflicts–and on and on. A good story is made up of more working parts than most of us can wrap our little brains around in any one moment. Sometimes all these many working parts of the story can get away from us. […]
July 23, 2014 by 41 Comments NarrativeIs Your Story’s Voice Turning Away Readers?
A story’s voice is always a hot topic among writers. What is it? How does it work? How can you get one? The difficulty in teaching about a story’s voice is that it’s one of those “you know it when you see it” things. Recently, I encountered a powerful example of voices that work—and voices […]
July 16, 2014 by 72 Comments CharactersMaybe Your Bad Guy Is RIGHT!
How do you know if you’ve written a good bad guy? There are many possible qualifiers. He’s scary. He’s hatable. He’s a formidable obstacle to the protagonist’s goal. All of which are valid. But today what I’m talking about is the kind of bad guy who isn’t black and white. He’s solidly the hero of […]
July 2, 2014 by 67 Comments CharactersHow to Tell if Your Protagonist Needs a Better Goal
Did you know your protagonist isn’t as special as you think? Special means unusual or set apart. And amidst all the many awesome characters in your story, your protagonist may well be just one cool dude among many. So why is he the protagonist? Why not your gorgeous love interest? Why not your brainy sidekick? […]
June 11, 2014 by 97 Comments Point of View3 Ways You Can Use a First-Person Narrator to Tell a Better Story
Using a first-person narrator is tricky and should be attempted only by the most experienced hand. In-house editors know this, which is why they no doubt cringed when they saw the opening chapter of my new release The Cat Lady’s Secret. Not only is it in first-person, it’s in present tense. To make matters worse (to make […]
