Complexity in fiction is a beautiful thing. But so is simplicity—particularly since not all complexity is good complexity. There’s a principle in storytelling, which Blake Snyder referred to in his popular book Save the Cat!, as “double mumbo jumbo.” The idea is that one unusual or unexpected story element may be awesome on its own, […]
November 10, 2013 by 58 Comments Writing Inspiration7 Suggestions for How to Choose Your Next Story Idea
The most important decision a writer will ever make is which story to write. Sometimes this will be an easy decision: the “right” story will be staring us in the face. But sometimes the choices can be overwhelming, and we find ourselves wondering how to choose our next story idea. If you’re like me, you […]
October 30, 2013 by 20 Comments Plotting Your NovelHow to Identify Your Story’s Strengths (Ask This One Obvious Question)
Every story has a standout strength—something that hooks readers and keeps them turning pages. But do you know what that strength is in your book? Identifying your story’s strengths is key, not just so you can lean into it, but also so you can recognize and shore up any weaknesses. The last thing you want […]
September 4, 2013 by 31 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Make Your Readers’ Heads Explode
As writers, our ultimate goal is to captivate our readers so completely they can’t help but become obsessed with our stories. We don’t just want them to appreciate our craft or admire our prose from a distance. You want to make your readers’ heads explode by igniting a fierce passion for your story. This kind […]
August 7, 2013 by 25 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Make Sure Your Story Lives Up to Its Potential
The first thing I have to tell you today is that I’m going to try really hard not to gush about Guillermo del Toro’s blockbuster Pacific Rim. The second thing I’m going to tell you is that I’m probably going to fail. This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. It was […]
April 13, 2012 by 51 Comments Outlining Your NovelHow to Write a Novel in Two Sentences
All right, fine—you’ll need more than two sentences, most likely. But the title of this post does actually have some merit, as I am in the process of finishing my second novel using an approach I like to call “The Two Sentence Method.” There are already some spectacular methods out there for plotting and planning […]
November 14, 2010 by 22 Comments Writing InspirationWhy Are You Writing This Story?
Pretend you and I are face to face. Pretend I’ve asked you what you’re writing right now, and you’re telling me the title and the plot and maybe a little about the characters. When you’re done, I look you in the eye and ask, “Why are you writing this story?” What’s your answer? Probably, you […]
July 11, 2010 by 52 Comments Outlining Your Novel6 Reasons a Premise Sentence Strengthens Your Story
All stories begin with a premise (a battle in space, two people falling in love, a dog getting lost). But, often, the original conceptions are hazy and unformed. Sometimes, they’re not even a premise sentence, so much as the what-if question that will lead to a premise. What if a little boy’s brain grew too […]
March 28, 2010 by 29 Comments CharactersDoes Your Story Have the Extraordinary Factor?
Readers want fiction to be extraordinary enough to thrill them with its strangeness and excitement. But they also want it be ordinary enough for them to find aspects they can relate to. How’s a writer supposed to pull off this apparent paradox? How do you make your stories both ordinary and extraordinary? Is Your Hero Ordinary […]
