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 […]
January 23, 2023 by 70 Comments Editing Your NovelYour Story Isn’t Working? Here Are 6 Problems to Troubleshoot
If you’re here because you feel your story isn’t working, you’re not alone. Most writers feel that way about most of the stories they write. The good news is you can probably salvage your current story by troubleshooting a few key areas. One way to learn how to accomplish this is to learn what didn’t work […]
December 7, 2015 by 53 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 46: Anticlimactic Endings
Here’s how to write books readers will love–and yet still end up hating you for. It’s easy. All you have to do is divebomb out of your brilliance and into anticlimactic endings. On some level, anticlimactic endings are pretty self-explanatory. They’re endings with no bang in the end. They’re endings that evoke a yawn from readers instead […]
October 12, 2014 by 82 Comments CharactersFAQ: How to Write Character Arcs in a Series
“How should I write character arcs in a series?” This is the question I’ve been getting probably more than any other of late. These days, more stories than not are told as part of multi-book series–everything from trilogies to thirty-plus installments with no intended end in sight. Up to now, I’ve been addressing character arcs primarily within […]
May 25, 2012 by 30 Comments Writing LifeCreating a Book Series: Great Idea or Think Again?
This guest post is by Fiona Ingram. Creating a book series is both rewarding and taxing for the author. It is not an exact science and neither is it a guaranteed road to writing success. Many authors might think, Aha! Captive audience. They’ll just keep coming back for more. In fact, many agents and publishers […]
