If you’ve been following the series “Structuring Your Story’s Scenes” on my blog, then you probably know we’ve been talking about conflict quite a bit. But there is one aspect of conflict that I haven’t covered—and that is, in my opinion, the most annoying type of conflict an author can inflict upon readers. This is […]
February 3, 2012 by 25 Comments Researching Your NovelWhat Non-Fiction Authors Can Teach Novelists
Do you aspire to write a novel as breathtaking as Huckleberry Finn? Mark Twain cheated. He brought to his fiction a skill set he developed under his given name, Samuel Clemens, as a journalist. Twain the novelist knew that a riveting opening, skillful incorporation of dialogue, and compelling details are all tools he could mine […]
December 14, 2011 by 11 Comments ForeshadowingHow to Increase Story Suspense With Breadcrumbs
Every author’s first and foremost goal is convincing readers to keep reading all the way to the final chapter. So how do we increase story suspense? There are, of course, many answers. The reasons readers decide to keep reading include everything from lovable characters to funny dialogue. But at the most foundational level the reason […]
June 10, 2011 by 17 Comments Plotting Your Novel3 Easy (or Easier) Ways to Build Suspense
Recently, while writing a short story, I encountered the problem of its being too short. My editor complimented the storyline and structure but indicated something about the writing was missing. It was too short, too bland, too summative and passive instead of being descriptive and active. Finally, I found all these things centered on one […]
May 18, 2011 by 35 Comments CharactersWhy You Should Spend More Time on Character Development Than Action
Authors sometimes feel pressured to dive right into the action of their stories—at the expense of important character development. Because the last thing we want to do is write a boring story, we sometimes overreact by piling on explosions, fight sequences, and high-speed car chases to the point we’re unable to spend important time developing […]
April 27, 2011 by 44 Comments Beginning Your BookUse a Question to Create an Unforgettable Opening Chapter
Creating an opening chapter that hooks readers into your story is the trick you have to master in every one of your stories. But once you know the secret of a good opening chapter, it’s not so tricky. The single most important element in convincing a reader to continue reading past your first page is […]
September 8, 2010 by 23 Comments Plotting Your NovelHow Inception Raises Its Stakes
In order to be good to their readers, authors have to be pretty nasty to their characters. An epigrammatic writing prompt once suggested: Think of the worst thing that could happen to your character. Then think of 10 ways to make it worse. That is how you up the stakes—by presenting your characters with hefty odds […]
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 […]
