Why Plan for NaNoWriMo by Jasper Ezekiel and Beth Barany
This post is about Why Plan for NaNoWriMo written by Jasper Ezekiel, with an introduction by Beth Barany. Edited by Beth Barany. *** It’s been an emotional time for me. Hard to say exactly...
Tagged: plot
Puzzling Your Plot by Catharine Bramkamp
Approach plotting as if it’s a puzzle, lay out the frame, match the pieces, put them together, and walk away for a little, if you need to.
The Novel Garden by LA Bourgeois
When designing a novel’s setting, we draw maps and scenes, but what if we do this for plot? LA Bourgeois teaches us how to think of our stories in a whole new way by imagining the novel garden.
On the Hero’s Journey by Nevada McPherson
Nevada McPherson shares her knowledge of the famous hero’s journey story structure, telling us how we can use it to understand structure in writing and to find guidance in our lives.
The Secret to Building a One-Sentence Pitch by Patricia Simpson
Create your pitch statement before you start writing a book, so it can become your secret weapon. But writing the one-sentence pitch is the most difficult task a writer faces. How do we coalesce the soul of our book into a few words?
Building Plot in Your Story by Kay Keppler
If plot stymies you, as it does many people, you might be able to stimulate some ideas by thinking about your characters and what is likely to happen to a person like that. Ask yourself these questions. By novelist and editor, Kay Kappler.
Your Plot: It’s Not Just What Happens by Kay Keppler
Plot isn’t just what happens. Each scene must be connected to the next by cause and effect. The action of the second scene is a consequence of the action in the first. Here’s what we mean…
A Simple Tool to Design Your Plot for Novelists
Today is the seventh in an 8-post series on plan your novel. In today’s post, we focus on a simple tool to design your plot called, “Problem-Solution.” If you missed it, the first step...
Writing a Synopsis an Editor Will Read by Kay Keppler
Have you tried writing a synopsis? Do you hate it? You’re not alone. The synopsis is probably the single most hated document for authors to write, but we do it because publishers and agents usually demand it.
Getting Intimate with Your Characters by Kay Keppler
A famous author once said that every book should contain a love story. Now, that author might not have thought that the love story needed a sex scene, but many novelists writing in every genre do include sex scenes in their books. And there’s a problem with that.
The Daydreaming Paradox by Nevada McPherson
I used to get into trouble in school for “daydreaming” and not paying attention. I liked school in general but sometimes I would sit and make up stories.
The Right Story Structure Can Spark Your Creativity
One of the most common questions I get from fiction writers is, “Where do I begin?” The writer is overwhelmed, feeling lost, and maybe very frustrated. They have a story in them, but nowhere...
13 Prime Principles of Plot, a Guest Post by Alicia Rasley
Please welcome guest author, Alicia Rasley as she shares with us “13 Prime Principles of Plot.” Enjoy!
Get More from Your Settings by Kay Keppler
Have you ever picked up a book and read back cover copy that sent shivers down your spine? You know what I mean: stories located in a peaceful country garden filled with sweetpeas and butterflies, or the brooding castle that bristles with medieval weaponry—these are the settings that tell you what adventures lie in store.
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