The first step for savvy storytellers. Writing a novel or memoir without a story outline is like driving without GPS. You don’t know where you’ll end up and chances are the journey will be a lot longer than necessary. This story outline template will allow you to clarify: Your characters’ developmental arcs. Have you introduced … Continued
Passive vs. Active Characters: From Zero to Hero From romance to Russian Lit, and memoir to middle-grade, almost all bestselling stories are centered around active protagonists. Understanding the difference between passive vs. active characters is vital in terms of reader engagement and commercial viability. So why are active characters so important? Let’s start by looking … Continued
Hint: Sell the sizzle, not the sausage. Today we look at how to write a great sex scene, so steel yourself for lots of bad puns and double-entendres! The suggestions below are most relevant to writers of romance and erotica, where love and sex form the heart of the plot, but writers of all narrative genres … Continued
But does the creative risk pay off? Run the Gauntlet (RTG) is a free monthly program where one lucky writer receives a developmental edit of their opening scenes. The feedback is recorded in real-time, on-screen and then posted publicly so that other writers can share in the insights garnered. In this live critique: “The Viper” … Continued
Guest Post: Five Plot Structures for Bestselling Novels By Katja L Kaine So you’ve got an amazing story idea, but the question remains: how to turn it into a great novel? There must be as many different ways to write a novel as there are novel writers. Some of us like to create vast spreadsheets mapping … Continued
And hook the reader from page one… The first step to writing a great novel is introducing us to a compelling character; i.e. someone we can understand and empathize with. If our introduction to the character falls flat, it doesn’t matter how engaging or complex the protagonist later proves to be, the reader won’t be … Continued
Almost every rough draft I encounter would benefit from at least one, if not all of these storytelling tips. But before you toss that manuscript away, rest assured, each tip is easy to implement once you’re aware of the principles at play, and why they’re important. Storytelling Tips #5 Identify a Theme Great storytellers understand … Continued
How to find your theme, and make your story sing. Many writers shiver at the T word. After all, finding a novel’s theme sounds so intellectual, like a boring week of high school English you’d rather forget. But throw out your book’s theme at your own risk, because it’s the secret ingredient that will make … Continued