How to Write a Novel: 3 Things Your Story Needs
You have the characters. You have three acts. What else is there? Your story needs three more key points/transitions to propel your characters through those acts. The Inciting Incident The inciting incident is the incident, circumstance, or situation that sets the story in motion. It’s what separates backstory from the [...]
Author Interview: Latayne C. Scott
While some writers work primarily in non-fiction or fiction, for some authors - like Latayne C. Scott - one genre can lead to another. Today she gives a quick peek into her inspiration, experiences, and tips for other writers. Welcome! Let's start with a quick one: what genre do you [...]
How to Write a Novel: Plotting in 3 Acts
Now that you have a handle on who your characters are and what they want out of life, it’s time to make them do something! Everything that happens in your novel is part of the plot. It doesn’t matter which type of novel you’re writing, it needs a plot because [...]
How to Write a Novel: Characters Part 3 – Character Arc
Wait, what? We’re back to characters? That’s right – after talking about knowing your characters and creating goals, motivations, and conflicts, I took a week off, but that was strategic. Here’s why: In case you missed it, two weeks ago I talked about three different ways to plan your novel. [...]
Not Writing is Vital to Writing by James Callan
We all hear the advice to write every day. And I must say that when I do, the words flow smoother and the story moves along faster. But I also feel that time spent not writing will improve the book. Now, I'm not talking about watching a sitcom or a [...]