how to write
Envelopes for Acts
Searching for Plot Events
I’m evaluating the outline for my WIP novel and realize that I need more events. It takes place at one big event that spans 98 hours. Within that time period, though, I need some exciting things happening. I’ve sorta mapped out the emotional changes (Wow, what a change for me!), but now [...]
Connecting Main & Sub Plots
I’ve done enough prewriting work on my new novel to know a lot about it. But today, as I worked, I realized that I know the main plot, but not the subplots.
This is a complex story, with about
Your Novel’s Welcome Mat: Intriguing Titles
Welcome Mat: Your Novel’s Title
When you are brainstorming titles, think of it as a welcome mat. A title’s job is to bring readers into your novel, story, or picture book. This is why the title is often changed by
8 Ways to Enrich Your Character
Character Revision: 8 Ways to Jumpstart a Make Over
You have a first draft, but you realize that your character needs work. How do you retrofit a character when you revise?
I don’t think of a personality transplant. Instead, I try to add to and enrich a character. Here are 8 suggestions on how to revise your [...]
Crowded with Characters? Create Mini-Conflicts
Mini-Conflicts Help Characters Stand Out
For my WIP, I’m spending the week fleshing out characters.
I”ve written about characters many times.
Here’s a Character Checklist, and 15 Days to a Stronger Character, and many other posts on character.
At this stage in character development, I’m mostly concerned with creating an interesting mix. For this story, there’s a [...]
Midpoint Crisis: Plotting
Starting a new novel, I always try to look at the structure of the plot, but this time, I’m especially looking at character issues, since that’s my weakness.
A Story of XXX becomes a Story of ZZZ
It’s always that tricky second act that’s hard. The actions for the beginning and ending are easy, especially for [...]
Writing Schedule: 1 page/day=250+/year
I’m a terrible writer!
I planned to start on my new novel yesterday and got so busy catching up on correspondence, just sitting and doodling, that I wrote NOTHING!
That does it. I’m back on the one page/day schedule.
When I first started writing, I was home-schooling 4 kids. For months, I carried around an ink pen to [...]
Weaving Background.
In a recent post, Gail Carson Levine discusses how to get background material into a story without the use of a flashback scene,
along with tips for when you do use a flashback.
Weaving in Backstory
Poem. She points out that in her story, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, she uses an epic poem: everyone knows the [...]
Idaho Writers
Reports from Idaho: Novel Revision Retreat
Several participants from the Idaho Novel Revision Retreat have blogged about the weekend. And here are pictures of some of the great writers who were there.
Old Manuscripts? 2 Questions Before Deciding to Revise
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series File Cabinets
I’m at a place where I’m looking for a new novel idea. (Yes, I’m still looking around for a new idea. I’m slow this time, but I think I’ve found an event that is fascinating. Reading background material now.)
One strategy I’m using to find [...]
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Popular Series of Posts
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