October 2024

Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Preptober! A lot of writers challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in the month of November. While the official NNWM has had some problematic issues, trying to write a novel by focusing on “butt in chair” and getting the words down is a valid first draftContinueContinue reading “October 2024”

September 2024

Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Last month, we talked about how to build your story’s ending from your character’s wound and assuaging their fears or the Lie they’ve been telling themselves all this time. There’s a concept called “mirroring” that will make your story resonate with readers. The psychology of theContinueContinue reading “September 2024”

August 2024

Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Last month, we talked about rewards and turning points in your story plot. This character development will drive your story toward the end as the character takes this new understanding and alters their plans. They have finally seen the toxic things, the bad influences, and theContinueContinue reading “August 2024”

July 2024

Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Last month we talked about SCENE GOALS, and the yes, no, yes, but, and no, furthermore ways to end a scene. The fact of the matter is a yes, but or no, furthermore is only meant to be a tangent, a diversion, from their goal. ItContinueContinue reading “July 2024”

Story Building: Pacing

A story is considered complete if it contains complex vivid characters with goals moving in a setting described through all or at least many different types of sensory details, and the plot logically follows from an inciting incident, through several logical complications, reaching a climax, and settles many reader questions by the time the concludingContinueContinue reading “Story Building: Pacing”

Scene building: Endings

Listen to this post on Spotify. Today’s topic is not about how to end your story, but rather how to end a scene so that it carries the reader through the emotions just riled up and makes them turn the page eagerly to see what happens next. A scene should unfold at a pace thatContinueContinue reading “Scene building: Endings”

Scene building: beginnings

Listen to this post or others on Spotify or Anchor.fm I’ve talked previously about how to structure a scene. The beginning, or entre, should start as close to the moment the POV character starts pursuing their scene goal. But when exactly is that? And how do you decide whether to start with narrative, like describingContinueContinue reading “Scene building: beginnings”