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For Writers
Our goal is to recognize and promote writers who are dedicated to the process of great story telling. The Fictionary Book of the Year Award – for...
A blurb is one of those things that all fiction authors need but most of us hate to write. Condensing our 50-, 80-, or 100-thousand-word book down to between 100 and...
External conflict (and some internal, too) will be covered in this post.. And what to look for when self-editing using the Fictionary story element: Conflict. After ...
Many authors of long-form fiction dread writing book synopses and blurbs: We have a hard time narrowing down our meticulously crafted, finely detailed book babies in...
Book Editing is for Every Author Congratulations! You’ve done it. You finished that manuscript! Now what? Your next best step is to perform a self-edit on your sto...
What is a Fantasy Novel? Want to learn how to edit a fantasy novel? Well, you’ve come to the right place… but first, what is a fantasy novel? Put simply, fantasy...
Story Setting What is story setting, and how do we, as authors, go about choosing a story setting? Most people think of setting as the time and the place where a sto...
Stories matter. Your story matters. But, and it is a big BUT, your fingers stumble, they fumble, they refuse to work when you sit down to write, or type, or chisel e...
For Professional Editors, For Writers
What is a good story arc? This is a question that writers often wonder about, sometimes even stress over. But to tackle the question, we must first understand the ba...
Vampires, Wattys and chick lit tributes Welcome to the world of Emma Baird wannabe writer circa 1997… I’m knees deep in the ‘new’ genre chick lit, and I love...
By Mark Bertrand Published Fictionary StoryTeller Subscriber Editing for Authors on a Budget Holidays often spark creative spirits around the world for people to dec...
Secrets to writing great stories in the 2nd person Point of View (POV) You want to write a story that is different, that is edgy, and that is the only reason you wan...
Very few writers are best-sellers right out of the gate. Even the immensely successful Stephen King, in his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, talks about his y...
For Professional Editors
Editors must state the obvious starts long before the actual edit begins. One of the things that I’ve realized as I matured was that – much to my shock and disma...
Learning the craft of writing is not only learning how writing concepts work, but also learning how you work—as a writer. You cannot just read a how to create a pl...
There are many types of editing, and navigating which is which, and which one you need when, can be confusing, especially for new authors. One reason for the confusi...
A compelling climax is a thrill for readers, but you are the artist. Here is something to think about as you sit down to begin a novel…What do you want the e...
By Sherry Leclerc Many new authors struggle to understand the different levels of editing, including which is needed and when. This confusion is not surprising. Some...
This is how to become a book editor… When you asked the search engine “how to become a Book Editor”, you landed here on the Fictionary blog. Here you will find...
What, exactly, is the plot of a story? What is a structured plot, and why should you apply one to your story? These are very important questions, but plot and plot s...
There are many ways to look at how stories are formed, but the one I have been using (and therefore the one I’m most familiar with) is the three-act story structur...
Inciting Incident Definition and Examples The world of creative writing comes with a whole new vocabulary, and it can be overwhelming to try to figure out wha...
The fundamentals book editing, aka story editing, aka fiction editing – when I first started looking into editing as a career, I knew this is what I wanted to do, ...
The Fictionary Story Arc and the Story Elements together show you why a scene is working or not working. In his discussion on a storytelling model, Larry Brooks says...
NaNoWriMo – Ready, Set, Go Fictionary is sponsoring NaNoWriMo this year. We love NaNoWriMo because they encourage writers to complete a first draft, and when i...
Before we cover “How to Edit a Cozy Mystery”, I’d like to introduce Ryan Rivers. Ryan is enrolled in the 2021 October Fictionary Certified StoryCoach p...
Thanks to Jessica Brody for giving me permission to use the Save the Cat! beat sheet. Jessica is the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and the founder of The Wr...
Before we cover 7 Tips to Self-Edit Your Novel, I’d like to introduce Sherry Leclerc. Sherry is enrolled in the 2021 Summer Fictionary Certified StoryCoach program...
Before this post shows you an editing path from self-editing your novel to working with a professional editor, I’d like to introduce Ane Ryan Walker. Ane is...
Before this post motivates you to follow your dreams, I’d like to introduce Kara Henderson. Kara is enrolled in the 2021 Summer Fictionary Certified StoryCoach pro...
Tools to edit a memoir is a great topic, and before we delve into it, I’d like to introduce Christine Gordon Manley. Christine is enrolled in the 2021 S...
How to write a romance novel is an extension of the question: How to write a novel? We’re going to use ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes and pretend we are ...
How to write a novel is a question I’m often asked. We’re going to use Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and pretend we are writing it from scratch. How ...
Do you want clarity in your writing? Read on… The theme today is Keep It Simple, StoryTeller. This summer, as we host the Fictionary Certified StoryCoach progr...
Have you ever wished someone understood your sense of humor and quirky puns? A person who you could bounce business ideas off of? Looked for help regarding starting...
Simply put, a Story Element is a mandatory portion of a story. You can think of the story elements as the building blocks you’ll use to ensure your nove...
How many scenes in a chapter is the right number? And why is that number important? A scene or several scenes will make up a chapter. The Scenes per Chapter insight ...
The Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Training teaches you how to become a structural editor for fiction. We call structural editing for fiction “Story Editing...
I am Kim, CEO of Novlr – an online novel-writing tool – and I have been invited to share with you some useful advice that we have learnt from the tens of...
Setting creates the world your story exists in. To answer the question, what is the setting of a story, we must look at the setting story elements. Why? Becau...
To become a story editor is not easy. You owe it to writers to learn how to edit a story before you take money from anyone. Just because a person writes a novel, doe...
Two Types of Character Arcs A character arc is either an internal emotional arc or an external arc. The external arc is as important to the story as the inter...
First, let’s talk about spelling of plotpoint. One word or two. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you know what a plotpoint is and how t...
Sharing a draft of your novel with anyone for the first time can be scary. The stress of waiting to hear back from your readers or editor, of worrying about what the...
Performing a story edit on a series is more complex than editing a stand-alone novel. For those of you not familiar with the term story edit, it is similar to a stru...
A fiction editor has many responsibilities. One of them is to give a writer the editor’s view of character names. Character names are a way for readers to conn...
Linking the inciting incident to the climax scene is one more step to ensure readers love your story. We’ve covered the major plot points in detail, so let’s go ...
Writers all across the globe look forward to this annual event – the biggest and best writing giveaway around: The Advent Calendar for Writers. My new found friend...
Every story editor should request a blurb from their client prior to starting work on the client’s manuscript. Sometimes a writer panics when an editor asks fo...
Like an author, an editor must work hard to find their editor’s voice. An author’s voice is the unique style they use when writing. An author can be fu...
Connect readers with your characters by describing characters in a way that keeps the reader engaged. But how do you do this in the most effective way? The most impo...
One of the most important services you can offer a client is to get to know the characters in their story. You’ll evaluate the story based on the characters an...
When you perform a story edit, you’ll be evaluating every scene. And to evaluate every scene, you must be able to determine what the scene is about. Story Edit...
Motivate a Writer The range of talent in the stories you edit will vary greatly. Some will need a lot of work, others are almost ready to be published. It’s im...
Book Editing for Writers and Editors A book outline is important for every novelist. Today, we’re talking about an outline that you create after you’ve w...
Book Editing & Trust Trust between an editor and a writer starts before you begin editing a writer’s manuscript. When you connect, you’ll gather informat...
Hi, Fictionary community! I’m Mary, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself to you—I’m a novelist. You can find my novels When You Read This and Privilege, pu...
How to Edit a Book Focussing on Point of View When you choose a point of view character for a scene, it’s a promise to the readers they will experience that scene ...
How many of you think academic writing can ever be creative? To answer this, I went straight to an expert on the topic, who not only has the answer but has a writing...
Connect your readers with your characters and your readers will cheer for them. And readers love to cheer for characters. Make your readers feel the sadness, the ter...
Tips to Make The Scenes in Your Novel Flow Capturing the reader at the beginning of each scene and making them want to start the following scene could just lead you ...
When you’re about to begin a story edit, you may wonder if word count per scene is important. You can stop wondering. We’re going to show you why it ca...
Improve Every Sentence by Reading Anatomy of Prose Anatomy of Prose arrived in my inbox, and I had no idea it would immediately change the way I write. I was thrille...
Freelance editing can vary from editor to editor. I’m putting myself out there as an author and sharing editor comments on my novel Evolution. Thirteen editors per...
Life seems to be putting a lot of distractions in front of us right now and one of the consequences can be writer’s block. You’re not alone. Here are some id...
Choosing a point of view character is a big decision because you’re making a promise to your readers. You’re promising them they will experience the scen...
A story coach helps a writer create a powerful story that resonates with readers because its structure will be in the form that resonates with how the human brain co...
Editors and clients have a special relationship. A writer wants to tell a powerful story, one that readers can’t put down, and we as editors can help them get ...
Naming each scene will help you tighten your plot. Here’s how. Let’s Start With What Is A Scene A scene is a section of your novel where a character or ...
We’ll be at the 2020 London Book Fair, and We’d Love for You to Join Us! You’ll find us hanging out with ProWritingAid and FirstEditing at stand 1F...
Become an Exceptional Editor StoryCoach is productivity software for quickly completing a substantive, developmental, structural, or line edit of long-form fiction...
Your clients demand a comprehensive and objective edit of their manuscript. But how does a writer know they’re going to get the edit they need and deserve? They h...
We are proud to announce First Editing is the world’s first Fictionary Certified StoryCoach company! Fictionary’s dream is to create the worldR...
At this time next week, we were supposed to be exhibiting for the first time at The London Book Fair. We were super excited. You would have found us under this banne...
How external conflict links to POV character goals is important because when it’s done well, it creates tension in the story, and tension in the story keeps th...
Relating the character arc and internal flaws will give your characters depth. What is a character arc? A character arc starts when the character enters the story an...
Scene-by-Scene Editing Makes A Scene Come To Life By Jordan Rosenfeld Great stories, just like any large structure, are built of many smaller parts, known as scenes....
Fictionary’s series on manuscript editing is just beginning. Thirteen editors performed a Story Edit on the same manuscript. We’re going to share the res...
Posted on Alliance of Independent Authors Getting your first book edited can be an overwhelming experience. There’s different types of editors, huge swings in pric...
When Lisa at ProWritingAid.com asked me to write about plot versus story, I thought no problem. I’m a story expert. However, once I started researching the topic, ...
Knowing who is in each scene helps you control how the reader experiences not only the scene but the entire story. Having a list of your characters per scene on a ...
Once Upon A Time… How wonderful are those words? They create expectation, making the reader want to dive into your world and experience your story. With great ...
Once Upon A Time… How wonderful are those words? They create expectation, making the reader want to dive into your world and experience your story. With that i...
Readers love to cheer for a character. Make them feel the sadness, the terror, the happiness your character feels, and you’ll keep them reading. In a novel, gi...
We’re proud to announce Fictionary is now a vetted, trusted Partner Member and affiliate of Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi). Alliance of Independent Au...
StoryTeller is creative editing software for fiction writers. It helps you quickly complete a substantive, developmental, or structural edit on your own story—we c...
How does your writing fare against these writing ‘behaviors’? We can always see the writer through the cracks to some extent when we read. It is inevitable. Ma...
Today on Fictionary, we are hosting Evan Gow, Indie Developer of StoryOrigin. StoryOrigin is a community of author superheroes who work together to build email lists...
Donna Galanti – founder YourAwesomeAuthorLife – gives you 20 ways populate your blog to engage readers If you share your publishing journey and...
A new release is always exciting, especially when it’s written by someone fabulous. Sometimes people are generous of heart and Kelly Brakenhoff is one of those...
Let me introduce Gabriela Pereira, the founder of DIY MFA. She’s funny. She’s sincere. She’s serious about her work and helping writers. So, I’ve interviewed...
I’m thrilled to host Rebecca Montrusso, a Story Grid certified developmental editor, as a guest. Rebecca is sharing her expertise on how you can become your ow...
We’ve partnered with Reedsy and created a free course on Story Editing. Reedsy has a series of courses for writing, editing, and publishing. All are free....
NaNaWriMoo Starts in November! It’s almost time to his the go button. I’d like to share why NaNoWriMo worked for me. A participant needs to write 1667 words...
The Advance Reader Copy is Your New Best Friend I have a confession to make: when a novel of mine is close to being published, I get nervous. I get nervous because ...
It should come as no surprise I’m a huge believer in software tools that help writers. One of my favorites is ProWritingAid. Now I’m addicted to it and don...
This week we are thrilled to have our friends from Reedsy share their thoughts on a dream publishing team. We asked Reedsy to help us with this as our readers wanted...
When I finished the first draft of my first novel, Descent, I was exhilarated and terrified. Exhilarated because I’d accomplished my dream of writing a novel, and...
Fictionary StoryTeller guides a writer through their novel on a scene-by-scene basis in order to help a writer tell a powerful story. As I read many drafts, it occu...
Today, I want to share the top 10 story issues I find in manuscripts hoping you can learn from them. Part of being a story editor means I’ve met a bunch of int...
Story Arc Key Scenes The story arc, also known as the narrative arc, is made up of 5 key scenes (plot points) and can help you create your story structure in a way t...
The climax scene is where you get to shine as an author. Every word you’ve written up to this point is going to pay off. What is the Climax? You’ve built your s...
Plot Point 2 is the end of act II and all is lost. Your protagonist must work hard to get what she wants or lose everything. The story arc has been around for over 2...
The middle of a novel is often the most difficult of the key scenes in the story arc to write. Act II is underway, and your story is dragging. What do you do? A drag...
You’re heading into Act II of writing or editing your novel. So how are you going to keep readers engaged? You need a great plot point to drive them forward. In th...
You’ve written a first draft. And with that major milestone completed, I’ll guess you want others to read your story and love it. That means you need to take you...
Even before you publish your first book, building an online network will help you when the exciting moment of releasing your novel to the world arrives. Connect with...
Sharing your story can be frightening, so I’ve asked the experts at BetaBooks to talk about how to get the most out of beta readers. Please welcome guest writer, P...
A flashback takes the reader from the current time to a previous time. This usually happens quickly, and then the reader is returned to the present. Backstory i...
Tension and conflict will keep your reader engaged in every scene. Knowing the difference and when to use each will drive your story forward. Tension Tension is the ...
The exit hook is the magic that keeps your reader wanting to begin the next scene. It’s what will stop them from putting your book down, which means it’s critica...
Many writing books talk about the importance of the first line, first paragraph and first page of a novel. If you don’t hook the reader early in your novel, you mi...
If you’re a mystery writer, it’s important to keep track of your story, and not only in the context of what you share with your readers but also what your charac...
Leaving your reader adrift is never a good idea. Farley slowly drifted away from us as we snorkeled nearby. You can tell he wasn’t happy. Even he knew we could ha...
Every writer wants to know what it takes to be successful. Guest author and book-marketing manager Christian Fink-Jensen shares his knowledge about the qualities you...
Action scenes and sequels drove me crazy until I figured out a way to deal with them. Writing a sequel takes as much thought and effort as writing an action scene. M...
“Tell me a story!” your reader demands. “I want to feel happy, sad, frightened. Take me to a new world and make me care about what happens next.” That’s a ...
Richard North Patterson has some great writing advice. I’d like to take the high-level advice and get practical with it. Let’a talk about a character’s...
Failure will make your point of view character human. Failure will add tension to your scene. Failure drives your character and your story forward. That’s the ...
Character goals are what a character wants. She should want it so badly that your readers feel her need in their guts. The Point of View (POV) goal is what the POV ...
Choosing the point of view for your novel is a critical decision. Today, we’re hosting an expert to talk about the rules (and when to break them) that apply to the...
What’s the big deal about character naming? Confusing readers with character names that are too similar to each other might make a reader stop reading your boo...
A great scene makes your reader feel an emotion. What is a Scene? A scene is a section of your novel where a character or characters engage in action or dialogue. Y...
As a NaNoWriMo winner and a repeat sponsor of NaNoWriMo I was thrilled when they asked me to guest blog. I decided to give advice on how to Conquer Your Story Edit A...
Don’t let your readers get lost in the timing of your scenes. They might stop reading. Causes of Plot Holes (Articles I to IV) Scenes are not connected to one ano...
Setting in a story must elicit an emotional reaction and must not cause plot holes. Let’s look at how to make the most of your settings and avoid plot holes. Cause...
A character’s arc includes when she enters and exits the story. Every character arc is a journey, and at the end of the journey, the character either succeeds ...
A plot hole will make your readers unhappy. So how do you avoid falling into a hole? How do you even know there is a hole? Scenes and the order that events take p...
It happens to all of us. The dreaded blank page stares at us with high expectations. Our fingers freeze. Our eyes glaze over. The blinking cursor demands words from...
Seven Drafts: Editing advice from an actual big-time editor! It is our pleasure to welcome editor Allison K Williams. Allison is a writer, editor, speaker, and coach...
We believe to become a successful author, you need to tell a powerful story. We’ve created the Fictionary Story Editing Masterclass to help you. Think about so...
Today it is our pleasure to welcome editor & author Jodie Renner to share expert editing advice. Jodie is generously sharing her wisdom on how to improve your ...
Before you can use Fictionary to edit your first draft, you have to write your first draft. That can be a daunting task and may even cause writer’s anxiety. Edito...
Character Arc How a character changes and grows (or not) throughout the story. A character’s arc includes when she enters and exits the story. The first time a...
When you can’t see the story for the words, you need help. How you improve your story’s setting? With story editing. I once read a book where I didn’t ...
One reason people read fiction is to escape and experience the world through the thoughts and actions of the characters in the story. We believe characters are your...
Improve Your Plot You’ve finished your first draft, and you’re about to embark on a story edit, turning that draft into a powerful story. Now is the time to focu...
All Fiction writers need to know what to evaluate when revising their story. We’ll give you the top 3 questions to ask yourself when performing a story edit. S...
One of our early testers asked: “How will Fictionary help my manuscript?” What a great question! It made me think about a better way to explain the b...
As a writer, you’ve probably read there are recommended lengths for a manuscript depending on the genre you write in. We’ve done some research and thou...
You’ve finished your first draft. Congratulations! Now what? Whether you’re self-publishing or going the traditional route, your story needs to be as good as you...
Let’s focus on setting. I once read a book where I didn’t skim any of the setting description. Afterward, I wondered why. I admit, I’m impatient with too m...
Imagine a man reading your novel. You watch him read. He gets to the end of a scene and quickly turns the page to the next scene. He does this for hours. You watch t...
There are times when a person has the luxury of sitting down and reading a novel in one session. Wouldn’t that be nice if we could all do that? However, most of us...
You’ve finished your first draft, and you’re about to embark on rewriting that draft, turning it into a powerful story. Now is the time to focus on plot and stru...
Are you writing your first draft during NaNoWriMo this November and wondering what to do next? To illustrate how Fictionary StoryTeller will help with your perform ...
Why do people read novels? We think it’s to find out what happens next. But what happens next is only interesting if it the “what happens next” involves chara...
In today’s world, fiction writers have access to many tools to create and publish novels. That puts writers in the luxurious position of having control over their ...
After you’ve written your first draft, you’ll need to revise your story. In today’s publishing environment, it’s up to the author to ensure all t...
Sharing a draft of your novel with anyone for the first time can be scary. The stress of waiting to hear back from your readers or editor, of worrying about what...
Whether you’re a plotter or a panster, you’ve completed a first draft. Congratulations! Now what? If you’re anything like me, you’re asking yourself: Where ...