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3. Creative Writing
Black Friday is one of the best times of year to get a great discount on products and softwares like Fictionary. So if you have been considering a subscription to ...
Character
Dynamic characters are like the VIPs of the literary world. They are always developing, growing, and keeping things interesting. If your character is the same person...
Writing Tips
So, you’ve got a brilliant idea that you think would make an incredible movie. Now comes the challenge of transforming that idea into a screenplay. But what exactl...
In fiction, a character’s fatal flaw is a personal trait or belief that will cause a character to fail at their goal. It is a critical imperfection in their ma...
Poetry
Poetry has a way of resonating deeply, whether it’s by speaking to our emotions, capturing the beauty of nature, or reflecting on life’s many facets. In this art...
Editing Tips
In the world of writing, few things are more valuable than receiving feedback from someone who understands your work. That’s where beta readers come in. They offer...
In any story, characters are the lifeblood that make readers care, laugh, cry, or sometimes throw the book across the room. No? Just me. Okay then. Whether they’re...
In this article, we’ll examine: The definition and meaning of stock characters, Why they can be useful for your story, and How to write them well Stock Character...
Book Publishing
Ah. Money. A topic that strikes fear into the hearts of most authors who want to make a living from their writing, and immediately ask, “Can I really make enough m...
Epistolary novels offer readers something special. `A window into characters’ personal thoughts and emotions through letters, diaries, emails, or other forms of wr...
Language
Tone and mood are important aspects of a narrative that can easily become confused. Let’s examine the difference between them, why they’re important, and how t...
Situational irony is one of the most engaging and unexpected storytelling tools you can use. It occurs when there’s a stark contrast between what is expected to ha...
Plot
As writers, we’ve all had moments where life throws something unexpected at our characters (and sometimes at us)… But when the universe itself seems to play tric...
Planning
You know that satisfying moment in a story when everything just clicks? When the character has grown, the plot has come full circle, and you nod like, “Yep, that w...
The magician archetype is one of the most intriguing figures in storytelling. Magicians are the masters of the unknown, using their deep knowledge and skills to mani...
Crime, Horror, and Thriller
Feeling brave? Well, step right up to the literary house of horrors. We’ve got a smorgasbord of terror just waiting to tickle your dark fancy. Fifty fear-ind...
Descriptive adjectives are the secret sauce of interesting writing. They help bring characters, settings, and emotions to life, transforming an average sentence into...
The innocent archetype is one of the most enduring and relatable figures in storytelling. Innocent characters see the world through an optimistic lens, often untaint...
Do you have a head full of whimsical ideas, a heart bursting with stories, and maybe a drawer full of half-eaten crayons? Congratulations! You’re halfway to be...
Finding splendid books is like mining. You have to pull out the ones that you like from the mountain of possibilities and sift through the streams of information to ...
The rise in popularity of true crime books is a relatively modern phenomenon. True crime books regularly land in the top ten lists of best selling nonfiction books, ...
Like most writers, I love to associate things with their binary opposites. It makes it easier to understand most terms. Easier, but not a slam dunk. Some terms hav...
Romance
Romance novels are consistently the best-selling genre in fiction. According to Publishers’ Weekly, sales of romance print books increased 52% in 2022 from the pre...
“Goodbye, Mike,” Laura blurted out abruptly, as her finger moved toward the red button that says “End” on her cell phone. Mike rejoined worriedly, “Goodbye...
Writing a well-crafted sentence is like throwing a party hosted by the four major classes of English words—nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. Nouns and adjec...
Could your writing use more showing and less telling? Do the words on the page capture what’s in your head? Artful use of adjectives can go a long way in makin...
It has been said that a weak plot can be held up by strong characters, but the strongest of plots cannot survive with weak characters. Writing characters that resona...
Characters are key to our stories. It’s the understanding of how our characters react to the action of the story that drives us to write. It is the connection with...
Romance has many subgenres, including contemporary romance, historical romance, young adult romance, and one that has surged in popularity in the last few years: dar...
What is a thriller? Something that thrills. Okay, for a more useful definition, it is a book, movie, or play that has suspense, tension, excitement, and high levels ...
Fantasy and Sci-fi
Ah, fantasy books. The genre that whisks us away from our mundane lives and into worlds where dragons soar, magic is real, and heroes embark on epic quests. Whether ...
Book Marketing
The purpose of a logline is to entice the reader with a captivating sentence so they want to invest time in reading the whole story. You might ask why you would need...
Literary elements are the building blocks of great stories. They are essential. If any of these pieces are missing, there will be no story. Great news! If you are a ...
Ever felt like your story’s as flat as a pancake on a steamroller? Fear not, aspiring wordsmiths and veteran scribblers! There’s a time-honored tool that...
Christmas prompts? In autumn? I know, I know. You’re probably sweating buckets, not dreaming of sugar plums. But stick with me here. What better way to beat th...
In the realm of storytelling, the conflict between a character and themselves, often referred to as “character vs self” or “man vs self,” del...
Non-fiction
Ah, memoirs. Those interesting stories that offer a glimpse into someone else’s life, experiences, and wisdom. This year, there are some incredible memoirs you sim...
Ah, the tragic hero. One of literature’s most interesting and enduring character archetypes. If you’ve ever felt a pang of sorrow for a character’s...
Ah, fantasy literature… My absolute favorite. The genre is vast and captivating, transporting readers to realms brimming with magic, mythical creatures, and epic a...
Navigating the world of publishing can feel overwhelming, whether you’re a seasoned author or a newcomer. If you’re feeling like you don’t know where to st...
Understanding the various points of view (POVs) in literature is crucial for any writer. One of the most commonly used is the third person point of view, and I might...
With storytelling, the conflict between characters and technology—also known as man vs technology, person vs technology, or character vs technology (which are all ...
Ah, the 6-word memoir. You’ve probably heard of it before, maybe even thought about writing one yourself. It’s a tiny challenge with a tremendous impact, a way t...
In the world of storytelling, the term “Mary Sue” often sparks heated debates and strong opinions. And who doesn’t love a strong literary opinion? Orig...
Fantasy writing opens up a realm of endless possibilities, allowing writers to create worlds that captivate readers and transport them to magical realms. Whether you...
Ah, purple prose—a term that might make you think of a literary color palette gone wild. But what exactly is it? Purple prose is an extravagant writing style that ...
I’ll bet you’ve heard the advice, “Show, don’t tell,” and this advice is grand, except for when it comes to one tool you should add to your writerly toolki...
Ah, tropes. They can be an author’s best friend or their worst nightmare, but learning how to use them effectively is essential if you want to be a top rate storyt...
Fairy tales, fables, and folk tales are some of the most enduring stories of all time. They are the original bestsellers in fiction. Want to know why? They all have ...
You know when you need a character to add to your ensemble cast because something is missing, but you can’t quite work out what that something is? I feel you. Trus...
A foil character is one who strongly contrasts with another character (usually a protagonist) in order to highlight the protagonist’s qualities. Let’s look...
Many writers will be familiar with the dreaded criticism that there is too much exposition. This article will cover what story exposition is and why it’s often nec...
In literature (and in life sometimes too!), there are characters that fulfill a familiar role, or personify a specific niche in the story’s structure. Some may...
The first time I saw the word deuteragonist, I had no idea what it meant. Well, that’s not completely true. I know enough about prefixes and suffixes to know it ...
Are you stuck in a creative rut? Do you need a spark to ignite your next short story? I hear you. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a newbie, coming up with ...
Hey there, wordsmiths and storytellers! Ever feel like your muse has gone on an extended vacation? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to turn your brain into...
Figurative language can be one of those really confusing literary devices that has you scratching your head, like, huh? What’s going on here? But it doesn’t have...
Do you read? Write? Watch movies? Chances are, you’ve heard of Stephen King, one of the most famous names in fiction. Since his first novel, Carrie, hit the shel...
How to Use Fictionary
It’s another exciting day at Fictionary. You asked for more automation, and we’ve added it! Just Ask Fictionary⭐ now includes Scene Structure evalution. Keep r...
Fictionary Events
If you’re an independent fiction author looking to go that extra mile, you’re in the right place. Welcome to Inkers Con 2024! What Is Inkers Con? Inkers Con is...
Ever wondered why some writing makes your soul sing while other prose puts you to sleep faster than a lullaby on repeat? The secret, dear word enthusiasts, lies in t...
In this article we’ll examine the Save the Cat story outline, look in detail at how this outline compares with a successful novel, and explore some tips for how to...
Have you ever wondered what a Fictionary StoryCoach edit is all about? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know. What is a StoryCoach Edit? A StoryCoach edit is...
Ever felt like your characters are about as flat as a soda left out overnight? Yeah, me too. But fear not, fellow word-wranglers! I’ve got a secret weapon that...
Have you ever wondered whether your story has a theme, or wanted to know how to integrate a theme or themes into your story? In this article we’ll look and what a ...
You might be thinking, it’s a bit early for Halloween. Some people think about horror, I mean, Halloween, all year long. But if you’re a writer, it is important ...
In the ever-evolving, sometimes baffling world of writing and publishing, we author types are always on the lookout for the best tools to enhance our craft and strea...
Story archetypes, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is, “The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations o...
What is Realistic Fiction? Every story (even realistic fiction story) takes us into a different world. We experience the familiar in strange, new ways or discover th...
Music plays an important role in many people’s lives, so the topic of how to describe music in writing is an important one. Some songs invoke memories: A first dan...
Many conflict-averse writers hate the thought of forcing their beloved characters through myriad fights and arguments. Yet this character vs character conflict is th...
Whether we realize it or not, we all regularly encounter jargon in our work and in our everyday lives. But what is jargon and, specifically, what is jargon in litera...
What Are Plot Points in a Story? When people talk about the plot of a story, what do they really mean? Isn’t plot just what happens? Boy meets girl, they fall in l...
Brief, Plot, Twist – not the steps for a new dance craze or the latest challenge on social media – these are the three key elements of flash fiction. Whe...
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...
Static characters are like the static on a television. I know I’m showing my age, but if you don’t know what static on a tv is, watch Poltergeist. The thing ab...
It doesn’t matter what type of writing you’re doing. It could be an email to your newsletter list, a social media post, or your latest novel. Either way, masteri...
You found your story. You plotted or pantsed your way through a first draft and used Fictionary to edit and fine-tune your story structure. Now it’s time to review...
Hey there, storytellers! Feeling stuck staring at that blank page? We’ve all been there, wrestling with the cliché-riddled monster of uninspired plots. But fear n...
Ever found yourself stuck in a character development rut, staring at your manuscript and wondering why your protagonist feels more like a cardboard cutout than a thr...
When we read stories, it is the characters that guide us through the world and the adventure. Think back to your favorite stories. Whether you are taken back to a fa...
You’ve probably heard the term figurative language, but what does it actually mean? Valid question, but fear not because I’ve broken down the seven different kin...
If you’re writing love stories, then you’ll want to get familiar with romance tropes. They act as familiar signposts for readers, so they know what to expect fro...
Ah, starting a story. The stage of the process that stirs all the feels within your writerly brain. You’ve sparked your initial idea. You’ve penned your perfect,...
In literature, the first-person point of view immerses readers into the intimate perspective of a single character or individual. When a story is told from this view...
“Irony is just honesty with the volume cranked up.”—George Saunders What is Irony? Irony is when the opposite of the expected happens. Examples range from ...
You have an idea. It inspires you, but how do you make it a full story? How do you know the idea has legs? You want to create a structurally strong story that reader...
Every novel begins as a whisper, a fleeting thought that tickles the mind. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a novel, you know it’s a mixture of inspirat...
Dual Protagonist Synopses For many novelists, condensing tens or hundreds of thousands of words of fiction into a synopsis of five hundred words or so (depending on ...
What happens when a writer wants to tell a true story about themselves? They become the protagonist and fill the chapters with scenes from their own lives. They shar...
“In the beginning, there was tone.” Tone is an elusive yet powerful force in writing that shapes our perception of stories. As writers, we wield tone in magica...
Science fiction is a huge genre, encompassing many subgenres. Although sci-fi extends beyond the bounds of normal reality, exploring imaginary but scientifically pla...
Falling action is a useful literary tool to have under your belt because it can increase the impact of the climax and create a more satisfying resolution. To underst...
If you’re looking to craft realistic and relatable characters, then you’ll need to get familiar with character motivation. Understanding what drives each charact...
I know what you’re thinking. No, I’m not psychic, but I am a writer and reader, just like you. The question you want to ask is, “Do I really need to add 25 new...
Antithesis is a fantastic literary device that can add some much needed depth to your writing. If you want your prose to resonate with readers, this is one way to do...
Third person omniscient, is told from a (usually) uninvolved observer, or narrator, who can know what all the characters think and do and even know about events the ...
Dramatic irony is not rain on your wedding day. After all, some people see the beauty in rain, and many people have indoor weddings and receptions that will be unaff...
Spring or fall I find are the best times to get out of the house and go for a walk. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a little stroll where I don’t have to work ...
Ah, poetry! It’s like a literary magic trick—brief but breathtaking. Join us as we explore the types of poetry that stir our souls and spike our creative juices....
Indirect Characterization is a helpful tool that authors can use to add complexity to their characters. This method of storytelling unveils characters in a literary ...
Get ready to turn the pages with trembling hands! For we are about to explore the eerie, the spooky, and the outright terrifying. Horror literature taps into our dee...
Here’s help for when it happens. You know IT, that moment you must write a poem. It may be an internal desire or external pressure (shout out to students and poets...
Essential, inevitable, and often misunderstood, tone impacts the reader. Using tone intentionally will elevate your writing. Everything you need to develop your expe...
It’s important to describe sounds in fiction. When you describe sounds in fiction, it creates an immersive experience for your readers. There are five senses: ...
You’ve probably had a friend pass you a book and say, “You’ve got to read this. It’s a total head trip.” All books take you on a journey, but when getting ...
You did it! Holding a full draft in your hands is an accomplishment. The first big step on the road to publishing your story. Editing courses offer insight and clari...
As you search for a way to deepen your reader’s connection with your protagonist while maintaining flexibility in narrative control, third person limited narration...
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 ...
If you’re anything like me, coming up with a title for a story may be a little challenging. But it’s vital. I usually have a working title while I’m writing, t...
Writers in any genre benefit from a deep understanding of how their genre works, and story beats are perhaps the most important part of defining that genre’s form....
Fellow word-slingers: writing a book can be an exhilarating, soul-consuming, and downright exhausting endeavour. But fear not! Like a literary superhero, I’m here ...
From the humble pen and paper, to the mighty typewriter, and now the omnipresent computer, the art of writing has always danced beautifully with the rhythm of techno...
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...
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 ...
Editing Services
Editing makes a story the best it can be by revising content, fixing errors, and ensuring the story engages readers. Every book needs editing, and revision is crucia...
Writing a great story is like cooking an incredible meal. There are many ingredients that all work together to create a delicious feast for your reader. You might ha...
In the following, we’ll look at 10 major science fiction elements (or beats, if you will) to consider when writing science fiction. To set the stage, or p...
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...
Setting
What Is Setting Setting is the place or environment in which something or an event occurs. Every story, whether it is told in books, poems, films, tv, or theatre nee...
You’ve written a first draft. And with that major milestone completed, I’m guessing you want others to read your story and love it. That means you need to perfor...
What Is Narrative Non Fiction? Narrative nonfiction is a book written in the format of a novel but based on a true story. The important words are novel and true...
External conflict moves your story forward, and the question of how to write external conflict is a difficult one to answer. This sounds like a simple concept, but i...
Many of us remember teachers warning against the use of passive voice in our lessons. Young writers slip into passive voice easily, particularly when they are writin...
Let’s talk about all the romance elements that make love stories so popular. In part, the romance genre stands the test of time because the experience of falli...
A deliciously unexpected plot twist delivers a rush of adrenaline that causes readers to fly through the pages to see what happens next. A good plot twist will have ...
Developmental Editing
Let’s look at how some famous writers answered the question, why is editing a book impirtant. Ernest Hemingway perhaps did so most concisely when he said: the firs...
If you’ve paid close attention, you’ve likely seen a hint of despair in an author’s eye when asked where their story ideas originate. Authors are asked this ag...
What Is a Book Endorsement? A book endorsement is a short comment praising your book from someone who has read your book. The best and most convincing book endorseme...
Sometimes when you ask a writer how to start writing, you get this warning: If you can find happiness doing anything other than writing, do that thing. The th...
Stories we read as children can provide some of our very first friends. These children’s characters teach us those important early lessons of how to be brave, ...
I’m sure it’s happened to you. You’re chatting with someone — perhaps on the bus, or at a kitchen party — and you mention you’re working on a boo...
Bookshelves, libraries and the internet are great sources of inspiration for writers. Who hasn’t whiled away hours researching essential story questions like: how ...
Ask yourself, do I have a story? Did that make you shudder with anticipation or giggle with glee? Whether you have a gem of an idea that you are outlining and planni...
You’ve done the hard part. You’ve written your novel, self-edited it, and sent it off to a professional editor (hopefully, a Fictionary Certified StoryCoa...
The phrase “write a book synopsis” used to give me the heebie-jeebies. I’d rather sit through a root canal than attempt to shrink a complex, multi-...
Fasten your seatbelts, literary trailblazers, because we’re going to look at how to edit a book. Yes, you heard right. That formidable, enigmatic beast that we...
Creating strong voices in characters begins with the way we use language. We can, without even knowing it, reveal beliefs, culture, identity, and experience. The wor...
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...
Writing your first novel is hard. I remember when I wrote my first novel way back in 2010. It was terrible… no, really. I read through it in 2018, and it will neve...
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...
Tension drives fiction, and successful writers are adept at the dance of teasing out tension, building it to nearly unbearable levels, and then releasing it satisfac...
Creating believable characters (and a believable anti-hero) requires much diligence by the writer. Listing questions to define traits of a character are common in wr...
There’s no universal definition of an indie author. Strictly speaking, an indie author simply means an author who’s ‘independent’ of a publishing house. Indi...
Every writer benefits from engaging with alternative perspectives, and using beta readers can help with this. Without opening ourselves to other points of view, how ...
How to create suspense is a question writers often ask me. I get why they ask it, though. Creating suspense (i.e., raising the hairs at the nape of your reader’...
Plot, Plot Points, and Everything In Between. We’re going to cover the 5 main plot elements of a story. “What is a “plot point”, or even a plot for that ...
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...
What Is a Flashback in a Story? Flashbacks take the reader from action in the narrative’s present to action in the story’s past. Flashbacks: Play out as ‘shown...
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, ...
Many new authors struggle to understand the different levels of editing, including which is needed and when. This confusion is not surprising. Some editing terms are...
Giving your protagonist a character goal is vital to writing great fiction. That’s all well and good, Shane, but what is a character goal and why are they so i...
As a reader, you are a silent partner with the detective: experiencing the thrill of identifying the culprit with, or before, the detective. Maybe even better, you h...
Every author is searching for a definitive answer to the question, which type of point of view (POV) makes the most riveting story for readers. Are you struggling wi...
3. Creative Writing, Fantasy and Sci-fi
So, you want to write a fantasy novel, eh? I don’t blame you. Losing yourself in a fantastical world of your own design is fun… and we want writing to be fun, ri...
A reader connects with a story’s characters; they are who the reader follows through the story. Kristina Stanley talks about that connection with her fantabulous b...
Most writers find their passion for storytelling through their love of the books they read growing up, and one of the most appealing traits of those stories is to tr...
What is a thriller? On the face of it, this seems like a really easy question to answer. Thrillers are meant to be thrilling… the clue’s in the title. Bu...
One of the first issues a writer tackles in a new story idea is determining where the conflict of the story lies, and what types of conflict they’re going to u...
The most important part of building a believable character is showing consistency in that character’s actions and reactions to various situations throughout...
As writers and editors, we all learn that using first person point of view or even third person limited/close point of view gets readers closer to the story, because...
Ah, the plot diagram! Think of it as the GPS of storytelling. A road map for your story’s journey. It’s not just a squiggly line on a page; the plot diagram ...
A synopsis is one of those things that authors—especially those who plan to query agents and publishers—need, but usually hate to write. But learning how to writ...
Writing dialogue provides the subtext, irony, and complexity required for compelling characters and stories. Small words carry heavy loads, when skilfully handled. �...
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 confusion...
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...
When I first started writing with the intent to publish, I called myself a speculative fiction author because my story ideas didn’t all fit into one neat little ge...
There are three basic points of view: first, second, and third. This is a guide to perhaps the most obscure choice, 2nd person point of view. First, let’s l...
Want to know a secret? You are already an expert at literary devices! What? Yes! Don’t let the fancy words or a stern-looking English teacher scare you away! You a...
As readers, we love a great story. In most cases, stories entertain us, take us out of our reality, and introduce us to experiences unlike our own. However, these st...
Conflict is the bread and butter of fiction writing. And the question of how to write inner conflict is tricky to answer. If you don’t include enough conflict in y...
Fictionary
Announcing the Winners of The 2023 Fictionary Book of the Year Award This is always an exciting message to write and send. We’re so proud of the Fictionarians ...
At its most basic, a good story has three things: a plot, a setting, and characters. In Fictionary, we refer to these as supergroups, and each of the thirty-eight st...
Oxford Languages defines a protagonist as: The leading character or one of the main characters in a play, film, novel etc. An advocate or champion of a partic...
Hi Fictionarians! We are so excited to finally let the cat out of the bag about a project we’ve been working on for weeks. We’ve joined forces with the amazing t...
If you have a book that you are working on, FictionaryLive! Guided Editing Courses will help you navigate your writing and editing journey in just weeks. In every co...
Archetypes are the DNA of storytelling. They provide a universal language that transcends time and culture, connecting us to characters as familiar as an old friend&...
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 of a story? You’ve bu...
This week our very own Kristina Stanley was interviewed on Draft2Digital’s popular podcast, Self Publishing Insiders. You can learn all about her own writing j...
As a reader, you give a writer your trust. You are willing to invest your time and money in a story – to be entertained, to be enlightened, or just to b...
A question we get asked a lot at Fictionary is, how many words should be in my novel? You can spend a lot of time trying to answer this question. And—if you’re l...
Navigating the murky waters of book editing software can feel like a herculean trial. There are countless options out there, each promising to be the holy grail for ...
Many creative writers looking to hone their craft consider taking writing courses. However, with so many courses available, finding the right one can be a cha...
Writing courses and workshops come in many different packages. Some with shiny red bows on top, guaranteeing everything under the sun, others cost as much as ...
Conflict is a writer’s bread and butter in storytelling. It’s what readers read for. They want to see your characters struggle to achieve their goals. If...
Conflict is the story element that drives your novel forward. If you don’t have tons of conflict between your pages… then your readers will find another book...
Conflict is one of the key aspects of storytelling. If there’s no conflict in your story… then you have no story. There are 5 major types of conflict in ...
How do you write a bestseller? Where can you learn the craft that will engage your readers and give you confidence to take your story to market? You have to find t...
As writers, we know that a story without conflict (whether man vs supernatural or not) is like a comedy without the jokes. Boring. Conflict is one story element that...
Today, I want to express my immense gratitude for Fictionary Live, its incredible community, and how it’s helped with my novel writing. Without this phenomenal...
For many life is busy, busy, busy. And aspiring writers often lament, If only I had time to write. If only I had time to write. If only I had time to write. And cru...
An important aspect to writing a compelling story is writing sympathetic characters. As the name suggests, sympathetic characters are meant to elicit readers’ symp...
Introduction to GenAI and Novels First and foremost, I’m a novelist. Four of my novels were published by Imajin Books and one translated into German and published ...
It’s time to dive into the oft-turbulent seas of self editing. Now, let’s get one thing straight off the bat. Editing your own work can feel like trying ...
“Oh, great and powerful Muse of Literature,” you’ve undoubtedly cried at some ungodly hour. “Why does fiction editing have to be so… unruly...
Ah, the tangled web of story structure, and the 8 Point Story Arc, versus the 5 Point Story Arc. When I first dipped my toes into the vast ocean of storytelling, I w...
When you’re searching for the perfect word but can’t quite bring it to the forefront of your mind, it can make writing or editing your manuscript tough. There ha...
When you’re in the writing flow and the words are pouring from your fingertips, everything feels fantastic. You’re on a roll, you have this, and by the g...
We all know that choosing just the right word for just the right sentence when we’re writing can be tough. If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely spent way ...
When you’re trying to describe something, choosing the perfect adjective can be tough. I don’t know about you, but I’ve stared at that blinking cursor for more...
Are you ready to journey through a lush landscape of adjectives starting with the letter L? Sorry, I couldn’t resist a bit of alliteration there. Choosing the perf...
As an author, you know that words have power. Depending on the words you use in your stories, you can inspire, delight, amaze, disgust, and shock in equal measure. A...
Choosing the perfect adjective to make your prose sing can be a real headache. Whether you’re crafting relatable characters, setting the scene, or describing a par...
Let’s dive headfirst into this whimsical whirlpool of fiction writing, shall we? Fiction writing. It’s an art, a craft, a magical cauldron of creativity ...
When I first set out to write a novel, I remember feeling overwhelmed. The question of how to write a fiction book felt unanswerable. I was standing at the foot of M...
Alright, my fellow writer warriors, buckle up! We’re about to do a deep dive on self-editing for fiction writers. Now, I won’t mince words here. In the early...
I recall the moment I capped off the last sentence of my first book, a wave of accomplishment washed over me. In that second, I was on top of the world! “I’v...
A person can be agreeable, daft, motivated, greedy, unpredictable, articulate, or something else. All of these words are adjectives. Adjectives modify a noun or pr...
Incredible adjectives can make a description as informative as they are indispensable. But an imprecise adjective can feel inelegant. Finding the best adjective fo...
The perfect adjectives can take a description from being just nice to noteworthy. An adjectives adds additional information to a noun or pronoun, and they are an e...
Finding a superb adjective to fit your requirements can be stressful. Writers often select adjectives based on their length, connotations, definition, or spelling ...
A rare and refined adjective can create a description that resonates deeply with readers. But it can be hard to find the perfect adjective, especially if you are l...
A top-notch adjective can create thrilling descriptions, but a time-worn one can undercut your writing. Getting the right adjective is a matter of meaning, tone, s...
A clever adjective can spice up a description, but using too many can feel chaotic and lead to a reader who is confused and pulled away from the story. Writers may...
Writing isn’t a one-size-fits-all sort of job. Everyone does it differently and that’s a good thing. It’s how the creativity engine keeps running, and how we g...
The term “pastiche” is not one I’ve heard often used, even though we see examples of it everywhere, so it was fun to wade into the pastiche vs parody debate. P...
In every story, the point of view character must have a goal. Without a goal, the character has no chance at the successes and failures that create tension and drive...
What is Historical Nonfiction? Historical nonfiction discusses real-life historical events and eras. These books should be based upon rigorous research and study. Su...
For writers of thrillers, mysteries, and horror, understanding how to use suspense and surprise is an important part of their craft. But while these writers perfect ...
Creating a killer cast of characters for your novel can make a big impact on your story’s success. Why? Because, as Kristina Stanley says in her article Make the M...
Narrative nonfiction is a term used to describe true stories written in novel format. Like any novel, narrative nonfiction books need, among other things, a strong s...
What can the stages of the hero’s journey offer you and your characters? How can you use the hero’s journey to enhance your story? I’m not going to promise it ...
Can a novel be nonfiction is an interesting, and tricky, question to answer. Before we delve into this topic, let’s first examine: Definitions Merriam-Webst...
In fiction, we often talk about the need to create a hero, but not every protagonist needs to be a hero. Sometimes they can be ordinary people caught in difficult or...
Passive voice has power. Not the kick-you-in-the-face, don’t-look-away, hold-your-breath-and-jump kind of power, but power just the same. But it’s considered...
The thought of writing a book can seem overwhelming. The empty page can be intimidating for writers venturing into that first novel. Endless advice is given on how t...
Our connection to characters creates stories we love, and we can create loveable characters through direct vs indirect characterization. Characters’ actions...
Which writer app is your favourite? Countless writers’ apps exist today. For example, writers’ apps can help with: Brainstorming plots Proofreading (checking you...
Creating historical fiction settings is essential to writing great historical fiction—the name says it all! The setting, in time and space, sets the boundaries and...
Increased curiosity about the world around us is driving readers to pick books in a growing genre of narrative nonfiction. Narrative nonfiction is an umbrella term f...
Your book title has a huge job to do. Simultaneously, it must: Hook readers/agents/publishers into reading your novel (or at least into reading the blurb and ...
Ah… flat characters, the bane of writers the world over. Are you worried your characters are flatter than steam-rolled pancakes. Struggling to bring your story...
When editors talk about helping writers intensify the power of a story, what does that actually mean? What is it exactly that makes a story powerful, and how can we ...
Let’s address what we mean by archetype vs stereotype. Archetypes and stereotypes could be trapped in the battle between form and formula. Archetypes provide a...
The genre of Historical Fiction has gained popularity in recent years with the success of works such as The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldon, The Wolf Hall Trilog...
Introduction Many people think that the western genre is dead: that it ended with stories like Shane, Wyatt Earp, and Gunfight at the OK Corral. And it is true that ...
An important question to ask when considering person vs fate is, “How do you fight fate?” Another is, “Faced with a prediction of an inevita...
The most successful writers who share their processes often speak of creating strong writing habits. For these writers, good writing habits are a necessity th...
What is World-building? World-building is the construction of story worlds, whether for novels, games, movies or comics. World-building is often seen as the purview ...
Want to become a developmental editor? Want to help writers turn their words into bestsellers? Maybe you’re a structural editor already, but you’re strug...
Writers often debate where stories come from, though we have all heard the advice, write what you know. But what if you want to write a great story with an omniscien...
Have you ever written 60-120,000 words of a novel, only to sit back, read your manuscript and wonder how any author ever manages to write a plot that actually feels ...
Hi, I’m Kristina and I’m a writer just like you. I can’t wait to show you all the ways our software, courses, and community will help make y...
Recently, I found myself lingering over the images of food in the stories I read. The sensory experience of the story told with the use of food connected me to the c...
Fiction is largely driven by conflict, and nowhere is conflict more on display than in the clash of heroes and villains. At their best, these clashes leave indelible...
3. Creative Writing, Writing Tips
Writing Humour: Let’s Get Serious About Being Funny Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate. Writing humour is hard, and there’s a lot o...
When we talk about compelling characters, character or plot: which comes first? Barbara Kingsolver says: Plot comes first. The plot is the architecture of your novel...
Introduction Like novel writing, blurb writing is an art form in its own right. I’ve seen it compared to copywriting; I’ve even seen it compared to poetry. But, ...
Making the decision to work with an editor can be tricky, especially if this is your first novel. You’ve completed your manuscript, self-edited it, incorporated be...
We scoured the internet for the best Black Friday offers for writers. Whether you are outlining, writing, editing, marketing, or publishing, there is somethin...
Introduction Are you intrigued by where we are going with science and technology? Are you a fan of “The Martian” by Andy Weir? Do you love to debate the accuracy...
Narrative vs. Exposition Whether writers are in early stages of developing their craft, or are perfecting prose they have practiced for years, understanding the subt...
Stories written for young audiences need to be better than stories written for older audiences. And they must have a stronger structure so young audiences can clambe...
Why Objectivity is Important in Editing Objectivity, or the Editing Holy Grail An objective edit, free of the whims and fancies of personal opinion, is the gold stan...
Outlining a novel for NaNoWriMo in StoryTeller Introduction Writing a novel is a huge undertaking. You can plan out the story as much or as little as you want. Still...
So, you’re a copy editor, but you’re considering becoming a story editor, eh? Or perhaps you’re tentatively dipping your toes into the editing career pool, and...
Fictionary, a Canadian tech company, is revolutionizing the way writers and editors collaborate to create bestsellers. November 29, 2022, Inverary, Ontario — Ficti...
A good character name tells a whole story anytime you hear it. You know the type of name: Jane Eyre, Randall Flagg, Moby Dick, Katniss Everdeen, Lando Calrissian. Se...
Can a love story appear in any novel? When thinking of love stories, we often think first of Mills and Boon romances and Merchant Ivory rom-coms. But love stories ar...
Time Management | Perspective | Process | Heart | Humility Little did I know when I volunteered to judge the 2022 Fictionary Book of the Year Award (BoYA) contest ...
As story editors (structural book editing of fiction), it’s our job to point out what our author clients need to change to make their book better, right? Well, yes...
Beginnings and endings can make or break a story, and this is true whether we’re referring to the workings of the scenes within the novel (see 6 Ways to Exit a Sce...
What is a target audience? Simply put, your target audience consists of readers who enjoy books like yours. They will likely buy your book, recommend it to a friend,...
The decision to become an editor raises an immediate question: What type of editing is for you? As we’ll see, the answer involves more options than the general pub...
Ten Talented Writers Chosen Five Novels In Each Category The book of the year award is for the best unpublished novel edited in Fictionary software. The shortlisted ...
Don’t Go in the Cellar: Elements to Consider When Writing Horror [Editor’s note: The horror community suffered a great loss when author Peter Straub, 79, died on...
Imagine you’ve exported your manuscript from Fictionary, and it’s ready for copy-editing or sharing with your writing group, beta readers, or ed...
What is the setting of a story? The elements of a story in a novel are grouped into character, plot and setting. When we talk about the setting of a story and what...
A story editor edits story structure As the writer, you write for your most attentive reader, then a story editor edits for the most casual readers. Once the structu...
Introduction: The Story Element Using one story element will not create a great story. A story is a collection of scenes woven together to illuminate an overarching ...
The Hunger Games story arc shows how a very successful novel relied on story structure to tell a powerful story. What is a story arc? How do we create one? Which ele...
How to Discover Your Inciting Incident Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, at some point you will need to have a look at your story structure. Do you have all th...
Use these 5 Elements of a Story when editing characters Editing Characters When a character is being edited—any character from your book—you need to see if you h...
History of Editing Tools Before looking at the future of editing, let’s look at the past. Imagine trying to edit in 3200 BC. I’ll bet a typo caused great...
Narrative non-fiction is a book written in the format of a novel but based on a true story. The important words are novel and true. I’d like to share a true ...
Have you ever had that heart-stopping moment where you’re editing a client’s manuscript, you want to suggest an improvement, but don’t know how to phrase it? Y...
Tips for Writing a Novel Whether it’s your first novel or your tenth, writing and self-editing full-length fiction can be quite a daunting process. Where do you st...
Plot Points tell you if you have a story. Please read this blog if the story in your head is not what’s written in your draft. Or you have shown your story to some...
What is a scene in a novel? Want to learn how to structure a fantastic scene? Great! You’ve come to the right place… but first, what in the name of all things bo...
Why Edit your Character Arc Your beta reader’s feedback Is the feedback from your beta reader that your story did not interest them? Or, if they are a braver type ...
Settings for a Story What are Sensational Settings? Want to learn how to write sensational settings? Great! You’re in the right place. But first… what do I mean ...
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...
As writers, we know that conflict, whether external conflict or internal conflict, is at the heart of all marvellous stories. A story without conflict is boring. And...
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...
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...
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...
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...
I was elbow-deep in creating the Fictionary Story Arc structure, the skeleton key to the Fictionary story-editing software. Then I had a forehead-slapping, coffee-sp...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Become an Exceptional Editor StoryCoach is productivity software for quickly completing a substantive, developmental, structural, or line edit of long-form fiction�...
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 Summer F...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Why I Love The Story Arc When I was first building the Fictionary story editing software, I knew I wanted to use the story arc as a focus for developing a systematic...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 & 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 ...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
We are proud to announce First Editing is the world’s first Fictionary Certified StoryCoach company! Fictionary’s dream is to create the worldR...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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....
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 ...
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...
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...
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 ...
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�...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...