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How to plan a story in scenes: 5 steps
In novels, screenwriting, and play-writing a scene is a useful structuring device for deciding what happens, where, to whom, and why. There are many ways to outline a story, but planning scene by scene is a useful way to make sure every scene has purpose, intrigue, and the other ingredients of a...
December 10th, 2018
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Round-up: Top 10 writing articles of 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, here are the 10 most popular blog posts from the past year on Now Novel, as well as 10 posts we loved on writing websites we like. Enjoy and happy holidays! 10 best writing articles on Now Novel in 2018 Here are our most-read posts from 2018: 1. Dialog...
December 16th, 2018
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What are loglines? 6 tips to write strong summaries
There are many technical writing terms to learn as you become a writer. A word you might come across from time to time is 'logline'. What are loglines, why is this type of summary helpful, and how can you write better ones? Read these logline definitions, tips and examples: Defining loglines ...
January 14th, 2019
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Developing stories by asking 'What if...?': 5 uses
Developing stories from the foundations of an idea to full novels is challenging. Yet the simple question 'What if?' is a powerful tool. Read 5 examples of ways you can use this versatile question to imagine story developments: 1. Ask 'What if...?' to find your story scenario's scope A 'sc...
February 21st, 2019
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How to develop a story: 10 steps to a winning plot
Learning how to develop a story so that you take readers on an unforgettable journey is key to becoming a great novelist. Here are 10 steps to ensure that your book has a winning, memorable plot: Develop your story in 10 simple steps: Study effective examples of plot development Use a ...
May 16th, 2019
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What is motif in literature? Using repetition creatively
The word 'motif' is often used interchangeably with the word 'theme' in writing about stories. What exactly are motifs in stories, and how can you use them effectively? Read a definition followed by tips to use them imaginatively: What is a motif? Motif vs theme Oxford dictionaries define ...
March 11th, 2019
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Using a novel outline template: 5 tips for story prep
You can easily find a novel outline template such as a spreadsheet full of empty fields to fill. Yet columns and rows of blank space are also daunting. Here are 5 tips for an easier outlining process: 1. Choose a flexible story outline template The word 'template' has connotations of sten...
March 18th, 2019
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Writing a scene that engages your reader: 5 tactics
Whether you're writing a novel, a screenplay, graphic novel or other kind of story, writing a scene that engages your reader from start to finish is crucial. Try these 5 tactics to keep scenes engaging: 1. Make your mise-en-scène interesting Mise en scène is a French term from film and ...
May 6th, 2019
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How to evoke powerful images in your reader's mind
Guest author Jerry Jenkins shares his top tips for authors, including 'engaging the theater of your reader's mind' and resisting the urge to explain. A writer wrote me recently and complained she was struggling to get enough detail into her story to give her readers the 'same pictures I see ...
May 9th, 2019
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8 novel writing tips from accomplished authors
Experienced novelists know the focus and determination it takes to write a novel from start to finish. Read 8 authors' advice on writing a book: 1. Discover when and where you write best The Nobel-winning author Toni Morrison shared insights into her writing process with The Paris Review i...
May 21st, 2019
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Giving writing feedback: Improve your craft
Giving writing feedback is not often presented as a core step in becoming a better writer. Yet many distinguished authors were once (or still are) teachers, too. Here are 6 reasons why giving writing feedback improves your craft: 1. Giving writing feedback helps you problem-solve Problem-...
May 26th, 2019
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Grabbing attention with scene beginnings: 5 tips
Writing scene beginnings readers find compelling is a useful skill to develop. Here are 5 ways to write strong scene beginnings, with examples: 1. Start scenes with unusual events in motion Scenes that begin with 'business as usual' can be fascinating in their own right, if we tell them in...
June 5th, 2019
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