Savannah Cordova

Contributor

Savannah Cordova specializes in content about fiction writing and the editorial process. Her work has appeared in Slate, Kirkus, BookTrib, DIY MFA, and various other outlets focused on writing and publishing. She particularly enjoys analyzing wider publishing trends and trying to predict what will happen next in the industry.

Savannah's short fiction has also been published in the Owl Canyon Press anthology No Bars and a Dead Battery. Her non-publishing interests include cooking, watching rom-coms, and visiting various art museums around London, where she is currently based.

Recent posts

Mythical creatures list: 6 fantasy inspirations

Authors through the ages have found story inspiration in mythical creatures. From fauns and mermaids to the more unfamiliar, here is a mythical creatures list (with examples from books) to inspire your own fiction: 1. Fauns 'Hybridity' is a common element in many mythical creatures. Biolog...

February 24th, 2020

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How do you find the plot of a story? Using scenarios

How do you find the plot of a story from a broad situation? Brainstorming scenarios - specifically the best- and worst-case outcomes in a given situation - helps to find plot details. To brainstorm a plan for high and low points in characters' arcs, try these tips: 1. Find the best- and worst...

November 18th, 2019

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What makes a good novel plot? 6 insights

What makes a good novel plot? A strong plot has many ingredients. The 5 W's - who, what, why, where and when - change in interesting ways. Tension builds and ebbs. Read insights from 10 of the top-rated books on Goodreads: How we chose examples to explore what makes a good novel plot We to...

September 23rd, 2019

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Interesting plot ideas: 6 writers' insights

Many authors have shared interesting plot ideas, giving insights on how plot works and why it matters. Here are 6 authors' ideas from essays and interviews about plot, and what they teach us: 1. Find the cause and effect between events Defining plot, E.M. Forster gives us the classic quote...

September 2nd, 2019

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Story plot ideas: 8 fun ways to find your premise

Finding story plot ideas that grab hold of your imagination is easy if you know where to look. Try these 8 ways to find a strong premise for your story: 1. Keep a journal to mine for plot ideas Often we overhear anecdotes or have surprising experiences that we forget in the rush of daily l...

August 12th, 2019

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Showing vs telling: 'Show don't tell' in narration

Show don't tell is one of the most abused pieces of writing advice. Although both showing and telling in narration are important, knowing when to use which (and what makes explicit telling less effective in some cases) helps. Here are tips for balancing general and specific detail in you...

January 17th, 2019

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