Navigate your
writing journey
Learn how to successfully publish your book.
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
Read post...
The writing process: 10 tips from Writers & Artists
The writing process is something every author finds a way to navigate. Writers & Artists: The Insider Guide to the Media regularly interviews authors about their process. Read tips from 10 established authors' writing routines and approaches: 1. Have a schedule There's truth to the say...
November 11th, 2019
Read post...
How do you start a chapter in a novel? 10 examples
How do you start a chapter in a novel to hook your reader and structure your story? These 10 examples reveal ways to make your chapter beginning count: 1. Introduce urgent current or impending action Consider the opening paragraph to the first chapter of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer-winning w...
November 4th, 2019
Read post...
What are the elements of plot development?
What are the elements of plot development to remember when crafting a story? Read about 7 key elements of plot: 1. The premise (or story scenario) The premise or scenario is the situation or concept on which we build a story. Take a logline for a popular novel, such as John Grisham's The R...
October 28th, 2019
Read post...
How to develop your book idea: 8 exercises
So you've got a book idea. There's a story image or event teasing your imagination. How do you develop a book idea in a germinal state into something detailed, more ready to begin your draft? Read 8 ways to build on a founding story idea: 1. Condense your book idea into a logline This m...
October 21st, 2019
Read post...
How to write a bestseller: 747 No. 1 novels
Learning how to write a bestseller isn’t as simple as making sure your book ticks a few boxes. Factors influencing sales (such as marketing and readership trends) count. We analysed 747 #1 bestsellers from 1950 to share some insights into the anatomy of bestselling novels: First, a note o...
October 17th, 2019
Read post...
10 interesting writing ideas from The Guardian
Interviews with authors are a great source of interesting writing ideas - both ideas about writing and ideas for stories themselves. Talking and thinking about writing is a great way to get new ideas flowing. Read 10 interesting ideas from The Guardian's 'The New Review Q&A' series: 1. Ob...
October 14th, 2019
Read post...
7 reasons writing a book makes you a champion
Many people talk about wanting to write a book "someday." Anyone who has written a novel knows the enormous effort involved. Here are seven reasons to persevere: 1. Achieve a goal that makes others attainable You will accomplish something few people ever will. Writing a book is hard, bu...
October 10th, 2019
Read post...
20 great writing ideas from the Art of Fiction
Interviews with authors give interesting writing ideas, about the craft, process, pleasures and challenges of writing. Read 20 insights about writing gleaned from The Paris Review's 'The Art of Fiction' series: 1. Just make the reader believe Authors are often asked questions about the 'ro...
October 9th, 2019
Read post...
How do you write character growth? 7 tips
Growth and change are elements that make characters' paths interesting. How do you write character growth into your story? Read seven approaches: How to write character growth: 7 stages Find what characters lack to begin Plan short-term and long-range growth Weave in agents of change High...
September 30th, 2019
Read post...
7 dialogue rules for writing fantastic conversations
Dialogue rules aren't set in stone but help us create believable characters who have distinct, memorable voices. The best dialogue gives insights into characters and their motivations. Getting dialogue punctuation right is important, as is keeping dialogue entertaining. Here are 7...
September 26th, 2019
Read post...
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
Read post...
