Learn from five mistakes that contributed to a “failed” novel, as well as important tips about how you can avoid them in your own story.
Source: 5 Lessons From a Lost Novel – Helping Writers Become Authors
Category Archives: novel
The 10 Greatest Female Monsters In Literature, From Carmilla To The Woman In Black
‘Tis the season for celebrating decorative gourds, sugar, changing seasons, and, of course, monsters. Wear all the punny Halloween costumes you like, but at the end of the day, Halloween is all about turning the ordinary into the monstrous. And many…
Source: The 10 Greatest Female Monsters In Literature, From Carmilla To The Woman In Black
5 Key Questions To Ask About Character Motivations
Creating compelling characters is perhaps the most important aspect of fiction writing. Previously, we’ve explored the processes of crafting believable characters,…
7 Quick Tips for Mastering Pacing in Your Story
Most writers will be aware that pacing is important, whether in a short story, a novel or across an entire…
How To Find And Fix Plot Holes In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
Plot holes. We all know what they are: inconsistencies or gaps that defy logic in stories. And we all know they’re entirely undesirable when it comes to writing a good novel. Plot holes diminish the plausibility of a story and can have a huge effect on the way that story is viewed by readers. Your novel may be wonderfully written with great characters and an engaging plot – but leave one plot hole in there and, sadly, all your hard work may be undone. So how can you tell if your story has plot holes? And if it does, how can you go about filling them in? Let’s dive into a step-by-step process for finding and fixing plot holes in your novel.
How to find plot holes
The first thing you need to do is to determine whether your…
Source: How To Find And Fix Plot Holes In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
Create Compelling Characters With These 3 Types of Character Arcs – Writer’s Edit
We all know that crafting believable characters with strong motivations is vital in fiction writing. But how do you ensure that your characters remain compelling throughout the course of your story? The answer is simple: make sure they all have strong character arcs. Below, we’ll first discuss what exactly a character arc is. Then we’ll take a look at the three main types of character arcs – change/transformation, growth, and fall – and discuss how to write each one effectively, creating characters that truly resonate with readers.
What is a character arc? A character arc is basically the journey a character undertakes over the course of a story. But this doesn’t mean a physical journey. We’re talking about an inner journey: one that makes a character grow, learn, change, evolve, or even completely transform as the story unfolds. Generally, this means that a…
Source: Create Compelling Characters With These 3 Types of Character Arcs – Writer’s Edit
5 Quick Tips for Writing Thrilling Fight Scenes – Writer’s Edit
Fight scenes are common across a range of genres, from action, spy and thriller novels to fantasy and sci-fi. They’re often a physical manifestation of the conflict that’s driving your story – and they’re great for keeping things exciting for readers. Whatever genre you write, knowing how to write an authentic, exciting fight scene is an invaluable skill to have. But why are action and fight scenes so difficult to craft authentically? One of the primary reasons is that the average author doesn’t usually have a whole lot of experience with fighting in real life. And even if they do, it’s not an easy thing to translate to the page! The scene has to strike the right balance between the actual action and the other important elements, like emotion and personal stakes. With that said, let’s dive into some…
Source: 5 Quick Tips for Writing Thrilling Fight Scenes – Writer’s Edit
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6 Quick Tips For Writing Gripping Scenes – Writer’s Edit
Scenes drive your story forward; without them, there would be no novel. Your scenes need to keep your reader on the edge of their seat with your plot and characters because otherwise, they won’t keep reading. Looking at your novel on a scene-by-scene basis is a critical step in the writing and editing process. Here’s a list of six things you can do to make every scene super engaging for your readers.
1. Structure your scenes to maintain good pacing
You’re probably aware of the importance of structuring your novel, but having good scene structure is equally important. By structuring your scenes carefully, you will ensure your novel maintains a good pace and isn’t full of dull patches.
Creating scenes and sequels
In his book Techniques of the Selling Writer, author Dwight V. Swain highlights the importance of creating scenes and sequels. He suggests that a scene should always be…
Source: 6 Quick Tips For Writing Gripping Scenes – Writer’s Edit
How To Master Setting In Your Novel – Writer’s Edit
In our visual world of cinema and photography, setting often takes a back seat in novels. But even when constructed through words, visuals are a powerful story element. Whether creating a fantasy world from scratch or using the current world as your backdrop, it is important to work your setting into your story effectively. The first question is, obviously, where. But to truly master this story element, you need to consider the why, what, when and how as well. So, why is setting such a big deal? The experience of immersing oneself in a new place is becoming the domain of cinema, and it is still a powerful tool for today’s writer. Fiction is all about transporting a reader to another place – making them forget the paper in front of…
