Eight Lessons from the Edit
If you want less pain the next time you work on a novel, you have to learn lessons from the […]
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
Six Essential Elements of Story
The closest I can give you to a writer’s cheat sheet: the six essential elements of story. Among the many
Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 1
Book covers have to fit in before they stand out. The tone, genre and story type need to be clear
Plot, Character and Second Sight
Why take the easy route when you can smash together plot, character and Second Sight? My fantasy series centers on
How Many Drafts?
How many drafts does it take to finish a book? Is there an ideal number? And what counts as a
It’s All in the Edit
That old adage, ‘it’s all in the edit;’ it’s totally true. As book four of my loosely connected series nears
Every Scene a Story
Perhaps the most valuable writing lesson I’ve learned: make every scene a story. That means purpose, shape and structure.
Murphy’s Twenty-four Chapters
Derek Murphy’s twenty-four chapters hold all my novels all together. Of all the story structures from the seven key scenes
Three foundations of plot: Promises, Progress and Payoffs
Three foundations of plot: Promises, Progress and Payoffs. These are Brandon Sanderson’s three P’s from his 2020 BYU writing course
Can the Protagonist Walk Away?
Are the events of the story inescapable: or can the protagonist walk away? The answer tells you whether the story