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 […]
Plotting
Posts on plotting a story
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
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
Outline or Discovery?
What makes for a better story, an outline or discovery? Plotting or ‘pantsing?’ Writers fall into two types: the plotter
The Flat-pack Hero’s Journey
The Flat-pack Hero’s Journey is nowhere more prevalent than in the fantasy genre. It’s the not-so-secret formula to story telling.
The Wrong Point of View
You draft the first book in a series, then realize you’re telling the story from the wrong point of view.
Do The Worst Thing to your Protagonist
There’s a piece of writing advice which goes ‘do the worst thing to your protagonist you can think of.’ It
Nesting Sub-Plots in Parentheses
Nesting sub-plots in parentheses: it’s a way to ensure all the plot threads are tied off in the course of