Action! Today, we are taking a more cinematic approach to novel outlining as this method has roots in screenwriting. It focuses on writing the novel out in the progression of scenes that make up the plot. Why 60 scenes you may ask? That’s because 60 is generally the number of scenes in a screenplay. AndContinueContinue reading “The 60-Scene Method to Plotting A Novel”
Tag Archives: writing tips
Dive into these 13 Summer Beach-Read Tropes
We are well into the dog days of summer! And while the days are longer and hotter, my novels of choice this time of year tend to be shorter and rapid in consumption. Yes, we’re talking beach reads in all their light-hearted glory. The beach read is so coined as it’s a perfect companion suitedContinueContinue reading “Dive into these 13 Summer Beach-Read Tropes”
Writing About Other Cultures – How To Do it Right
As writers, we find inspiration all around us. However, the adage “write what you know” can feel pretty limiting. I once heard the alternative said for an approach to fiction writing––“write what you want to know.” This variation allows us to expand our knowledge base and write outside of our own lifestyle. It champions writersContinueContinue reading “Writing About Other Cultures – How To Do it Right”
Working with a Cover Designer – With Guest Author Ashley Weiss
There are hundreds of decisions that come with being a writer. One big one is what type of publishing you plan to navigate. Obviously, there are pros and cons to each type: traditional, indie, or hybrid. But one huge pro of the self/indie publishing bucket is the full ownership of your cover design. Today, I’mContinueContinue reading “Working with a Cover Designer – With Guest Author Ashley Weiss”
Enhance Your Novel with the Iceberg Method – A Deep Dive into Writing Craft
This is one iceberg that won’t have you jumping ship! Please forgive me for my terrible puns, but I have a point here! Novel writing is often likened to an iceberg—what the readers see on the surface is only a fraction of the story’s depth and complexity. The iceberg method, popularized by Ernest Hemingway, emphasizesContinueContinue reading “Enhance Your Novel with the Iceberg Method – A Deep Dive into Writing Craft”
Tips For Writing a Mystery Novel
The book that I’ve been querying is many things, but at its base, it’s a whodunnit-style mystery. Sure, I also throw in a YA coming-of-age narrative, LGBTQ+ Romance, and some paranormal intrigue… but I spent a lot of time researching and studying the mechanics of the mystery genre while crafting my novel. Like many areasContinueContinue reading “Tips For Writing a Mystery Novel”
15 Holiday Tropes + More
I, personally, am trash for tropes and believe they make the world of fiction go ’round. But love ’em or hate ’em, there’s something about holiday tropes that hit a little extra. This article is dubbed “holiday” as it centers on the tropes we often see in rom-coms around the winter holidays. But I willContinueContinue reading “15 Holiday Tropes + More”
When A Plotter Goes Pantsing
How Your Writing Style Can Impact Your Writing No, I did not spend November running amuck around my peers pulling down their pants. However, I did spend this past NaNoWriMo doing something that might have been just as uncomfortable. I wrote a story by discovery writing. I have always self-declared my writing style as aContinueContinue reading “When A Plotter Goes Pantsing”
11 Most Common World-Building Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
When creating a whole new world, your goal is to build something that’s unforgettable! Shining, shimmering, splendid, should just be the tip of the iceberg. It can be a lot of fun to dream up ideas about alien spacecraft or magical laws. World-building is an opportunity to let our imagination run rampant and go BIG!ContinueContinue reading “11 Most Common World-Building Mistakes & How to Avoid Them”
Add Tension and Build Suspense with Try/Fail Cycles
In the first imaginings of our stories, we often have an end goal in mind. Character X is put into situation Y and comes out changed (whether that’s for better or for worse depends on whether it’s a positive or negative character arc). Our story would be rather short if the goal you set forContinueContinue reading “Add Tension and Build Suspense with Try/Fail Cycles”
Newbie to Novelist 