How to find the holes in your novel's plot ... by yourself

Posted on 05/12/2022 at 03:26 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

When writing and revising your novel, you're likely trying to figure out where a skeptical reader might question your plot....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

How to ensure your novel has both plot and story

Posted on 05/10/2022 at 03:03 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

To say that every great novel needs a solid plot and story might sound repetitive. But to Heather Davis —...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

Advice on keeping mystery and tension throughout your novel

Posted on 04/26/2022 at 02:34 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Desmond Hall is back with more thought-provoking videos about writing for Writer Unboxed. The first topic is mystery versus backstory,...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Scenes, Writer Unboxed, Writing advice

Writer Unboxed on how to drive your character

Posted on 04/20/2022 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

It's a rare novel that successfully features a protagonist for whom everything goes right. So the contributors at Writer Unboxed...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writer Unboxed

2 pieces of advice on starting your book strong

Posted on 03/15/2022 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Beginning any task — including writing a novel — is often the most difficult phase of the project. So it's...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: First lines and first chapters, Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest

C.S. Lakin: Your novel's scenes must all have a purpose

Posted on 03/07/2022 at 11:01 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

No matter what genre you write, the method for propelling the plot forward is the same. And that method is...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Plot / narrative, Scenes

Give your characters secrets, but let the truth come out — eventually

Posted on 02/18/2022 at 01:30 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Contrary to the chant many of us learned as kids, secrets — in fiction — are in fact quite fun....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest

How causation works in character-driven stories

Posted on 01/18/2022 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The student became the teacher, in a way, when author and developmental editor Harrison Demchick gave a presentation about cause...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

Not all conflicts are created equal in stories

Posted on 01/15/2022 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You've surely watched a TV show or movie — or possibly read a book — where the violence or sexual...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer Unboxed

Think about the future in your novel

Posted on 12/31/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Editor Jim Dempsey, like many of us, feels compelled at this time of year to think about the future. (How...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer Unboxed