C.S. Lakin: Your settings shouldn't be just any old place

Posted on 10/15/2019 at 10:58 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The settings of your novel shouldn’t simply be afterthoughts or side notes — they should carry some significance to the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

What your novel's setup scene should — and shouldn't — do

Posted on 09/23/2019 at 04:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Your setup scene isn’t always the first scene in your book, but — as its name suggests — it definitely...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

You be the critic: Strong openings to memoirs

Posted on 09/07/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Award-winning author Peter Selgin recently critiqued the first pages of two memoirs, to gauge how well they captured the reader....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

Editor: Here's how your opening pages can welcome readers in

Posted on 08/31/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Developmental editor Katie McCoach served as a judge for a writing contest earlier this year. In total, she read a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

Steps to using story stakes

Posted on 08/30/2019 at 10:39 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve previously shared advice from H.R. D’Costa on story stakes, and if you liked her thoughts, good news: we’ve got...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Joanna Penn, Plot / narrative

Make sure your reader wants to solve your mystery

Posted on 08/22/2019 at 04:37 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Zara Altair wants to ensure your reader is just as invested as your sleuth is in solving the mystery in...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

All the science-fiction writing tips that Writer's Digest has to offer

Posted on 08/14/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writer’s Digest has a new post on how to write a science-fiction novel, but the simplicity of that title undersells...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

Act now to stir emotion in your readers

Posted on 08/05/2019 at 11:29 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Whether your characters are lovestruck, terrified, outraged, devastated, or any other emotion, you want your readers to feel that very...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

The four acts of your mystery plot

Posted on 07/30/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writers who seek middle ground between full-blown outlines and complete improvisation have another option. Zara Altair compares the four-act structure...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

Your context's clues

Posted on 07/16/2019 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The plot is what drives your story, right? Yes, but sometimes it needs a helping hand. Jane Friedman recently shared...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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