The essential pieces of a mystery novel

Posted on 05/15/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

At its simplest, a mystery novel is a puzzle. But as Zara Altair points out, there are certain features to...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Zara Altair

An author's favorite tips for writing a near-future dystopian novel

Posted on 05/13/2021 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve shared advice on writing historical fiction — in which everything has definitely happened — and on writing science fiction/fantasy...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest

Areas to focus on while writing the heroine's journey

Posted on 05/11/2021 at 09:41 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The hero’s journey is a concept most writers and students of literature are familiar with. But they perhaps haven’t heard...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Joanna Penn, Plot / narrative

Quick tips on rethinking a scene and delaying the inciting incident

Posted on 05/07/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The May 2021 edition of Desmond’s Drops is up on Writer Unboxed. This month’s topics are how to avoid cliched...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Scenes, Writer Unboxed

How to add suspense to your novel

Posted on 05/06/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Thriller authors Connor and Mark Sullivan don’t expect every novel to have a life literally hanging in the balance. But,...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest

Think of your plot lines like the layers of a cake

Posted on 05/04/2021 at 09:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Accuse us of sharing C.S. Lakin’s latest post because of its cake analogy if you want — we won’t dispute...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

How to make your readers feel like they're in your scene

Posted on 04/27/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

For writer and book coach Susan DeFreitas, the most powerful scenes are the ones where readers feel as though they...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative, Scenes

How to mix and match stories within your novel

Posted on 04/22/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We just finished listening to Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, about a horrific plane crash that kills all but one...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writer's Digest

Plot first or characters first? Neither and both

Posted on 04/15/2021 at 12:53 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Author Sharon Oard Warner has frequently been asked, often by graduate students, whether a story's plot or character should be...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

Why your protagonist should be an actor

Posted on 04/08/2021 at 09:14 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

If the first few (or more) pages of your novel are dedicated to your protagonist’s memories and thoughts, Kathryn Craft...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writer Unboxed