When I was in elementary school, we were taught how to create an outline. I remember having to break things down using Roman Numerals, then capital letters, and so on. To be honest, I hated that type of work. What I thought were important facts and summations, my teachers thought otherwise. As a student who … More The Value of a Chapter-By-Chapter Outline
I’ve got about a dozen unfinished stories. When I look back to see why I gave up on the story (sometimes mid-sentence), I discovered most of them died out around chapter three. I was shocked. What was so hard about chapter three? Why would I give up so easily? As I read through the first … More What is so Exciting About the Inciting Incident?
When you begin planning your novel, there are a million details you could consider. At the start of every idea lies an endless labyrinth of possibilities, of different directions your could take your plot. Some writers prefer to figure out as much of their labyrinth as they possibly can before they even think to put … More Solving the Story Maze: 4 Compass Points for Planning Your Novel
Save the Cat Saves Your Novel–in more than one way! … More How Save the Cat Saved My Novel by Marianne Hering
One of the most boring books I ever read was about Jesus. Okay – to be honest, I mostly said that to get your attention – please don’t get mad and click over to Facebook! But, the truth is, I never actually finished reading Joshua by Joseph Girzone because this modern-day portrayal of Jesus … More ON WRITING PLOT: What’s the Problem? by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
One of the most difficult parts of any writing project is keeping your ideas, writings, and sources organized. Here a few tips and resources to help you organize your next project. Outlines Forget about the Roman-numeral-heavy outlines from grade school and think in lists, paragraphs, images, or phrases — whatever helps you organize your thoughts. … More Get Organized! Helpful Tools for Writers by Emily Babbitt