Showing Character Reactions
The best way to show your character arc and agency is through reactions. Nine out of ten times when an author is getting "can't connect" feedbback, there's not enough character reaction on the page.
The Basics of 3 Act Structure
3 Act Structure is the standard for the publishing industry so I think every writer should have a good basic understanding of it.
The Plot – Character Connection
In the best stories, plot and character are so intricately linked that you couldn't pull one out without the whole thing unraveling. If you can, it's going to lead to "can't connect" or "didn't love it." This is called the plot - character connection.
What to Look for in Your First Chapter
While I tend to read more than the first pages based on the premise, because starting in the wrong place is really common, those first pages can make or break an entry when it’s on submission to an agent or publishing editor—or a reader if you’re self-publishing.
Writing Essentials: Conflict
When we think about conflict in a story, we mean two types of conflict: internal and external. Every story must have both kinds of conflict, and they are interconnected--the external…
Query Letter Fundamentals
One of the most valuable skills a writer can have is knowing how to write a query letter.
Character Agency 101
5 Notes About Character Agency: Character agency is a vague concept for many writers.To put it simply, agency means the MC makes the decisions that push the story forward.They can…
The Heroine’s Journey
When we talk about structure, I often reference 3-Act Structure and the Hero's Journey. While many novels are based on those two, there are other formats that are equally valid,…
Loglines: The Basics
Before you get to your synopsis, and before you get to your query letter, you should work on your logline. Being able to boil your story down to a one-line…
Introducing Story Camp!
This summer, take control of your revisions at Story Camp, a 10-week online structural revision course in a small group setting. What is Story Camp? I'm so excited to…