Helping Writers Become Authors

This third and final piece of the sequel grows out of the character's dilemma and leads right into the next scene's goal.

Handled skillfully, a good dilemma can heighten tension, make characters more sympathetic, and, most importantly, keep readers turning those pages.

As soon as your previous scene's disaster hits, your character is going to experience an immediate and instinctive emotional reaction.

The sequel is every bit as important as the scene, since it allows characters to process the events of the scene and figure out their next move.

The great thing about structure is that it provides a solid framework for your story, while still presenting endless possibilities.

Scene disasters come in every variety imaginable, but we can attempt to narrow them down into the four basic categories.

Conflict can come in a variety of flavors, but most can be sorted into five categories.

Most scene goals will boil down into one of five categories.

Today, we're going to take a look at the three basic building blocks of the scene.

The scene - that most integral, most obvious, most universal part of any story - is also the most overlooked and least understood when it comes to the craft of storytelling.

Readers will forgive a character just about any flaw, but never cowardice.

Non-writers can't bring technical knowledge of the craft to the table, but they bring something else: their objective experience as readers.

The delete button is both the writer's best friend and worst enemy.

How do you get from idea to publication? How do you capture your beautifully incomplete inspiration and create a story you can share with the world?

Engage readers' imaginations in filling in the rest of the story by not tying off all the loose ends.

If we're ever going to find happiness as writers, we have to understand what success means to each of us as individuals.

A quick look at all four personalities to help writers identify into which categories they prominently fall and how to make the most of them.

Sometimes, without even realizing it, writers can end up skipping the best parts and leaving readers growling their frustration.

Whether you're wanting to publish traditionally or independently, chances are these talented people will be able to help you achieve your goals.

Your story question must be presented in the beginning of the story in order for the ending to resonate.