Helping Writers Become Authors

The climax of a story should have readers on the edges of their seats. They should be breathless, tense, and curious to the point of bursting.

By the time the third act is finished, all the salient questions must be answered, the conflict resolved one way or another, and the reader left with a feeling of satisfaction.

Your main character caps the dramatic event at the midpoint with his decision to stop reacting and start acting.

The midpoint is what caps the reactions in the first half of the book and sets up the chain of actions that will lead the characters into the climax.

This first half of the second act is where your characters find the time and space to react to the first major plot point.

The inciting incident sets the story in motion while the key incident is what the story is about and draws the main character into the story line.

The first plot point marks the finish of the first act, and the character's reaction to it marks the beginning of the second.

Once you've hooked the reader, your next task is to put your early chapters to work introducing your characters, settings, and stakes.

The hook comes in many forms, but stripped down to its lowest common denominator, the hook is nothing more or less than a question.

Let's consider a few of the reasons every author should care about structure - and why none of us should fear it.

To make the most of our lives as writers, we must understand the core principles and defining moments of being an author.

When we choose the wrong punctuation in the wrong place, the result is the readerly equivalent of coughing over too much cayenne pepper.

Authors see everything so perfectly that we don't always realize we're not providing the reader the necessary details to allow him to see the setting.

How do we juggle scenes in which multiple characters are all supposed to be acting and talking?

Even the Margaret Atwoods and Stephen Kings had to log their time as frustrated, fearful authors who had no idea what they were doing.

Always be aware of why you're including a particular explanation, then reevaluate it to determine its value and don't be afraid to chop it if it's interrupting the information that's of true importance to your story.

This year, instead of making a complete list of writing resolutions for the whole year, try implementing one new resolution every month.

Today, I'd like to share a little bit of my own holiday cheer with a list of the (mostly) writing-specific gifts I' thankful for this Christmas.

Although sorting through our fat idea folders can sometimes seem like an overwhelming challenge, don't forget that an abundance of ideas is an author's greatest blessing.

You might find the perfect gift for the fellow writer on your list - or you may find something to add to your own "Dear Santa" list!