Andrew M. Friday

Category: scene

  • Fiction writing workshop: story structure

    When planning a novel, the most helpful tool I’ve found is a thousands-year-old recipe called the three-act structure. It’s helped me plan out my novels more effectively than any fiction writing software. What is the three-act structure? Greek philosopher, Aristotle, came up with this structure. He said a good story has three acts: a beginning,…

  • Writing Blog Roundup: avoid clichés, sabotaging gift, forget theme, booklover sterotypes, setting scene

    Some recent articles on writing that I have read: What’s A Cliché? Overused Words To Avoid In Your Writing. Pay attention to words that habitually end up on your editing room floor. How You May Be Sabotaging Your Gift to Write Words That Matter. As writers, we are by our very nature, critical thinkers, but…

  • Writing Blog Roundup: villian characters, scene stealers, draft plan, reasons why, toddler talking

    You might find this interesting: Fifty shades of villain: how to characterize without cliche. This past weekend, ABC Family had a Harry Potter marathon . . . Scene stealers: sensuous writing. Welcome to Scene Stealers, our series of writing prompts designed to flex your creative muscles  . . . The five-draft plan. How many times do…

  • Writing Blog Roundup

    Some articles on the writing craft I’ve read lately . . . How Story Structure Changed My Life – A Book Trailer for Structuring Your Novel. One thing I always stress to writers is the importance of writing subjects you’re passionate about . . . Read more. What Writer’s Can Learn from Movies about Writing.…

  • The girlfriend of my protagonist is boring. Hate her.

    No, I don’t really hate her. She has the potential to be an interesting character for my novel–for now I’m calling it The Deity Run–but it’s my fault she’s boring with an uppercase B. In the first draft I wrote during National Novel Writing Month, I created a girlfriend for my protagonist, Ferdinand Clark. Her…

  • Writing habits: try this, not that

    Writing habits: try this, not that

    In my last post, I strongly suggested that practicing writing every day was the big Secret to becoming a better writer. Now, I don’t want to imply that is the only habit to incorporate into a writing discipline. It may be the most important one, but other habits exist that a writer should address. I’ve…

  • I’m four-fifths done so I might as well finish it

    Yesterday afternoon I passed 40,000 words on my manuscript for NaNoWriMo. Only 10,000 words to go and I have until midnight next Friday. So I’m feeling pretty good.  One thing though: my story won’t be finished. Yeah, I’ll have 50,0000 words but I haven’t even gotten to the part that I thought I would be…

  • Some things I’m learning from this year’s NaNoWriMo

    When I finished working on NaNoWriMo last night, I had finally completed a word count ahead of schedule for the first time this NaNo year. By the end of the day November 11, I should have had 18, 337 words and last night around 9:30pm, I had 18,597. I’m also learning some new things along…

  • Making a scene

    Making a scene

    One thing I find helpful for NaNoWriMo is making an informal list of scenes. The key is to not get married to this list; just use it as a jumping point. I usually end up moving the order of the scenes around. Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking of scenes: Think…