Category: writer’s block

  • What are the most important scenes in a novel?

    What are the most important scenes in a novel?

    To overcome feeling overwhelmed by finishing your novel, a writer might want to keep these writing principles in mind: She doesn’t have to write chronologically. She can write her most important scenes first and then fill in the blanks. Now, if she has planned your novel with some kind of outline, then these principles become even easier.…

  • Books on writing I read in 2015

    Every year I try and read a couple of books on the writing craft. I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but,  honestly, I love reading stuff on how to write fiction. Here is what I read in 2015: Planning a Novel, Script or Memoir by Hank Quense Quense offers practical tips on how…

  • 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: make trouble, right choices, wrong words, when writing, writer’s block

    Articles on writing I’ve read lately: Make trouble for your character. When in doubt, make trouble for your character. How to make the right choices for your novel. How do you know which choices are right for your novel? How to Ruin Your Novel’s Opening with a Few Wrong Words. Choosing the right set of words–the…