Rank #1: The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12: Your Questions Answered
I asked those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter for story-structure questions you'd like me to address before I wrap up the series.
May 13 2012
10mins
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Rank #2: 4 Ways to Write a Likable Protagonist at the Start of His Character Arc
How can writers create instantly likable protagonists when the characters have to start their arcs as less-than-perfect people?
Jul 26 2015
12mins
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Rank #3: How I Self-Edit My Novels: 15 Steps From First Draft to Publication
To create the best story possible, we have to not just spend the time to prep and write a book, but also the months and even years necessary to smooth out all its rough spots.
Jun 09 2013
14mins
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Rank #4: The 5 Secrets of Good Storytelling (That Writers Forget All the Time)
Discover the five most important secrets of good storytelling--which also happen to be the five most common problems in modern books and movies.
Jan 08 2018
18mins
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Rank #5: Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 1: Can You Structure Character?
Although the variations of character arcs are as endless as the vagaries of human nature, we can narrow character arcs down to three basic types, with a few primary variations upon each.
Feb 09 2014
8mins
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Rank #6: When Your Scene Focuses on What Isn't Happening
When we place the emphasis on non-actions, we're failing to tell readers what they should be visualizing.
Jul 07 2013
6mins
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Rank #7: 5 Ways to Write a Killer Plot Twist
Plot twists can bring a whole new dimension to your story. But done with less finesse than not, they can also submarine the whole thing.
Jul 28 2013
7mins
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Rank #8: Why Self-Conscious Writers Are Doomed
Aside from the general worries that our storycraft isn't good enough, authors are also usually on the verge of freaking out about what people are going to think about us.
May 20 2012
6mins
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Rank #9: 10 Questions Your Readers Shouldn't Have to Ask
Be wary of creating the kind of suspense that has readers floundering to understand the basics of your scene, rather than forging ahead with definite and pressing questions.
Jul 15 2012
6mins
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Rank #10: Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 1: Hooking Readers
Here is a first chapter checklist to help you provide the setup for a solid story and pique the curiosity of your readers with amazing hooks.
Apr 09 2018
12mins
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Rank #11: The Hardest Part of Writing Good Character Arcs-and How You Can Make It Look Easy!
You ready for this? The number one mistake authors make with character arcs is that they try to remake their character into someone new. Find out why!
Jul 12 2015
12mins
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Rank #12: How to Study Plot and Character in Your Favorite Stories: 5 Easy Steps
Here's an actionable five-step plan for going beyond simply being a reader and instead learning how to study plot and character in your favorite stories.
Dec 28 2015
12mins
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Rank #13: Ep. 452: The 10-Step Checklist to Writing an Above-Average Novel
On your way to writing an above-average novel, learn how to apply these ten straightforward solutions to common fiction problems.
Dec 10 2018
19mins
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Rank #14: Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Lie Your Character Believes
Out of resistance comes conflict; out of conflict comes plot. This is the first of many ways in which plot and character arcs are inextricable.
Feb 16 2014
10mins
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Rank #15: Are You Over-Thinking Your First Draft?
We can start getting all obsessive-compulsive about creating a perfect first draft - and we end by totally psyching ourselves out.
Jun 16 2013
8mins
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Rank #16: What's Your Writing Personality?
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.
Oct 14 2012
12mins
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Rank #17: 6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters
Writers have to know their characters down to their cores and understand how to flesh them out in the pages of their books.
Aug 18 2013
10mins
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Rank #18: How to Plot a Book: Start With the Antagonist
Struggling to plot your book? Good things happen when you focus on figuring out how to plot your book by first examining your antagonist's goals.
Jun 20 2016
17mins
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Rank #19: Start Your Outline With These 4 Questions (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 2)
Where do you start your outline? Right here! Use these these four questions to discover the big-picture skeleton of your story.
Oct 10 2016
20mins
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Rank #20: Want a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil's Advocate!
Here's the thing about a powerful theme. It's not black and white. It's not the moral of the story. It's not an answer - it's a question. And here's the thing about questions: they very often have more than one answer.
Nov 23 2014
8mins
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