So you want to write fantasy? Good luck. In all seriousness, fantasy is notoriously difficult to write no matter which way you look at it. It's not uncommon for fantasy writers to take years to complete one single book (unless you're Brandon Sanderson, but we don't all have that luxury). Besides that, a major aspect … Continue reading Why Is Fantasy So Hard to Write?
Stories have endless possibilities, but when it comes to plot, we rely on several basic formulas. That's definitely not a bad thing, but a big pitfall for any budding writer is relying too much on tropes, clichés, and what's already been done. When you sit down to write your story ask yourself: 1) Does my … Continue reading Reblog: Story plots: 7 Tips to be More Original – NowNovel
In some ways, there's a mathematical process to fiction. By that I mean, whether you realize it or not, certain parts of writing need to be calculated, working together in a certain way when you create. The technical building up of parts works to make what we all agree is a good story. Here I … Continue reading Calculating Fiction: The Three-Act Structure
Not all stories are told from just one point of view. There may be multiple characters, which shift in perspective, or multiple characters in different, distinguishable settings and circumstances. These stories have what's called dual timelines. Even though there is more than one perspective, these are not two different stories put together. They work together … Continue reading How to Write Dual Timelines
I probably should have posted this last week but anyway. While I was back at Cambridge, one of the lectures I attended was focused on worldbuilding and how to build fictional worlds in any genre. The guest lecturer, Natasha Pulley, introduced a ton of great concepts that I want to share with you now that … Continue reading Basics of Worldbuilding (ft. Natasha Pulley)
Writing Complex Stories vs. Confusing Stories Fantasy and science fiction as writing genres hold so many possibilities when it comes to creating a vibrant story (not that other genres don't). I'm just saying that because both genres produce works that focus on worldbuilding and rich descriptions, writers' minds go crazy with creating their own universes. … Continue reading Here’s What Happens when You Overcomplicate Sci-fi and Fantasy
Let's do something scary and think of a plot as a math problem. Don't run! I promise I'm just trying to make this easier to understand. Putting things into a different perspective, if you will. Because when you boil down a plot into its simplest components, it becomes almost like a simple one plus one … Continue reading The Mathematics of a Strong Plot
From Ryan Lanz's A Writer's Path blog, this post introduces a plot structure called "Save the Cat," which has fifteen plot beats. I'd never heard of this structure, so reading this was super informational! Happy reading! 4 Reasons to Use the "Save the Cat" Story Structure in Your Writing - Rose Atkinson-Carter Credit: A Writer's … Continue reading 4 Reasons to Use the “Save the Cat” Story Structure in Your Writing – Rose Atkinson-Carter
Writing Mistakes, Writing Techniques, and Making Your Words Count Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Novels and short stories both require similar techniques: strong character development, clean, concise prose that keeps readers engaged, strong plot, and more. But if you've gotten some practice with novel writing and want to take a crack at short story writing, … Continue reading How to Write a Good Short Story
