There’s really only one thing we can talk about today: CLIMAXES. The climax of your novel is, bizarrely enough, the premise. It’s the point of the entire story. Suppose you’re a writer working intensely on an incredibly deep and meaningful story. You’re an eighteenth-century American who’s been in Europe and… Read more“Pin-pointing your novel climax”
Tag: Plot
Making a scene out of your climax
So you’re sitting at the table in the captain’s cabin across from Assuipe, guzzling wine and trying not to bang your elbows on the brass table rail that keeps stuff from flying off during storms. He’s allowed you to change your britches, but you’re still wondering whether your heart will… Read more“Making a scene out of your climax”
3 Essential Guidelines for NaNoWriMo
Every year I write a series of NaNoWriMo posts like the bizarre and inexplicable 5 Ways to Make Your Novel Unforgettable, 5 Ways to Make Your Novel Helplessly Addictive, and 5 Ways to Make Your Novel Inescapable. Last week we looked at Running into the Jaws of NaNoWriMo. And for… Read more“3 Essential Guidelines for NaNoWriMo”
Story Climax: The Whole Point: guest post for Jami Gold
Jami Gold runs her blog under the slogan, “Beach Reads with Bite.” Her eclectic crowd of paranormal and, as Jami says, otherwise “not normal” writers/readers makes her blog one of those wonderful cult hubs of rampant creativity out there in the online writing community. And this week Jami’s hosting an… Read more“Story Climax: The Whole Point: guest post for Jami Gold”
Using Character to Fuel Momentum: guest post on Tartitude
Jan O’Hara recently made Twitter history by starting the #FreetheRealPorter movement about my recent interviewee Porter Anderson. She also stood up for my lace curtains, because of course all the right people understand about lace curtains. She’s the voice of the Unpublished Writer on Writer Unboxed, secretly a family physician… Read more“Using Character to Fuel Momentum: guest post on Tartitude”
Debuting on video—A. Victoria Mixon, Editor, interviewed by Joanna Penn
For years, I’ve been holding my husband and son captive over the dinner table as I wave my hands and rant and rave about fiction, writing, publishing, all the many and wonderful intricacies of this extraordinary art and craft. For years. Recently, I’ve been interviewed online in a number of… Read more“Debuting on video—A. Victoria Mixon, Editor, interviewed by Joanna Penn”
We can’t leave fiction alone—Talking Plot
Back in January, Roz Morris and I entertained ourselves mightily with a long, rambling, self-indulgent visit about the craft of editing, We can’t leave fiction alone—Part I and We can’t leave fiction alone—Part II. And we liked it so much we decided to roll up our sleeves and do it… Read more“<em>We can’t leave fiction alone</em>—Talking Plot”
Getting our ISBNs, asking for great novel recommendations
Received our ISBNs today! And they are lovely little devils. Now I’m going to open a topic for you all, because I’m outlining the Workbooks to go with THE ART & CRAFT OF FICTION, and I’m going to use a lot of examples of character development and plotting from real… Read more“Getting our ISBNs, asking for great novel recommendations”
Reminding you: Free Edits
TODAY AND TOMORROW. Last two days to get a Free Edit of your novel’s Climax! Check out the rules here. Check out the entries for this week below!
Free CLIMAX Edit: Julie
AND! Free CLIMAX Edit #5 goes to Julie Cross, who also wins a Developmental Edit for her entire chapter! Setup 15 year old girl MC being haunted by her forty-year-old Algebra teacher whom she hated and watched die during detention, but has now grown to like. The two discover his… Read more“Free CLIMAX Edit: <em>Julie</em>”