Novelist John D. McDonald said he had more plot ideas than time to write them.  That's not the case for most of us writers.  We usually are in chronic need of more plot, more story.  Here are techniques for inventing plot from James Scott Bell and Lester Dent.  Also: vivid character descriptions from Jean Shepherd, showing us how to create unforgettable characters.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Sometimes we are full  of ambition to write.  Yet we don't.  We put off our writing, then put it off again.  Why do we do that?  And what can be done to get us in front of the keyboard?  Here are thoughts on what we can do to get us producing.  Also, powerful first sentences drop the reader into the story after the action is already underway.  Here's how to do it, with examples from excellent writers.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Some words don't add anything to a sentence other than confusion.   Here are several modifiers that our story is better without.  Also, is cutting ten percent of our manuscript a good goal when editing?  What should we cut to reach that ten percent? 

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Dialogue lets the reader become part of the story, as if the reader is standing next to the characters listening to them talk.  Not all conversation between characters is equal: argument is the most engaging dialogue.  An argument between characters in our story--the back and forth, the accusations and denials, the evasions and justifications--can be riveting.  Here are thoughts on writing the big argument scene.

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Writing fiction is work but it doesn't need to be a grind.  Here's how we can have fun while we write, things that'll give us a joyful kick, maybe even make us laugh.  Also: the important technique of the mini-backstory, which reveals so much about our character in so little space.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Physics loves formulas: E=MC2.  How about writing?  Here is a formula for writing strong sentences, ones that are clear and have energy.  Our setting and character descriptions can also benefit from a formula, one that shows how to engage the reader.  That formula is talked about here, too.

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Do we have the skill to write a novel or short story?  Here are early clues that may let us  know.  Also, top writers' ten best rules of writing.  And J.R.R. Tolkien's techniques for writing fascinating settings.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Sometimes in our story we'll have a scene filled with people where everyone is moving all at once, such as a battle scene or mob scene or festival scene or street scene.  Here are techniques on crafting the scene so there's no confusion so readers can focus on the hero.  Also, what is the rule of exceptions?  And, can something bad happening to us make us better writers? 

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Readers love dialogue, the chance to eavesdrop on the characters.  Here is a good way to make that dialogue really worth listening to.  Also, here are techniques that can tie our scenes together, which Jack Bickham calls transitions and sequels.  In a story, what is a transition and what is a sequel?

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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How can we make our character memorable for the reader?  How can we make the character leap off the page and stay in the reader's memory?  Here's how Sherwood Anderson did it.  And here are also character descriptions from another master, William Faulkner, showing us how to create big and bold characters.

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Readers want a character who can grow and change over the course of the story. Here is a discussion of the character arc: how we can use the arc to develop our character and the plot, giving the reader the big reward at the end of the story of a character who has met the moment with change.  Plus, here is how we can show (rather than tell) about a character's thoughts such as confusion and dread.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

Support the show

Buy the master class.