How to Create a Basic Outline of a Fictional Novel with Characters, Plot, and Setting in One
Looking for a faster, easier way to brainstorm a new story idea? Wondering where to begin—characters, plot, or setting? You can start with any of these elements, but it’s essential to consider how they interconnect, as adjustments may be necessary to craft a cohesive story that works.
How to Outline a Fictional Novel with Characters, Plot, and Setting in One Day offers a set of insightful questions designed to help you create a basic outline for your new fictional story—all in a single session.
How to Write Your Very First Fiction Novel
Have you ever thought of writing a book? Do you need help coming up with a story idea or creating a working outline? How do you create a cast of characters? Do you need a villain? What is a simple way to plot if you do not have any experience?
What are the basics you need to know to get started?
In our post, How to Write Your Very First Fiction Novel, we go over the first steps you need to take to turn your story idea into a working manuscript that you can be proud of.
How to Plot: One Central Storyline
When others ask what your story is about, do you have trouble coming up with an answer that does not take fifteen minutes to explain? Can you condense the main plot down into a single sentence? Is there a focused theme? Do the subplots relate to the core idea of your novel, or do they go off in a million different directions?
How to Plot: One Central Storyline helps you avoid ‘the eyeroll,’ polite nod, and ‘glazed look’ of agents, editors, and readers so they are excited to read each page.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Top 10 Genres for Popular Fiction
Would you like to write a book? Have you started writing but aren’t sure where your novel fits in the marketplace? If you are new to writing, you must first decide—What kind of story do you want to write? Thriller, fantasy, mystery, romance? Each genre (category) of fiction features different kinds of characters, setting, plot, and yes, even story resolutions.
In A Beginner’s Guide to the Top 10 Genres for Popular Fiction, we help you decide what kind of story is best for you.
How to Write a Novel with the W-Plot Template
Do you struggle with plotting? A simple, easy-to-follow template for writing a fictional story is the W-Plot, perfect for both new writers and non-plotters. The W-Plot structure allows you freedom to create yet keeps your story on track all the way to that grand satisfying end.
In our post, How to Write a Novel with the W-Plot Template, we break down each step to take the frustration out of plotting and give you tips to write a story readers will love.
How to Use Themes in Your Fictional Story
Do you know your story’s theme? Or the difference between a theme and a moral? A theme is the glue that holds your story together and without one, your readers may find themselves scratching their heads wondering what your story is really about.
In our post, How to Use Themes in Your Fictional Story, we give examples of theme, how to weave theme into your story for greater focus, and the right and wrong way to reveal theme at the end of your fictional masterpiece.
Write Your First Novel: How Do You Start?
Are you finally ready to write that book you always wanted to write one day? Great! How do you start? Who should be your main character? What will the story be about? Does there have to be a villain? When and where should the story take place?
In our post, Write Your First Novel: How Do You Start? we help you choose your main character, pinpoint the opposition, and create a story that you will be excited to write!
How to Find a Great Story Idea in 4 Easy Steps
How do you come up with new story ideas for a fictional novel? Do you start with a situation or a character or with a concept, theme, or location? How do you know if you have a solid story idea? What information is needed to get started?
In our post, How to Find a Great Story Idea in 4 Easy Steps, we lay out the four components that will help you create a working story idea that you can turn into a fictional novel.
How to Brainstorm a New Novel Using Goal, Motivation, and Conflict
Looking for a new story idea? Before you can sit down and start writing a work of fiction, you will need to brainstorm three key elements:
– What is your character’s Goal? (What does he want?)
– What is this character’s Motivation? (Why does he want it?)
– What is the Conflict your character will face? (What is stopping him from getting it?)
In our post, How to Brainstorm a New Novel Using Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, we show you how to create a working outline to help get your story started!
How Writing Prompts Can Improve Your Fictional Story
Some writers may love writing prompts while others think they are a waste of valuable time. Time better spent working on their story.
But what if a few quick specific writing prompt sessions could help you brainstorm plot holes, deepen point-of-view, sketch upcoming scenes, and supercharge character dialogue?
In How Writing Prompts Can Improve Your Fictional Story, we show how these fast sprints can boost motivation, improve writing skills, and enhance your fictional novel.
Fiction Writing: 5 Key Differences Between a Novel and a Novella
Are you confused about the differences between a novel and a novella? Perhaps you know one is longer than the other, but you aren’t sure if writing a novella is worth your time. Do they make any money? Who publishes novellas? Can they be used for promotion? In our post, Fiction Writing: 5 Key Differences Between a Novel and a Novella, we discuss all these things and more so that you can decide which choice is right for you.
Brainstorming Fiction: What to Do When Your Story Gets “Stuck”
When writing fiction, there may be times when your creativity stalls and you don’t know which way the story should go. Or perhaps the obvious next step forward seems boring.
In our post, Brainstorming Fiction: What to Do When Your Story Gets “Stuck” we give you a tool that can be used for characters, conflict, plot, setting, or dialogue to unlock your imagination, spice up your acts, and make your story as interesting and engaging as it can possibly be!
How to Plot Your Fictional Novel (with Free Template Included)
Solid Story Structure. What is it? If you wish to write a satisfying fictional story for your readers, then you must learn the specific elements or ‘Plot Points’ that nearly all Popular Fiction stories share. Using our Free Plot Sketch Template, included in our post, How to Plot Your Fictional Novel, you will be able to identify the various turning points in both movies and books and keep your own stories on track from beginning to end.
How to Research a Setting for Your Fictional Novel
Settings. Where does your story take place? Is it a real place?
Even if you choose to ‘make up’ a setting, you may still want to base some of the details off a real place to make it feel real. Researching a setting may also inspire character or plot details.
In our post, How to Research a Setting for Your Fictional Novel, you can come along on a photo-journal research trip and learn a few tricks to create realistic settings for your own story.
5 Questions to Create Believable Villains
What is the difference between an antagonist and a villain? What motivates a villain to do heartless, hurtful, vindictive, terrible things? How can you bring the villain in your fictional story to life for your reader in an identifiable, believable, understandable way?
In our post, 5 Questions to Create Believable Villains, we explore the first questions you should ask when you start to brainstorm this type of character for your story.
Why Your Characters Need Story-Worthy Goals
Have you ever been told by an agent or editor, reviewer, critique partner, or reader that your writing was blah because your main character’s goal was weak, not strong enough, that it wasn’t ‘story-worthy?’
What does ‘story-worthy’ even mean?
In the post below, we will discuss what makes a goal story-worthy so that you can write engaging stories that hold your reader’s attention from beginning to end.
3 Levels of Goal Setting for Fiction Writers
Before you sit down to write a book, set yourself up for success by getting clear on what you hope to achieve.
Why do you want to be a writer? Do you have a career plan? What is the purpose for your story? Are your character’s goals strong enough to impact readers?
In the post below, we show you how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals on three distinct levels: Goals for you (the author), Goals for your story, and Goals for your fictional characters.
Fiction Writing: How to Name Your Cast of Characters
Choosing names for the characters in your fictional story can be done at random, like drawing names out of a hat, or purposely planned out to add greater depth and meaning to the tale you desire to tell.
Whichever method you choose, you may want to consider using our top 5 suggestions for Fiction Writing: How to Name Your Cast of Characters to make each name recognizable, distinguished, and easy to remember for both you and your readers.
10 Questions to Ask When Creating Characters for Your Story
You have decided that you want to delve into the world of fiction and write a story. Great! You even have an awesome story idea that you’ve been playing around with in your head. Great! Now…what kind of characters could be in a story like this? And most importantly, who will be the protagonist—the main character of your story?
Basic Story Structure: How to Plot in 6 Steps
Before you sit down to write a story, you must first decide: What do you want to write about? And even more importantly—Why?
Brainstorming Story Ideas: Where to Find Them
One of the top questions an author gets asked is: How do you come up with the ideas for your stories? In this blog post, we give you 3 useful resources and 3 Smart Writer Tips to help you find the inspiration you need to start writing fabulous fiction.