How to Write a Narrative Hook That Grabs Readers from the First Line
It was the book that killed her. Dun. Dun. Dunn.
The narrative hook is a tool writers use to tease readers, to make them curious, nervous, anxious, or all of the above, plus more! The goal is to entice the reader to keep reading!
Have you ever heard the expression the first sentence makes a promise to the reader? That is what a good hook does. It promises that reading the book will be a rewarding experience.
Why Story Structure Isn’t a Formula—And Why Every Writer Still Needs It
Story structure can make new writers nervous because they worry about following a formula. How can you be original if you are essentially following a recipe?
No need to worry, writer.
Story structure is in no way formulaic.
As Shawn Coyne, author of The Story Grid, puts it, story structure is form, not a formula.
How To Write Meaningful Conflict In Your Novel
Let’s talk about conflict! Are you the sweat on the dynamite, or are you the explosion?
"You need to add conflict."
We writers hear this a lot, but it doesn’t mean we always blow stuff up. Instead, we need to learn how to craft meaningful conflict!
A story is about how going from Point A to Point B changes the character.
Conflict is the force that makes the character change for better or worse.
How Narrative Distance Impacts Show vs. Tell in Fiction Writing
I want to cover Narrative Distance and how it relates to show vs. tell.
If you are new to writing fiction, this term might make you scratch your head. If you're an old hat, this will be a familiar review.
Why Your Fiction Novel May or May Not Need a Prologue
Many writers I work with wonder if their fiction novel needs a prologue. It’s a good question, and often my answer is no. They need to weave that information into the main story's narrative, but there are some exceptions.
But first, what is a prologue?
How to Write Effective Subplots in Your Fiction Novel
Subplots In a fiction novel are necessary to make a story layered and engaging. This blog post, written by Author Accelerator certified book coach Stacy Frazer, will help you write compelling subplots for your book that don’t steal the show.