I had the pleasure of speaking with author J. A. Gibbens (The Awen Chronicles) about the importance of mystery and suspense in novels, including novels that aren't part of mystery or suspense genres. See our conversation on how mystery and suspense impact a writer's work. GIBBENS As I drifted off to sleep last night, I was wondering who I might kill. I wasn't planning a murder, not necessarily, just musing about who would be the next to die. Why do you think it is that we gra

Why do you structure a novel? Why can’t you just skip this step and write the darn book? With even a perfunctory scroll of this topic online, I got lost in information that left me with more questions than answers (and a headache, too). Yet after digging deeper and experimenting with some popular structuring methods, I discovered what works best for me, which I’m happy to share with you. But first—some general remarks about novel structure are necessary for clarity. The struc

A Book Packed with Clearly Defined, Easy to Digest Relevancy: "A woman with a compelling story, but scant writing experience, recently approached me to help her pen her experiences into an equally compelling manuscript. Although focused on novel writing, I suggested she read Write Right, as so much within its covers is equally relevant to nonfiction writers. And so I now can offer the same advice to writers of all genres. And once you do, first check out the GETTING STARTED s

Outlining makes the daunting task of writing a novel much less difficult. It’s where you create a story from beginning to end by letting your imagination roam freely. It’s fun, creative, and one of the best aspects of fiction writing. Without worrying about the scene-by-scene specifics, you develop a general plot—the bones, no more. By outlining, you can avoid writing plots, characters, and descriptions that lead to dead ends, which wastes time and kills your story before it

If writing a book seems daunting to you—something you’ve dreamed about but don’t know how to get started—then ask yourself three questions: 1. Who is your protagonist? 2. What trouble is she or he facing? 3. Where does the story take place? Since I explored Question 1 last week, it's time to touch on Questions 2 and 3 to help kick-start your book. The Conflict Without a substantial problem in your book, the events will lead nowhere, offering little interest to