Every story should have some tension in each scene, though the level of tension will vary. Major turning points in the plot, like the midpoint or climax, will be higher while the connecting scenes might just have a low level of tension. But beyond just putting your characters in danger, Read more
Have you ever read a story and felt cheated by the end? Perhaps there was some tense situation, but it turned out to be nothing. Or maybe the protagonist’s lover died but then in the end you’re told the two faked the death so they could run away together. Most Read more
A while back, I wrote a post about using sentence function to pace your novel. Today, I want to get into story pacing on a scene-level instead of a sentence-level. There is a weird correlation between your words on the page and the reader’s perceived passage of time, and it’s Read more
No story is complete without interpersonal conflict between characters. Every person is different, and some people just don’t get along. Usually, those people just avoid each other, but good stories are full of conflict. So what do you do if you want to write about two characters who clash? You Read more
I want to address three emotions that often get intermixed and, therefore, confused in writing. Surprise, tension, and suspense are all beneficial to a thrilling plot line. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, and, by understanding these, writers can find ways to weave them into their plots for maximum effect. Read more
People say setting, character, and plot are the three main aspects of stories, but I want to point out the ugly stepsister in the corner. Exposition. It gets a bad reputation in the writing world, and that’s because most don’t do it the right. Exposition is the explanations inserted into Read more