A strong story needs more than an interesting plot. It needs a main character readers can understand, care about, root for, worry about, or sometimes even love to hate. Your protagonist does not have to be perfect. In fact, they probably shouldn’t be. The most memorable characters usually have fears,…
Writing
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How to Turn a Bare-Bones Idea Into a Full Novel Outline
Every novel starts somewhere. Sometimes it begins with a character you can’t stop thinking about. Sometimes it’s a single scene, a line of dialogue, an unusual setting, or a simple what if? Maybe your entire story idea is something like: What if a woman agrees to go on a blind…
Writing
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How to Use Foreshadowing Without Being Obvious
Great foreshadowing makes readers feel clever. They notice a strange comment, an unusual object, or a seemingly insignificant detail and tuck it away somewhere in the back of their minds. Then, several chapters later, something happens that makes them think: Wait. That was a clue. That feeling is one of…
Writing
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How to Plan a Romance Novel From Beginning to End
Romance novels may be centered on love, but writing one successfully takes more than putting two interesting characters together and hoping sparks fly. A satisfying romance needs chemistry, conflict, emotional growth, setbacks, vulnerability, and a believable reason for the couple to choose each other in the end. That is why…
Writing
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How to Write a Book Description That Sells
You can write an amazing book, create a beautiful cover, and choose the perfect title—but if your book description does not grab a reader’s attention, they may never click the Buy Now button. Your book description is one of the most important pieces of marketing copy you will write for…
Writing
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How to Use Save the Cat Beats for Your Novel
**This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on a link in this article, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Writing a novel can sometimes feel like trying to find your way through a maze without a map. You may know how your story begins and have…
Writing
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How to Revise a Novel Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Finishing the first draft of a novel is an incredible accomplishment. You’ve spent weeks, months, or maybe even years creating characters, building a world, and turning an idea into an actual story. Then comes revision. Suddenly, instead of feeling proud of the manuscript you completed, you may find yourself staring…
Behind the Scenes
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Behind the Scenes: Inspiration for the Operation books
When it comes to inspiration, I simply look and listen. The truth is the inspiration for the first book in the series came from an actual event that made its way into the first book. The scene in the diner? Yes, that actually happened. Someone started talking to my son…
Writing
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The 3-Act Structure Explained for Fiction Writers
If you have ever reached the middle of a novel and wondered, What happens next?, you are not alone. Even writers who begin with a strong premise and interesting characters can struggle to keep a story moving from beginning to end. One of the simplest tools for creating a solid…
Writing
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10 Things to Cut From Your Manuscript Before You Publish
Finishing a manuscript is a huge accomplishment, but typing “The End” does not mean the book is finished. One of the most important parts of editing is learning what to remove. Writers often focus on what they need to add—more description, deeper emotion, stronger dialogue, better world-building—but sometimes the best…