How Not To Write

What is the Worst That Can Happen?
Here is a pearl of wisdom:
What makes a breakout novel memorable are conflicts that are deep, credible, complex and universal enough so a great number of readers can relate.
How is such a conflict constructed? Let us begin with depth, by which I mean pushing your central problem [...]

Bridging Conflict
Here is where we get back to that in media res thing.
Keeping your readers constantly on the move, and that is following you not leading, is a critical point in the whole beginning in the middle of things technique. The idea here is that readers will be drawn in to stories where they [...]

The Five Basic Plot Elements
This is not about the Five Act structure. I thought it might be when I was reading the book, but it isn’t. Instead, this section is the basic ingredients you need when constructing a plot that will keep a reader plugged in for hours (if not days).
First, we begin [...]

For some reason, search engines have taken a liking to part 22 of my 27 part series. So, here’s a quick link to Part 1 - Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass.

Conflict

I hear the groans out there already. I pretty much threw a fit myself when I got in this far [...]

Plot
Ok, this is a 260 page book and there are three chapters on Plot that take up nearly 100 pages. If you don’t think writing a breakout novel is about plot, you’re crazy. Of course, plot is one of my weakest areas. I suppose that’s because plotting is where the real work [...]