How to Write a Novel – Page 2

Novel Basics: A Brief History of Plot

Apr 8, 2020

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Novel Basics: A Brief History of Plot Way back in 4th Century BCE, the Greek philosopher Aristotle gave the first guidelines to plot structure when he said that a tragedy needs three parts: beginning, middle, and end, later called Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. He also stated that the beginning isn’t necessarily…

Novel Basics Card # 9

Apr 6, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

Novel Basics Card # 9 The Wall Card The Wall Card asks the question, “What could possibly go wrong?” In truth, Card # 9 is a placeholder because you will need lots more than just one wall or obstacle that keeps your protagonist from achieving her goal right away. This card is one of my…

Novel Basics: Keeping a Journal

Apr 5, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

A Million Words One of my former colleagues used to tell his writing students that, in order to become writers, they had to produce and throw away a million words. That sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Another piece of advice goes, write a page a day and in a year you could write a novel. In…

Novel Basics: Warming Up

Apr 4, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

A Writing Warmup Long ago in the ‘70’s in graduate school at the Ohio State University, I learned a warm-up writing technique that I used on the first day of every college writing class, no matter what kind, for the next thirty-five years of my writing career. Indeed, I used it in the sample class…

Novel Basics: Card # 8

Apr 3, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, writing fiction

Card # 8 The Place Card (aka Setting) The Place Card asks the questions, “Where and when does the novel take place?” One of the elements I’ve always loved about reading novels is their ability to transport me to faraway places and long ago times like the Ancient World of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries…

Novel Basics: Getting to Know Your Characters

Apr 2, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, writing fiction

If you have the time and inclination, you might want to get acquainted with your major characters at least a little bit before you move on to the next card because characters are quite possibly the single most important element of your novel. Now, I know from my experiences in my book club that most…

Novel Basics: Imp v. Ump

Apr 1, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

Some Reflections on the Creative Process, not Limited to Writing Imp v. Ump Imp: I wrote a story. I wrote a story. It’s so much fun. The characters were really talking to each other. I love them and the end is super great. Ump: Let me take a look at it. Imp: Sure . .…

Novel Basics: Summing Up About Characters

Mar 31, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

You’ve probably noticed that so far we’ve mostly talked about the characters, the people of the book you’ll write. And maybe you’ve already noticed that your characters are fueling ideas for your novel. But before we move on to issues of plot, that is, driving the plot car to the end point of your journey…

Novel Basics Cards 6 & 7

Mar 30, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

Today we have cards for other important two characters in your novel . . . Card # 6 The Match The Match Card asks the question, “Who fires up the plot car?” I know. I know. This is a bit of a mixed metaphor because you wouldn’t really want to burn up a car. Still,…

Novel Basics: Cards 4 & 5

Mar 29, 2020

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julietkc

in fiction writing techniques, the writing process, writing fiction

The cards for today are two important characters in your future novel, one opposed to the protagonist and the other allied, more or less . . . Card # 4 The Boxing Glove The Boxing Glove Card asks the question, “Who will oppose the star of the story?” Card # 4, the boxing glove, asks…

Tag: How to Write a Novel