Why Successful Novels Need Story Structure

by Lewis / September 22, 2020 / Story Structure

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple secret to writing successful stories?

Almost every writer wants their novels to succeed, but actually writing a fan-favorite adventure is a tricky thing. After all, even if your characters are interesting and your plot is exciting, your novel can still fall flat. When so much goes into writing an impactful story, it’s hard to ensure everything is firing on all cylinders.

Fortunately, while there is no single trick to writing a bestseller—no matter what anyone tells you—there is one thing writers can use to boost their novels’ success and bring their stories together: structure. Specifically, story structure!

How to Put Readers in Your Character’s Skin

by Emily Golden and Rachel May / September 15, 2020 / Character Development, Guest Posts

Readers want to feel what characters feel…

In fact, brain science tells us that what draws readers into stories is a sense of emotional connection with the characters. This is the key that allows these readers to experience your story as if they were in it.

It’s a writer’s job to facilitate this connection between readers and characters through the use of Show, Don’t Tell. By showing readers what a character thinks and feels through their internal processing, they’ll naturally engage more deeply with your story!

Chapter Structure: How to Write the Perfect Chapter

by Lewis / September 7, 2020 / Story Structure

Chapters are something most readers overlook…

However, that’s not actually a bad thing. When done well, chapters should fade quietly into the background, subtly shaping your reader’s experience without ever being intrusive. On the other hand, when done poorly, chapter breaks can grind your novel to a halt, derailing any bit of tension your story might have had.

So, how do you create the perfect chapter? Well, the answer is a lot like many other elements of storytelling—through story structure. Specifically, by using chapter structure!

The Secret to Writing a Page-Turning Novel

by Lewis / August 25, 2020 / Story Structure

Page-turners are novels you simply can’t put down…

Page after page, word after word, these stories grip you from beginning to end—and as a result, nearly every writer dreams of creating a page-turning novel of their own. Of course, actually creating this effect is another thing entirely. As invested as we may be in our own stories, creating that same investment in our readers isn’t easy!

Fortunately, writing a page-turner isn’t rocket science. All you need are four elements of story structure, as well as a few tricks for leveraging a writer’s greatest weapon—narrative drive.

6 Ways to Write Truly Terrifying Villains

by Lewis / August 13, 2020 / Character Development

Whether secretly or not, we all enjoy writing villains.

Not only are villains intriguing and intimidating, but there’s just something about writing these characters that’s exciting. Plus, they make great companions to our equally beloved heroes!

However, though writing villains is fun, it also requires more nuance than the average “evil” stereotype. Villains aren’t frightening because they’re evil, but because their desires and goals drive them to increasingly darker places. Fortunately, if you’re trying to write a villain of your own, these six steps will help you make them truly memorable.