THE EDITOR’S BLOG
Learn to edit your novel
with expert articles, audio guides, worksheets, and free resources.
How the 6 Elements of Story Work in the First Scene of How to Train Your Dragon
Great scenes propel the story forward with solid story structure. See that structure in action in the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon.
How the 6 Elements of Story Work in Act 1 of How to Train Your Dragon
The six elements of story work on every level of story. Here’s how they work on the act level.
How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your Dragon
The best way to understand story structure is to see how it works in a story that works. Here’s how How to Train Your Dragon tells an unforgettable story using the six elements of story.
3 Ways to Use the 6 Elements of Story Structure in Your Novel
The six elements of story are powerful at EVERY level of story—when you know how to use them. Here are three ways to apply them to your novel.
Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories
I apply the six elements of story to every story I edit. Why do they work so well? Here are three reasons why this story structure is so powerful.
The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
A simple, flexible story structure framework that works at every level of story. I use this structure in every story I edit, every single day.
Where Does Story Theory Come From, Anyway?
Story theory isn’t a set of arbitrary rules that will make your story formulaic and boring. It’s about recognizing the patterns in human experience and recreating them honestly in art.
How to Read Like an Editor: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Every Book You Read
As Stephen King says, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Here’s how I use my reading to inform my editing—and how you can, too.
One Insidious Cause of Disappointing Endings (and How to Fix It)
Does the end of your story pay off everything you set up in the beginning and the middle? Here’s how to tell whether your story’s end works—and how to fix it if it doesn’t.