Escape analysis paralysis with one powerful question. It’s deceptively simple—and yet it unlocks everything.
The Editor’s Blog
Learn how to edit your novel with this library of resources.
Read or listen to expert articles on the editing process.
Plus, download free worksheets and guides to help you edit your novel!
How Taylor Jenkins Reid Crafts an Exceptional Opening Scene
Want to master writing excellent scenes? Study excellent scenes to find out how they work. Here’s what makes the opening scene of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo stand out—and how you can draw inspiration from it to craft an exceptional scene of your own.
2 “Showing” and “Telling” Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel
Your characters feel time passing in your story. But your readers won’t—unless you tell them how much time is passing and show them why that matters. Use these techniques that blend telling and showing to make time matter to your readers the way it does to your characters.
3 “Telling” Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel
The passage of time seems intuitive. It just happens, right? But in reality, unless you tell your readers how time is passing in your novel, they won’t know. Use these techniques to keep your readers grounded in your story so they know exactly when everything happens.
Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your Novel
In your story, YOU are responsible for making time pass. Here’s why time matters—and what happens if you forget to include it in your novel.
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.