Archive:
Plot Development
Want Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More If you’re like most people, the last time you discussed Literary Themes was in high school English class. Perhaps you discussed the Theme of death in one of Edgar Allen Poe’s many short stories, or picked apart the use of shame in The Scarlet Letter. Or maybe, like […]
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You’ve heard this writing advice a thousand times, and you’ll hear it a thousand times more: Show, don’t tell. But what does it mean? If you struggle with the difference between showing and telling, you’re not alone. Once you’ve got it, it seems simple. But until you do, learning this technique can be as frustrating […]
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Without a deeper meaning than just its plot, your story remains a shell of what it could be. A story with a theme answers, what does this mean? That’s the kind of a story that resonates with readers and stays with them. Think of it this way: a book should be more than simply about […]
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You’ll find loads of advice to help you find a great novel idea, start writing, and push through what I call the Marathon of the Middle. But you may not find as much on how to end a story, though that’s every bit important. Of my more than 200 published books, more than two-thirds have […]
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If it’s true that conflict is the engine of fiction—and I believe it is—what is the best way to inject it into your fiction? By introducing a worthy, effective antagonist. What is an Antagonist? It’s your villain, and every good story needs one. While some would argue that certain nonhuman elements, like the weather or […]
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