Category: Re-Visioning Your Story

a series of posts on how-to revise your novel

Conflict: Twist the Knife Slowly

Conflict: Week 3 of Re-visioning Your Story Violence is not Conflict. It is not action. It is not bickering, or worry, or dreams, or traveling. Unfortunately, many seasoned and novice writers mistake one or all of those things for conflict. Why is conflict so difficult for the writer? Because human beings naturally shy away from… Continue reading Conflict: Twist the Knife Slowly

Putting the Pieces Together

Part 8: Revisioning Your Story Wow.  It’s been a long haul, but you’ve analyzed your story for seven long lessons, from Character Goals to Plot Twists to the End and the Beginning. Now it’s time for putting the pieces together.  Finally, it’s time to fix it.  What?  You’re worried that you can’t fix it or… Continue reading Putting the Pieces Together

From the End to the Beginning

Part 7: Re-visioning Your Story     Why from the End to the Beginning? Many writers spend a significant amount of time crafting the beginning of their story. They know the beginning of a story is critical. If you don’t hook your reader, the story will go unread. But did you realize the ending is just… Continue reading From the End to the Beginning

Is There a Time and Place in Your Story?

Setting: Week 6 of Re-visioning Your Story There’s a time and place for . . . time and place in your story. When and where your story takes place gives the reader a reference point, or as Dwight V. Swain calls it, ” a standard for your reader.” Getting the time and place right is… Continue reading Is There a Time and Place in Your Story?