by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
So, it’s official. You’re stuck. Maybe you can’t come up with a decent story idea. Maybe you’ve no idea of where to take the plot. Or possibly you’re just losing patience with an intractable character. Whatever it is, you feel as though...
by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
Story endings are hard to write – often much harder than beginnings. Any author who wants to be published must understand how to write a book with a powerful ending. It’s important to know two things: one, what will disappoint readers (and editors) and...
by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
I admit that this might start to sound a bit like the developments in your favourite (or most-hated) soap opera – but remember: readers LOVE to be surprised! Your job is to tread the fine line between giving them a plot twist that they didn’t see coming,...
by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
Writers are always thinking about plots and outlines. If you’re writing a book, you’re thinking about plots, subplots, plot twists, characters, motivation and heaven knows what else. If you’re writing an article, you’re thinking about the...
by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
Work With Your Natural Instincts! What’s the best way to plot? Quick answer: the best way to plot is whatever works best for you. After all, we’re all different. Interview any group of a dozen writers and you’ll find they all have different times of...
by Marg McAlister | Plotting, Writing Fiction
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as a series of chapters. It’s actually more useful to regard it as a series of linked scenes. Why? Because it makes it a lot easier to control the pace of your story. ‘Pace’ may be described as the...
