Novel Writing Mastery: Your Essential Guide to Writing and Publishing Success
It’s done. Finally. Tick. Finished. Move on to the next thing. That’s how my creativity urges me on. Oh, wait—I need to tell people about it. No one will know it is exists if I don’t, and someone might like to read it. So, here I am, letting you know that I’ve written another book. It’s called Novel Writing Mastery: A Step-By-Step Guide From Conception To Publication. I keep forgetting to mention it, which is silly because I genuinely think it’s a book that could help anyone who’s writing. It’s been formatted. The cover’s done. I’ve uploaded it to the printer/distributor, and it’s on Amazon, ready for you to order. What’s in the Book? This book is a culmination of everything Rose and I have shared on our Alkira Publishing YouTube channel over the past couple of years. I actually started writing it long before that, but life got in the…
Blog Roundup: Latest Tips for Writers and Readers from Alkira Publishing
Alkira Publishing posts some great articles full of tips for writers as well as some fascinating information for readers, so I just wanted to share the most recent articles here to make sure you didn’t miss them. But before you scroll down to the links to those articles, have a look at this video I made to illustrate my post on the hero’s Journey plot structure. If you read that post, then this will serve as a summary and an example told in visual imagery. And if you like it, please do like, subscribe, comment, and all that on YouTube. But if it’s tips for writers you’re looking for, then subscribe to the Alkira Publishing YouTube channel. And below are some of the articles associated with the videos. For Writers For Readers I hope you all have a happy holiday season! And get lots of books for Christmas. Thanks for…
Unveiling the Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Storytelling Structure for Captivating Narratives
The hero’s journey is a timeless narrative framework that has captivated audiences for centuries. Rooted in the seminal work of renowned comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell, this powerful storytelling structure has been applied to some of the most iconic tales in literature, film, and beyond. At its core, the hero’s journey chronicles the transformative odyssey of a protagonist as they navigate a series of trials, tribulations, and transformations, ultimately emerging as a changed individual. The Origins and Evolution of the Hero’s Journey The origins of the hero’s journey can be traced back to Campbell’s groundbreaking 1949 work, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” in which he introduced the concept of the “monomyth.” Through his extensive study of myths and legends from around the world, Campbell identified a common narrative pattern that he believed underpinned the vast majority of heroic tales. This universal structure, he proposed, mirrored the fundamental human experiences and…
Mastering Character Development through Inner and Outer Journeys
Mastering character development is vital for anyone who wants to write a compelling story because the characters in your story are the driving force behind your narrative. They are the ones who connect with your readers and keep them engaged throughout the journey. Crafting unforgettable characters takes time, effort, and a deep understanding of the human psyche, but as with anything, the more we study it, the better we get at it. What is it and why is it important? Character development refers to the process of creating dynamic, multidimensional characters that evolve throughout the story. It involves developing the character’s backstory, personality traits, motivations, and goals. The goal of character development is to create a character that is relatable, engaging, and memorable. The importance of character development in storytelling cannot be overstated. Characters are the heart of any story, and without them, your narrative will fall flat. A well-developed…
Intentional Daydreaming: Can it Boost Your Focus and Creativity?
As an author, you know how important it is to be focused and creative. You need to be able to immerse yourself in your writing, generate original and engaging ideas, and overcome writer’s block and other challenges. But how can you achieve these goals? One possible answer is intentional daydreaming. What is intentional daydreaming? Intentional daydreaming is a type of mind-wandering that is voluntary, goal-directed, and positive. It involves using your imagination to explore different scenarios, possibilities, and solutions, as well as to reflect on your personal values, goals, and aspirations. Intentional daydreaming can be contrasted with unintentional daydreaming, which is involuntary, distracting, and often negative. Unintentional daydreaming can impair your attention, memory, and performance, while intentional daydreaming can enhance them1. How does this kind of daydreaming benefit you as an author? According to various studies and sources, intentional daydreaming can have various benefits for your cognitive, emotional, and social…
The Crucial Role of the Inciting Incident in Story Development: Setting the Stage for Success
The inciting incident is one key element that plays a crucial role in story development. As a writer, I have always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. Whether it’s a gripping novel, a captivating movie, or an engaging TV series, a well-crafted story has the ability to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impact. But have you ever wondered what makes a story truly compelling? A well-crafted inciting incident is one of the important elements for achieving that goal. I remembered this and wrote this article when I realised that I’d forgotten this very important point in my latest project. What is the Inciting Incident? The inciting incident is the event or situation that sets the story in motion. It is the catalyst that disrupts the protagonist’s ordinary world and forces them to embark on a journey of change and growth. This pivotal moment…
The Art of Self-Editing: An Essential Guide for Novel Writers
Self-editing is an essential skill for any writer. It allows you to polish your work and create a more compelling story. In this comprehensive guide, I lay out various tips and techniques to help you become a proficient self-editor, focusing on novel writing. Drawing inspiration from Evan Marshall’s The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing and my own The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, this article will provide you with a roadmap to successfully edit your novel. 1. Establish a Strong Foundation: Time, Character Goals, and Logical Behavior Ensure Time Tracks Accurately in Your Story An essential aspect of self-editing is ensuring that time flows consistently throughout your novel. This entails verifying that the sequence of events and the pacing of your story are coherent and logical. Pay close attention to details such as the progression of days, weeks, and months, as well as the…
The Ultimate Guide to Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing
As a writer, you have the power to create entire worlds with your words. Worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional world that is immersive and believable, a place that readers can lose themselves in. In this article, I’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about worldbuilding in fiction writing. Understanding Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing What is worldbuilding in writing? It’s the creation of a fictional world, usually one that is entirely different from the real world, but some aspects of worldbuilding also apply to any work of fiction. When writing fiction, you have the freedom to create your own rules, cultures, and geography. Worldbuilding is essential because it helps your readers to understand and relate to your characters and the environments in which they exist. Worldbuilding is not just about creating a setting for your story; it’s about creating a complete world that is…
How to Use Present Participles Correctly at the Beginning of a Sentence
Sentences that begin with present participles (-ing ending verbs) are, as some of you know, one of my pet hates in writing. (Head hopping is the other one.) In my book The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, I recommend that authors use such a sentence construction no more than once every 10,000 words. One of the reasons why is because authors rarely use it correctly and often overuse it, at least in self-published books (unfortunately). Used badly and too often, it’s a mark of an unskilled writer and a lack of line editing—or a lack of education in the editor. So why am I talking about using it at all? Because when used occasionally and skilfully, it varies the sentence structure. Being too rigid in not using it at all limits your options. Sometimes it’s just right, but only if you don’t use it…
Watch for the Difference Between a Present Participle and a Gerund, also a Participle Adjective
The difference between a present participle and a gerund and also a participle adjective isn’t immediately obvious and may seem unimportant, but when looking at sophistication in writing, it’s helpful to know the difference. I’ve been making a bit of noise recently about the illadvised use of present participles to start sentences if we want our writing to look professional. See point one of my recent blog post and this video with 6 (+1) tips on writing better prose. However not every sentence starting with a word ending in ‘ing’ is problematic because not all words ending in ‘ing’ are present participles, some are gerunds and some, though they are still called participles, are participle adjectives not verbs. What’s the difference? Both a gerund and a present participle come from a verb, and both end in ‘ing’. However, each has a different function. A gerund acts like a noun while a present participle…