What is Story Conflict? Story = conflict → crisis → resolution. And now that your character and setting are in place, it’s time to ignite the tension. Start small. Open Your Story Conflict: What does my character want right now? Who or what’s stopping them? That’s your opening conflict. It should be personal, even trivial,…
Welcome to Act Two: Writing Sequence 3 with Emotional Momentum
How to Structure Sequence 3 in a Story: In our last two posts, we broke down Act One into two sequences: Sequence 1 led to the Inciting Incident - the moment that disrupted the protagonist’s world. Sequence 2 built pressure toward the First Act Twist - the choice or change that pushes the protagonist into…
Metaphor: The Mothership of Literary Devices
Metaphors serve as powerful literary devices that compare unrelated concepts to convey abstract feelings effectively. They provide relatable imagery that resonates with readers, allowing them to grasp emotions like love or grief more tangibly. Writers are encouraged through a list of 25 words to create metaphors for deeper emotional connection, enhancing narrative impact. Happy writing!
Design Your Story’s Tone Through Setting
What is Story Tone? Notice how none of these story elements stand alone? Don’t just design a setting. Don’t just assign a point of view. Don’t just invent a flaw and tack on a theme. Instead: Start with character. Then build a setting that exposes them. Use setting to highlight their flaw, test their worldview,…
From Inciting Incident to Point of No Return: Building Sequence 2
Sequence Two of Act One focuses on the protagonist's reaction to the inciting incident, where emotional stakes heighten. This stage explores resistance, external obstacles, and the building pressure leading to a transformative decision. By the end, the First Act Twist propels the character into Act Two, marking a significant emotional and narrative shift.
The La Piscina Inn: Where water is thicker than blood and coincidences don’t exist
A Haunted Pool? Yup, that's what I'm writing about. I actually wrote it as a screenplay and got the copyright for it in 2020. I submitted to competitions and readers, and other opportunities for the past few years. As all good writers do, I continued revising and editing and submitting. But after last year, 2024,…
How Euphemism Shapes Mood and Meaning in Story
Euphemism is a linguistic tool used to soften harsh realities. George Carlin criticized its use, highlighting how it detaches society from discomfort. Examples include Oskar's "heavy boots" to express grief after losing his father to the 9/11 attacks; and "procreate" for a predatory intent. Euphemisms build tone, shape character voices, and engage readers emotionally, ultimately serving as metaphorical expressions.
Design Characters through Setting: Character in the Wrong Place
The post discusses using setting to reveal character traits and create tension. By placing characters in contrasting environments, such as a shy bookworm in a noisy nightclub, writers can showcase internal struggles and transformations. Pairing characters in opposing settings can further enhance the contrast and define their identities.
Turning Scenes into Sequences: Building the First Sequence of Act One
A story sequence comprises a series of interconnected scenes, each embodying a conflict, crisis, and resolution. Each sequence acts as a mini story that drives emotional engagement. By outlining emotions for each scene, writers can ensure cohesive development, creating intentional narratives that build anticipation and resonance for readers throughout the progression of the story.
Indie Spotlight Review: Yella Gal Queen of the Montclair
In "Yella Gal Queen of the Montclair," Linda White narrates the life of a racially mixed girl in late 19th to early 20th century St. Augustine, Florida, who grapples with societal acceptance and a forbidden romance amid racial tensions. The novel highlights identity, love, and resilience against systemic injustice. Recommended for historical romance readers.
Welcome to My Weekly Indie Reviews
The author advocates for the appreciation of indie books, which often lack the extensive support of traditional publishing. They highlight the importance of celebrating unique stories, characters, and voices, despite minor imperfections. Through a weekly review series, the author aims to promote deserving indie works and shift focus away from algorithms that dismiss them.
Giving Feedback: A Guide for Writers
The author advocates for honest yet compassionate feedback in writing. Effective critiques should start with positive affirmations, followed by honest, specific advice for improvement, and conclude with a balanced summary. The goal is to nurture writers, helping them grow and persevere rather than discouraging them through harsh criticism.
The Power of Aposiopesis: Silence Speaks the Loudest
Aposiopesis is a powerful literary device characterized by abrupt pauses in dialogue, capturing intense emotions and implications. In “Blue Dirt,” Abbie's silence speaks volumes, expressing fear and resistance to Evan’s euphemistic threat. This technique enhances tension in both screenwriting and arguments, conveying more than words can express. Happy writing!
Design Setting: Juxtaposition to Characterize
What is Setting Juxtaposition? Sometimes it’s not just the setting that tells the story, but what it’s placed next to. Juxtaposing two environments, or characters within those environments, can say volumes about class, personality, value systems, or transformation. The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald masterfully uses setting contrast to characterize both individuals and society: East Egg (Daisy…
Every Scene Is a Story: How to Write Scenes That Rise
The post reflects on the author's first college creative writing class, emphasizing the mantra of "Conflict! Crisis! Resolution!" as essential to storytelling. It describes story structure as a nested doll, highlighting the importance of each scene having its own mini-arc. Effective scenes engage readers through emotional pacing and character goals, reinforcing storytelling's dynamic nature.
When Time Isn’t Timeless: Writing Through the Chaos of a Full Life
The title for my blog alludes to my nonfiction book, Meditation Turns Back the Clock: a journey through timelessness. They say if something matters to you, you’ll make time for it. Take meditation as an example. I feel incomplete when I don’t meditate. The same goes for writing. But what if we’ve already made time…
Motif: A Layered Refrain
What Is a Motif? Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how repetition can shape meaning and stir emotion, from anaphora to refrain. Now, we'll dive even deeper into repetition through layers of meaning beyond just emotional meaning. So let’s talk about Motif. A motif is a recurring element in a story, like an image,…
Designing the Setting: When Place Becomes Symbolism
Setting is never just where the story happens. Great stories don't just pick a setting with no underlying purpose; they're designed with intention. When your story’s setting becomes a symbol, it slowly helps to reveal the theme. It can reflect both the character’s inner world and the transformation (or destruction) to come, or even the…
Writing with Emotion: The Five Essential Emotions of the Three-Act Structure
To craft an emotionally engaging story, understand your protagonist’s desires and their arc. Employ the three-act structure by focusing on evoking specific emotions at each stage: from curiosity and tension in exposition, to clarity at the midpoint, and ultimately to catharsis in resolution. Prioritize emotional impact over mere plot mechanics.
Choosing Themes in Fiction: A Writer’s Journey
The writer reflects on the development of themes in their work, particularly focusing on women's experiences and their struggles. Central themes include the search for truth in a corrupt world and the tension between science and spirituality, exemplified in the character Carly from La Piscina Inn. Ultimately, the author contemplates destiny and personal agency in storytelling.
Story Structure Studio: Device and Design... 