What Is External Conflict? Conflict is a necessary ingredient to any good story. Without some obstacles to get in your main character’s way, he/she will reach their goal with no opposition. Doesn’t sound like too exciting of a story, does it? Every...

We all have the same goal as fiction writers—we want to transport our readers inside the pages so that they feel like a part of the story. Characters are an extremely important part of making that happen. And characters don’t just transport the readers;...

Goodreads is Facebook for people who enjoy life between the covers. embership in the fast-growing site for readers, writers and reviewers has spiked from 6.5 million to 9 million since we rang in 2012, with 17 million joining each month, says Goodreads...

Dialogue by definition is the part of the storytelling process in which your characters communicate. It’s a delicate balance that they must walk when speaking in this type of setting. In real life people ramble on about things just to converse, but in...

Many authors are new to the world of web site creation when they embark on creating their author site. Luckily, there are many options available to help authors create a web site and present it to customers. Still, some basic knowledge of web design...

Many authors struggle to begin novels. Should the characters come first or should the story come first? The good news is that either start will work. The important part of this equation is that both pieces are needed to create a viable story idea. You...

“Show me; don’t tell me.” It’s something beginning writers are told over and over again, and it’s good advice. It’s not enough to hear it once, though; you have to remember it every time you sit down to write. Otherwise, if you’re writing about three...

When looking for weak spots in your stories, the ability to patch them up quickly and easily is more available in fiction than when you are writing about historical or non-fictional events. That’s because in fiction you have a creative license to rewrite...

A sub-plot is an important tool for adding depth to any novel. As you sort out the storyline for your novel, it’s important that you enrich your main plot with these elements. Let’s, however, begin with a helpful definition of a sub-plot: Sub-plots are...