There are a hundred iterations of the quote “every story has been told before.” But more often than not, the quote isn’t used in the context of lamenting that there are no fresh ideas. Au contraire! It’s much more commonly used as a comment on how we humans—since our dawn—have enjoyed telling and retelling certain kinds of stories. Variations of the best stories tend to … [Read more...]
Save the Cat Story Cards
I will just say it right now: I love index cards. For many years I have used index cards when planning and outlining my books and other projects. I love that they are easy to move around and rearrange. They can be pinned to a cork board or laid out on a table, and they can be put in one very portable stack and taken wherever you want to work with them. The folks at … [Read more...]
Save the Cat! Cracking the Beat Sheet
“Save the Cat!” by Blake Snyder was originally written as a tool for screenwriters. Snyder presents a structure for successful storytelling that has been adapted for use by novelists as well as the original audience. Now his work has been reimagined as a video course. The idea behind STC is simple: There are elements that are necessary to create an effective story. Snyder … [Read more...]
Reducing Everyday Distractions So You Can Get More Writing Done
I view my distractions from writing in two categories: internal and external. The trick is eliminating both at the same time to create a distraction-free environment conducive to writing. I may be excited to write, but on my way to do it, I see a pile of laundry that needs to be taken care of. As I check the time on my phone, I notice a few messages. I should reply so I … [Read more...]
How to Get Up and Write On Days You Don’t Really Feel Like It
We’ve all faced those days. The ones where you’d love nothing but to veg out with some Netflix all day long. And those days don’t always come at the most opportune time either--especially for writers. As writers, we’re always facing deadlines or new projects. But there are ways to get motivated. You don’t have to accept unscheduled non-productive days. Let’s look at some … [Read more...]
Creating a Villain Your Readers Will Love to Hate
Creating multi-dimensional characters will make your fiction impossible to put down! Your villains should be at least as interesting as your heroes, and this graphic suggests ways to create unforgettable villains for your stories. … [Read more...]
Avoid These Words to Make Your Writing Strong
Even experienced authors have weaknesses in their writing. Just as some speakers fall into bad habits, such as saying um or uh, most of us have some bad habits. Maybe you slip into passive voice or use the same word(s) too frequently. Or perhaps you use unnecessary words that add nothing to your prose. The graphic below describes five common mistakes that make your writing weak … [Read more...]
Why Do You Write?
Want more great ideas from Chris? Check out his books on writing, publishing and marketing books, starting with these: … [Read more...]
3 Effective Solutions to Common Author Struggles
It’s the start of a new year, a time where there’s pressure to feel inspired, positive, and full of hope. Of course, the start of a new decade represents a fantastic opportunity. We can do things differently and pursue our author goals with a new sense of vigor and purpose. But what if you’re not in that state of mind? Sometimes, it can be awkward to admit we’re … [Read more...]
How Long Should My Book Be?
Writing a book can be a daunting task, and many writers wonder how many words they need to complete a book. Is a 50,000 word manuscript long enough? Is a 200,000 word manuscript too long? (Another question is how many words make up a page in a printed book. That varies a lot, depending on the trim size and layout, but you might assume about 350 words per page.) The simple … [Read more...]