First chapter 
Question: In the novel I am writing, I would like to know how to get the reader actually hooked into my book. I have read the other answers to along ...

Organization 
Question: I’ve been trying to find an answer to this question for the last few years, and I may be missing something obvious, but at this point I’m stumped....

Character/Plot Development - 2nd follow-up 
Question: Okay, sorry about all my frivolous questions, but here is one more.

Thanks to your advice, and your amazing website, I've developed some ...

Character/Plot Development - Follow-up 
Question: Thank you so much for your answers to my last quesion. But, I was wondering, about that scene where the main character gets captured, it's ...

Character/Plot Development 
Question: Hi. I'm just barely started writing a novel, that I hope will turn into a series. But I haven't figured out much of the plot for the first ...

Maps 
Question: Are there any tips for creating a great-looking, detailed and informative map for a fantasy novel?

Answer: It's not my specialty, but ...

How do I find an illustrator for my novel series? 
Question: Hi, my name is Summer and I'm currently working a novel series of 6 volumes. My books will be aimed at teenagers, so I want an illustrator ...

When writing about an overused supernatural creature? 
Question: What with Twilight, True Blood, and their many carbon copies nowadays, a lot of people are feeling tired of vampires, werewolves, fae, and ...

World building 
Question: The super humans in my novel wear tunics...has this been overdone?
If I tailor a new costume for my super humans for instance a sleeveless ...

When to start 
Question: I'm 15 yeas old and dead convinced that I want to be an author. I want to start seriously writing what will hopefully be a novel. Is it reasonable ...

Connecting ideas 
Question: I have a really good story idea and have every thing planed out but when i try to connect my different scenes i just cant find a way to fill ...

Crossing Writing Structures 
Question: I am currently working on a novel that I have let my brother read and give some of his feed back on. He told me that I needed to make up my ...

How to write a series - particularly the first book? 
Question: I find myself thinking of a great series yet the first book seems both the most fun and most complicated to write. In most good series and ...

scenes and movies 
Hello,

I would like to know (maybe we might need an article), on how can I show a place/room to someone, without obviously drawing a map.

Also, are ...

Double climax 
Question: I have been working on a novel for nearly two years. I can never seem to get it quite right. My latest version I feel very hopeful and confident ...

Dialogue 
Question: I have real trouble creating dialogue between characters, it never seems realistic enough or sincere to me. Are there any tips you can give ...

Trouble coming to the Problem/Event. 
Question: Hi, I need major help with this series I'm writing. I've posted other questions here and the answers were great! (Thanks!!!!!) But I have another ...

I have too many holes in my story 
Question: How can I fill in the gaps of my story? I have the major characters figured out and I know where each book in my eight book series needs to ...

Using Trademarked Names 
Question: Is it legal to use a Trademarked name such as Facebook in a novel where it is simply a part of the story. For example "Bob made a Facebook ...

Outlining  
Question: I can't outline for the life of me. I am told that Outlining is critical to writing a good novel. But I am an organic writer, I come up with ...

Understanding/Identifying Signposts (Harry Potter and Dramatica) 
Question: You often use examples from Harry Potter; can you identify one or more of the overall, main character, and impact character signposts in the ...

How to start your first chapter 
Question: How should I begin the first chapter? What techniques are there?

Answer: Obviously, the challenge with first chapters is to convince the ...

Don't know where my plot is going! 
Question: Hi, my name is Thea and I have a problem with a fantasy novel I'm writing. Nothing serious, just something I write for fun, and that I've been ...

Writing About Real Places, Companies, and Products 
Question: Do you have to get special permission to include something in your writing? For example, if I mention "Warriors: Into the Wild" by Erin Hunter,...

Outline the plot of the story. Describe the situation, rising action, climax, and denouement 
Question: I dont know what this means :( please help.

Answer: Okay, let's take each part in turn.

"Outline the plot of the story."

This means ...

Finding Originality When Even Plot Twists Are Cliched  Not rated yet
Hi,

I've been trying to finalize the outline of my novel, however I'm skeptical and critical of every plot outline I've come up with. I'm to the point ...

Trivial chracters  Not rated yet
Question: How much detail should be given to trivial characters without overwriting?

Answer: You've pretty much answered your own question, as far ...

Unlikeable Protagonists  Not rated yet
Question: Is it possible to write about a protagonist that people will not like, who dies in the end and about whom you should feel mixed emotions?

Answer:...

Transitions  Not rated yet
Question: Okay, so I've been working on a novel for quite a while, and I have recently had to start over because the story is too choppy. I have a severe ...

I'm working on an outline that is close to heart...  Not rated yet
Question: The little girl is dancer from a vampire/mafia family and I need feedback on my outline and I would like to meet experienced New York writers ...

How do I find an illustrator for my novel cover?  Not rated yet
There are a few sites out there that make it fairly quick and painless to find an illustrator for your novel. Here are what I think are the two best:
http:...

Titling a Novel  Not rated yet
Question: Thanks to your website, I've figured out a LOT about my plot and my characters that I wouldn't have otherwise. I have a plot solid enough that ...

Help with 19th century warfare.  Not rated yet
Question: Hello, my name is Michael and I am planning on writing a novel set during the early 19th century; the story is from the viewpoint of two footsoldiers ...

the first chapter  Not rated yet
Question: How do i get people hooked on the first chapter so they can keep reading???

Answer: Here are 7 general tips. (They have to be general,...

Referencing  Not rated yet
Question: I have an idea for a health food book. I don't want to necessarily quote from another book, but rather use information that I have gathered ...

Low writing Self-Esteem  Not rated yet
Question: Hi, I'm 14 years old and I'm trying to write a story out that I'm planning on drawing out into a comic. But when I start, I feel anxious. I ...

Inception at the Precipice  Not rated yet
Question: I absolutely found your sight a "God Send."

I recently gave a PowerPoint presentation on a unique topic in Christianity that has of late ...

First Chapter  Not rated yet
Question: I've written a first chapter for my story but I'm not satisfied with it. I want to rewrite it to see if I can get a better idea but I'm having ...

The Craft of Writing Overview  Not rated yet
Question: What is the most basic and descriptive, but brief descriptions of the craft of writing? I feel like I'm always missing something because it ...

Starting Out  Not rated yet
Question: I've got a general structure for my story, I've picked out all of my major characters. Now should I just sit down and start writing from the ...

Those pesky boring moments  Not rated yet
Question: How do you pass through those parts in your story when nothing particular is going on? For instance if your character is alone during a trip ...

Skimming the Research  Not rated yet
Question: I've had an idea for a plot that's sort of a mystery, and heavily involves neurology. The main thing is that a string of victims in a small ...

Point of View  Not rated yet
Question: I've started writing out scenes for my story but a problem I've been running into is point of view. I decided that I want to write in a kind ...

How to know if your pacing is too fast/slow  Not rated yet
Question: When writing, I feel like the pacing is fine. However, when I reread or go to edit, I either feel like things are too slow and unexciting or ...

Premonition  Not rated yet
Question: Is it useful to have the main character have a premonition or dream/ flashforward with little detail of whats to come?

Answer: All techniques ...

Characters but no plot  Not rated yet
Question: I've developed a handful of characters as well as a potential main protagonist for a very long time. I've studied a lot on what makes a good ...

Setting  Not rated yet
Question: I'm having trouble deciding the setting for my story, I want to set it by a well known river in the UK but I don't want to use an existing ...

I have tons of story ideas  Not rated yet
Question: I have a lot of ideas that I want to expand into different stories. But I have this one huge thing that I want to do most of all. Whenever ...

Series Fiction   Not rated yet
Question: I have this idea for a novel series. I don't know; do people usually decide how many books are going to be in a series before or after they ...

Ficticious Addresses in Novels  Not rated yet
Question: When writing a novel is it okay to use ficticious names of streets, bus lines, schools, libraries, etc. that do not exist in the city that ...

Finding Plot Ideas  Not rated yet
Question: How do I find plot ideas?

Answer: People ask this a lot. But honestly, finding ideas is the easiest part of writing.

My first suggestion ...

universities  Not rated yet
Question: I'm writing a murder mystery and think i should use a fake university name in my book. Don't believe the real name should be used. My story ...

Controversial Settings   Not rated yet
Question: Is there any restriction in a Novel to say the exact place of where the story really happens? (E.G Middle East.) Does the writer need to get ...

From Fanfiction to Novels  Not rated yet
Question: i have written fanfiction stories that are as long as my arm but i want to expand how do i do that?

Answer: The simple answer - which ...

Dramatica Theory  Not rated yet
Question: What exactly is dramatica theory?

Answer: Dramatica theory is a theory of story structure that was developed and published by Melanie ...

Controlling the Reader's Interpretation  Not rated yet
Question: What is the correct name given to the guess that you make on what is happening in a story based on what the narrator tells you?

Answer:...

Rushed Writing  Not rated yet
Question: How can you try to not make your writing seem rushed?

Answer: Revise, revise, revise.

Set your work aside for a time (a day, a ...