Bookwriter RSS Blog
The Bookwriter RSS Blog will keep you up to date on new articles about writing and story structure, answers to common writing questions and other information designed to help you write your book.
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And please, enjoy the latest posts below.
Character Revealing
Question: Does the Resolution have to be that the detective finds the killer? Or can the reader find out who the killer is by the 4th driver so that the
Murder Mysteries
Question: Does the main character(s) in a murder mystery, more specifically the narrator, need to be a detective? Can it be someone who is in a completely
HOW to start a book
Question: I have this genius idea to write a book about the topic that, in the book, breaks our country and starts the 2nd Civil War: LGBTQ+ Rights. I
Fall Writing Course
Glen will be teaching a Creative Writing course Tuesday evenings this fall at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario. Something to consider if you live in the area.
How to Write a Book Now Gets a New Look
After a decade, the site was looking a little old fashioned. So I've been working on a giving it a fresher look.
What do you think?
Creating a chronological order?
Question So I'm currently in the planning stage of writing my story. I have many components as its base of a bucket list (and so each wish is a different
Outstanding Opportunity for Aspiring Authors
Jerry Jenkins, author of 21 New York Times bestsellers is taking a limited number of students in his online writing course, Your Novel Blueprint. The comprehensive program can take you from the idea stage to a finished manuscript in a matter of months. Free introductory workshop on July 23!
Continue reading "Outstanding Opportunity for Aspiring Authors"
Margaret Atwood's Creative Writing Course
Margaret Atwood is one of the most influential literary voices of our generation. Now you can learn her methods in her first-ever online class. Let the author of "The Handmaid’s Tale" show you how to craft compelling stories—from historical to speculative fiction—that remain timeless and relevant. Explore Margaret’s creative process for developing ideas into novels with strong structures and nuanced characters.
Continue reading "Margaret Atwood's Creative Writing Course"
Tragedy
Hello, Glen, I love your site and resources. My question is, does a tragedy always have to end with the death of the main character and/or protagonist?
Online Creative Writing Courses
Take online creative writing courses from high profile professional and famous writers in a variety of genres.
Dual Biography
Hello. Has anyone written a dual biography of Charles Dickens and Guiseppe Verdi? Both were born at roughly the same time, both wrote with a profound
Where to go after starting in on your first couple of books
Question: I have started roughly fourteen books since I was twelve years old and i have never went to publishers or proofreaders to look at my work because
Continue reading "Where to go after starting in on your first couple of books"
Mystery Novel Planning
Hello, Glen, I thank you for answering my previous question about Mystery Novel Resolution. I've purchased your novel planning workbook and written four
Introducing the Villan Late
Question: A large part of the plot of my novel involves the main character trying to find out who the villain of the story is. Although the villain is
Mixing Character Archetypes
Hello! I'm reading Dramatica and trying to get the hang of characters. Specifically, I'm wondering whether it's possible for the antagonist to also be
Guardian or Contagonist?
Question: If I understand correctly, the guardian and contagonist help the protagonist achieve his goal and tempt him away from it respectively. But what
Too little consistency with the characters?
Hello First of all, thank you very much for all the useful information and help you’re providing, your website has already helped me a lot. My question
Continue reading "Too little consistency with the characters?"
Finish or not to finish, that is the question.
Question: I know its a crazy question but, I've got a summary for a storyline written already. Should I just create it now and add filler later, or add
Continue reading "Finish or not to finish, that is the question."
Identifying my book as a memoir versus a novel.
Question: Taken directly from my journals detailing true misadventures involving drug-addicted prostitutes over a two year period, though therefore properly
Continue reading "Identifying my book as a memoir versus a novel."
Just a Comment and not a question
I've written a novel (going by notes as far back as High School, over 40 years ago), and have pieced everything together and fleshed it out to my satisfaction.
What are the limits of using IPs in a novel?
Question: Ready Player One references tons of intellectual properties, several of which are integral to the plot. Do you know if the publisher had to clear
Continue reading "What are the limits of using IPs in a novel?"
Online Creative Writing Courses
How would you like to learn the art of creative writing from some of the highest selling and most famous writers in the business--including such names as James Patterson and R.L. Stine? And get personal attention from the comfort of your own home? Take a look at this link to find out how.
Mystery Novel Resolution
Hello, Glen, First of all, thank you for reading my question and providing your valuable suggestions. I wrote around fifty thousand words of my mystery
Betrayal
Question: This site is exactly what I needed to actually pull out those someday ideas off the shelf, but I can't seem to find anything on character betrayals.
Flashback as hook?
Question: I am wanting to start my novel with the prologue time jumping following the main characters with their experience with the character who dies
What constitutes as a Chapter?
Question: You mentioned that some scenes will be part of a chapter while other scenes will be a chapter itself. So i want to know what a chapter is. Is
W-plot and signposts clarification needed
Dear Glen, First and foremost, so many thanks for your tremendous work and enlightening advice about creative writing ! I have a terminology-(and perhaps
Continue reading "W-plot and signposts clarification needed"
Including a subplot in a synopsis
Question: Your Steps in Writing a Synopsis is very thorough and helpful. One question I have, however, is how or where to include discussion about a subplot
need help with main character throughline
Question: I can't seem to come up with the main character throughline for my story that seems right. My story takes place in a world, filled with magic
Continue reading "need help with main character throughline"
How much time should I leave between main events?
Question: I am writing a love story told from four different perspectives. I have about three main events with several parts to each of them. However,
Continue reading "How much time should I leave between main events?"
Group Dynamics
Hi! I was wondering how I could go about creating interesting relationships between a group of characters. I find that I struggle with giving everyone
Using real name and story in fiction
Question: I am writing a love story about my healing from depression. The format is me writing letters to my counselor and what happens when I fall in
Dramatica "this scene represents" Dilemma
Question: I've decided to write a total of 64 scenes with 64,000 words. This is my benchmark, but I'm willing to let it grow larger or smaller as needed.
Continue reading "Dramatica "this scene represents" Dilemma"
I am stuck in my writing
Dear Glen, You have helped me before and I hope you can help me again. I am one third through my second novel and feel completely stuck with no idea how
Should I Have a Sequel Trilogy and am I Overplanning?
Question: I have big ambitions. I'm not yet done my first book, but I know for a fact it will be only the first of a trilogy, and that that trilogy will
Continue reading "Should I Have a Sequel Trilogy and am I Overplanning?"
Character Death Reaction
Question: One of my characters is at the brink of death. As much as it pains me, and as hard as I tried to keep her alive, she doesn't have much longer.
Is this Chapter Important to the Story? (And Another Issue)
Question: I wrote a chapter in which nothing particularly interesting happens. One of the characters (let's call her Anna) hasn't told the two main characters
Continue reading "Is this Chapter Important to the Story? (And Another Issue)"
Switching Point of Views
Question: I'm currently writing a novel, I'm really proud of it. But, I truly feel as though the audience should see the point of view of not only the
Memoir
Question: I want to write my memoir. Problem is, all of the articles and books I've read on memoir say that it should include lots of dialogue. Unfortunately,
Writers Boon: Mini-Review
Looking for more help publishing your novel? Writers Boon offers you an online catalogue of services covering every aspect of the writing and publishing process, including writing, self-publishing, marketing, publicity and selling. (It's also one of this year's 100 Best Websites for Writers.) Worth checking out.
How to write sensitive topics?
Question: So the main theme of my story is trust and distrust, tying in with the theme, my main character has trust issues. Specifically with men, even
Prologue, uh... Placement.
Hello, My prologue isn't something very exciting, at least not in my opinion. It has all the necessary hooks to keep people reading, but I fear that,
Introducing New Characters: when?
Question: I have been told that my self-discovery travel romance novel has too many characters the first chapter. The protagonist is alone for the first
Do you NEED a plot template?
Hi, I'm starting a new book. I've planned out a lot about the main characters, and know the plot I have in mind in pretty good detail. However, I've recently
Do you think my book will be well recieved by readers?
Hello, So, I'm writing a love story. Well, it's not really a love story since the woman he ends up with isn't introduced until towards the end. My character
Continue reading "Do you think my book will be well recieved by readers?"
We Made the Top 100 List Again!
For the second year in a row, How to Write a Book Now has been included in the list of 100 Best Websites for Writers by Write Life. Many thanks to all the readers who recommended us!
Psychological thrillers
Questions: 1. I want to write a psychological thriller but I'm not sure how to start it or how to create my own, original idea without copying other psychological
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Recent Postings
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Character Revealing
Aug 19, 18 12:01 PM
Question: Does the Resolution have to be that the detective finds the killer? Or can the reader find out who the killer is by the 4th driver so that the
-
Murder Mysteries
Aug 14, 18 08:49 PM
Question: Does the main character(s) in a murder mystery, more specifically the narrator, need to be a detective? Can it be someone who is in a completely
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero
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