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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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Story Structure
Question: I want to write a novel about the experiences of four friends living in the 1950s. Can I write a few chapters at the beginning that show their
Too much happining in each chapter
Question: OK, so I have been writing for a while and I realized that each chapter does the same thing at the end and it took me a while to realize what
Dialogue spacing separate from text
Question: Does each bit of dialogue stand separately from any descriptive narrative text that would follow it? Answer: Well, dialogue is generally separated
Characters
Question: I am writing a story from the viewpoints of three different characters, there are going to be a lot of names throughout the story and I'm unsure
Is my plot enough?
Question: I'm writing a young adult novel about a boy who comes to Italy to study art for the summer and starts falling in love with the son of the host
Writing help/feedback
Question: I decided to start writing short stories to improve my writing before getting back to my book and I think they are turning out really good. I
Psychological horror
Hi I need to write a paper on psychological horror and need a clear definition. Do you have one, and from where to you have it? Sure, I can find one on
Pacing a storyline
Question:What are some good strategies for pacing a storyline that covers 2 years? Answer: Not the easiest question to answer, but here are some thoughts...
Two plotlines that don't have much to do together
Question: I plan to write a pretty long sci-fi fiction story. I spent a lot of years writing but (mostly rewriting) this story, wrote about 400 pages
Continue reading "Two plotlines that don't have much to do together"
My plot is real life
Question: Can I write my story, all true, sadly horrifying, and in continuance, from the perspective of me telling a true story about someone. I would
Help on detail
Question: Hi, i am writing my book and I really think that the plot was generating way too fast. In about a few pages A character died but I am starting
Is citing necessary in a short work of fiction?
Question: I am writing a very short story that is a work of fiction (Sci-Fi genre). In it I reference...scientific information, such as the discovery
Continue reading "Is citing necessary in a short work of fiction?"
Perspective
Question: There are many important characters in my novel. That's why I use a third-person omniscient perspective. When I write a book, the events come
First Person POV
Question: If I am writing in the first person,is the following acceptable dialogue? What are you thinking about George? I'm just thinking how lovely
Ist person phone-call format
Question: Like Marrisa from Ohio, I also have a question about phone-call format. My story is also first person narration. Not all phone calls are one
Plot and Filler
Question: I'm writing a fantasy novel, and I feel like every chapter is boom, plot development or boom, here's a new important character and I want to
When Mystery author becomes popular
Dear Glen, Thanks for your novel planning book. I have written five romance books and a series of five mystery books. My first mystery is published in
What genre would this be?
Question: I wrote something but I don't know how to classify it. It's about someone who goes on telling their partner the story of their life and career,
Synopsis of nonlinear narrative
Question: How to write the synopsis of nonlinear narrative? I also have two protoganists (in love with each other but has different story goal). To whom
Transitions
Question: I'm writing a historical fiction story set in the 1800s based on real historical events. As the second draft currently stands, the protagonist
Story goal
Question: In my story a character is given an antique mirror from her father. On the night of her birthday when she is asleep, she hears a voice telling
Writing two POV in one chapter
Question: How can I change the third person POV to the first person POV? to let the readers feel the scene? in one chapter? Answer: The short answer
Appearance vs reality
Question: ...Also my novel has begun to shape up with some heavy appearance vs reality themes where I thought it was going down the loss, redemption and
third person present tense
Question: ...certain chapters in my novel, the flashbacks are written in present tense (I know I know ) and my question is when writing a sentence in the
dialogue tags
Question: How do I make my dialogue tags less repetitive? For example, if I were to express the same emotion throughout many scenes and run out of dialogue
How do I fit an antagonist's backstory into my novel?
Question: I have an antagonist that my protagonist doesn't meet until a few chapters in. He has his own backstory, that I feel is important to tell, but
Continue reading "How do I fit an antagonist's backstory into my novel?"
overall structure of the book
Question: I am writing a story involving a character that is loosely based upon me but will have certain different actions and I am trying to relate the
I can't connect with my protagonist
Hello, I've got a great story and plot and I know the type of protagonist I need to write about but I'm struggling to build that deep emotional connect
Children's or ???
Question: Does it fall into the children's category when it is a book they will gift to Mom when done? Answer: A children's book is one that is written
Parallel plots, different times
Question: I am writing a book with two main characters. The novel starts in 2016 with an introduction of both characters (A&B), together, one space, one
What genre is my book?
Question: It's set in Ancient Rome and has historical elements, though it doesn't really mention anything of importance that would classify it as historical
Pacing
Question: I seem to have a really hard time pacing my stories because none of my scenes and chapters in between major plot points feels natural. Is there
Fantasy
Question: I'm trying to write a book like Game of Thrones, but don't want to copy it, any advice? Answer: Yes. Don't copy it. Okay, let me be a little
Mystery Romance
Hello, I'm writing a novel in which the protagonist starts to become suspicious of her mother's involvement in a hospital scandal that has to do with
Mystery Deja vu
Dear Glen, Once again, Thank You for your novel planning book. I'm writing my ninth novel with its help, the fifth in mystery. While writing my mystery
How do I Rewrite my Novel?
Hello! I finished writing my manuscript one year ago. Since then, I have made almost no progress with rewriting it. I don't know how to begin, or where
Using an actual place in a novel but making it less accurate
Question: Is there a disclaimer when using an actual place in a novel, yet wanting it to fit into your story, so taking some poetic license.? Also,
Continue reading "Using an actual place in a novel but making it less accurate"
Subtle action
Question: How do I take a subtle (and kinda quirky) super power and write in a way that keeps the tension and the book flowing? My characters in the book
Need help on how to start this story
Question: I am currently trying to write a short story for my english class. I know I want to write the plot around 3 murders during mardi gras. The story
Reasons to write
Question Are there like wrong reasons to write? I love making up stories. I live with characters every day, I daydream all the scenes and emotions. Which
Plot planning when you are a pantser
Hi! I would like to know how do I plan the whole book when I don't know what is going to happen. I know the theme, I know what is happening now, but
Stories with no clear end goals.
Question: My story is set in a world where magic exists and is formally taught at schools. Everyone has mana in them. The story revolves around a commoner
Tragi-Comedy 8-Point Plot Outline
Hi there, I've gone through the 8-point plot outline for my story, which I've decided is a sort of comi-tragedy(the main character achieves the story
Multiple POV
Question: I have a series planned in my head and am planning the story from 3 characters' POV. The problem is I don't want to switch back and forth every
Utopias
Question: How do I NOT write a Utopian world? I feel like everything I write is a Utopian, and those aren't any good. Help? Answer: I have to guess a
Purpose In Flashbacks
Question: First of all, I'd like to say I'm happy to see you still doing this. I used to ask questions 2-3 yrs ago before losing interest in writing. I've
first chapter
Hi, My name is Shenidene and I'm writing a book well I'm starting a chapter of a book I call snow falling it's a romance/ crime/investigation and well
Exclamation points , and methods to convey emotion in the character's voice
Hello, My question is about conveying to the reader a character's changing emotions through his or her voice in a literal sense. How it raises or lowers
Continue reading "Exclamation points , and methods to convey emotion in the character's voice"
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Recent Postings
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Story Structure
May 18, 21 02:52 PM
Question: I want to write a novel about the experiences of four friends living in the 1950s. Can I write a few chapters at the beginning that show their
-
Too much happining in each chapter
Apr 18, 21 09:23 PM
Question: OK, so I have been writing for a while and I realized that each chapter does the same thing at the end and it took me a while to realize what
"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
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knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
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"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
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