A book map is a visual representation of a book’s contents. This allows for easy analysis of elements and can reveal gaps in the content of a nonfiction book or the storyline of a novel. You may have used a book map without even realizing that’s what you were doing. …
Tag: Story Structure
Use dialogue to move story forward
Back in my college days, I had the great opportunity to take a writing course from TV comedy writer Danny Simon. He taught us a lot in that class, and I’ve probably forgotten most of it, but I kept my notes, so I can always go back and check. One …
Is your epilogue necessary?
Everything that’s true for prologues goes for epilogues as well. ☐ Epilogue, if used, is necessary and engaging. It’s not enough that your epilogue be sweet and show how your characters live happily ever after. It has to wrap up the story in a way that, if it were omitted, …
Editing is like construction: seal the joints
When you’re renovating a house and you put up new drywall, you have to seal the joints with putty so that when the wall is painted, the joins between the drywall don’t show. Sometimes our first drafts need a similar treatment. ☐ Vestiges of earlier versions have been edited into …
Transitions are key to maintaining story flow
The next item on the Elements of Fiction Editing Checklist has to do with continuity: ☐ Transitions clearly show how much time has elapsed and show how events relate to each other. At the start of each scene, and especially at the start of chapters, give the reader some clues to …
Two flashback-like gimmicks to avoid
Last time we looked at how to use flashbacks effectively. But in new writers’ stories I often see a couple of ineffective ploys akin to flashbacks. One is what I call the Pointless Flashback—it flashes back to something that happened within the span of the story’s timeline. A flashback is …
Flashbacks useful if handled carefully
Many writing teachers and critique partners will tell you not to use flashbacks at all. I’m never one to discard a potentially useful technique. It is possible to use flashbacks, and to do them well. You don’t want to use too many of them, or readers will start to wonder …
The mechanics of chapterization
Last time we talked about chapter breaks from a story standpoint. Now let’s look at the mechanics of how to do it. I don’t recommend breaking your book out into chapters until you’re in at least your second draft and maybe even later. If you put chapter breaks in early, …
Chapter length is important to structure
It may seem trivial, but how long to make the chapters in a novel is a detail worth paying attention to. But this item also bears some explanation. ☐ Chapters are of approximately similar lengths. Generally speaking, you want your chapters to be consistent in their length, as jerking back …
A strong opening will grab readers
Many readers, whether in a shop or on Amazon, will make a decision about whether to buy a book by reading the first few pages. If you’re lucky, they read pages. They may only read the first few lines. And if you are seeking traditional publication, whether through an agent …