Book Outline

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A woman with an umbrella looks sullenly into a window of a storefront to provide internal conflict examples

Internal Conflict Examples: 3 Powerful Ways to Create Character Transformation 

If your narrative drive is stalling, your protagonist could be missing the most vital engine for character transformation: a powerful...

Characters drawn on papers suggest that character sheets are physical illustrations that offer details that just characterize something

Character Sheet Template: The Secret Tool for Creating Unforgettable Characters

A character sheet template can be the difference between a character who feels real on the page and one who...

Empty pages of books in motion on a pink background suggest the question: how many words per page?

How Many Words Per Page in a Book?

Have you ever found yourself comparing the length of your manuscript to other books, and wondering if you’ve written too...

Someone sits by a marked up sheet of music to suggest what is rhythm in writing

What is Rhythm? How to Bring Your Writing to Life

Rhythm is one of those craft issues that writers talk around without really discussing. They might lump it in with...

People gather around material in a professional work setting to suggest the value of a critique circle to professional effort

The Critique Circle Every Serious Writer Eventually Needs

Is there value in joining a critique circle?  Writing is one of the most solitary of all professions. You sit...

A woman looks out in the foreground with a map in her hand pointing into the distance of lush trees to suggest that avoiding plagiarism has a natural vibe filled with light and leisure

The No-Excuses Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding plagiarism seems like a simple task: Just don’t steal someone else’s work. But when you’re immersed in research with...

Pacing in writing is difficult for all writers. Imaged here is a woman who looks stuck while the world moves quickly around her.
Blog
Alan Watt

Pacing in Writing

Many writers struggle to get the pacing right in their stories. We adjust scenes: adding, trimming, and attempting to hike up the

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Featured image for character outlines with two outlines of people dancing by the beach in red to depict a visual importance that exists naturally in all mediums
Blog
Alan Watt

Character Outline

Master your character outline by connecting internal dilemmas to plot beats. Learn to challenge false beliefs and drive true transformation.

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Image for pantser blog--woman writing in a serene café environment
Blog
Alan Watt

The Pantser Method: Writing Without an Outline

Learn how to hone your strengths as a “pantser.” Discovery-based writers often succeed with creative freedom and spontaneity, but successful narratives still require an underlying structure of character transformation to avoid losing direction.

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what happens next
Blog
Alan Watt

What Happens Next?

The first step in creating a fully alive story is imagining the world. This simply means envisioning your characters in relation to

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Recent posts

Pacing in writing is difficult for all writers. Imaged here is a woman who looks stuck while the world moves quickly around her.

Pacing in Writing

Many writers struggle to get the pacing right in their stories. We adjust scenes: adding, trimming, and attempting to hike...

What makes a good story is suggested by a fourth piece of four quadrants slotting neatly into a missing gap — suggesting that the key to a good story comes from the hand of the writer.

What Makes a Good Story? The Four Elements

This is a question that can often lead writers down the wrong path. Many try to answer this through the...

Featured image for character outlines with two outlines of people dancing by the beach in red to depict a visual importance that exists naturally in all mediums

Character Outline

Master your character outline by connecting internal dilemmas to plot beats. Learn to challenge false beliefs and drive true transformation....
Someone measuring a piece of leather on a marketing board to visualize the question of "book outline: where do I start"

Book Outline: Where Do I Start?

Transform your draft with a book outline. Learn 5 proven methods to map your character’s journey, master story structure, and...
Image for pantser blog--woman writing in a serene café environment

The Pantser Method: Writing Without an Outline

Learn how to hone your strengths as a "pantser." Discovery-based writers often succeed with creative freedom and spontaneity, but successful...
dramatic opening

How to Outline a Dramatic Opening

Structurally, a dramatic opening functions as a hook. Emotionally, it needs to do more than just attract attention. When an...

thematic statement

What is a Thematic Statement? Examples and Writing Strategies

 Your story’s thematic statement is the central argument that drives your narrative. Writers sometimes obsess over their plot to the...

snowflake method

The Snowflake Method of Outlining

Writing a story can sometimes seem overwhelming. Think of your favorite books. You can tell when a writer has put...

in medias res

What is “In Medias Res”?

Some stories drop you straight into the middle of chaos in the first scene, giving little to no explanation. This...

synopsis examples

How to Write an Effective Synopsis 

Previously, I unpacked the theory behind synopsis writing, explored the mechanics of what makes a synopsis work, and defined its...

novel outline

How to Outline Your Novel in 5 Steps

Each writer has their own process. Some writers (often called pantsers) believe that outlining their novel limits their creativity, while...

Synopsis

How to Write a Synopsis that Grabs Attention

A synopsis might sound like just another item on your never-ending to-do list, but it’s actually one of the most...

The Value of an Outline

The Value of an Outline

What’s the point of an outline? Whether consciously or not, every writer is in search of a process. A lot...

Outlining The Dramatic Question

Outlining: The Dramatic Question

Your characters are a function of the plot, archetypes that constellate around the dramatic question. Story is essentially an argument...

what happens next

What Happens Next?

The first step in creating a fully alive story is imagining the world. This simply means envisioning your characters in...