Book Outline

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A woman touches a broken reflection, sultry, to suggest the character vs. self conflict in visual form

Character vs. Self Conflict

Character vs. Self is the conflict that strips all else away. There’s no central villain, no evil plot, no natural...

A woman directs a cameraman with a screenplay in hand to suggest that a writer can shine in a different format — What is a screenplay?

What is a Screenplay?

A screenplay is a script specifically written for film, TV, video games, or any other visual medium. It is not...

Two men paint the sides of a room in one story of a building to suggest the parts of a story as a physical relationship to one's own literature

Parts of a Story

“The most important part of a story is the piece of it you don’t know.”– Barbara Kingsolver In this article,...

A serene scene of a person standing on a wooden dock over calm water, evoking solitude in how to self-publish a book

How to Self-Publish a Book

On the topic of self‑publishing, conversations tend to involve the same handful of outcomes. You might have heard how Andy...

Turkish planes fly in formation to signify strength and might in the form of blitzkrieg writing

Blitzkrieg Writing: How to Outrun Your Inner Critic  

Blitzkrieg is not a word typically associated with the quiet, solitary act of writing. It conjures up images of brute...

Clay faces crafted throughout time suggest universal themes in story that long precedes our civilized way of life

Universal Themes in Story

While the stories we spin are often deeply personal, they invariably explore themes that are universally relatable. It can feel...

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...