Writing & Publishing

Fiction Plots & Pacing

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The Effective Use of Subplots: Developing a Variety of Stories to Greaten Your Story

By: Arthur Gulumian

Adding Suspense to a Novel – the Ticking Clock: Use This Simple Technique to Build Tension When Plotting a Book

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Structuring the Story Plot: Tips for Developing Action From Beginning to End

By: Kathryn Long

Plotting a Novel – Raising the Stakes: How to Write a Page-Turner That Keeps Readers on Edge for Hours

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Help for Common Plotting Problems: Failed Scenes, Uncooperative Characters, Unworkable Plots

By: Vickie Britton

Ways to Create a Plot of a Book: Using Colored Index Cards to Build a Storyline

By: Feature Writer Suzanne Pitner

Tips on Maintaing a Plot's Focus: The Importance of Objectives and Centralization in Plotting

By: Arthur Gulumian

Fast Fixes for Plotting Problems in NaNoWriMo: How to Fix a Plot – and Even Improve It – On a Tight Deadline

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Flashbacks — How and When to Use Them: How to Handle Flashbacks and Keep Reader Interest

By: Vickie Britton

Story Plots 101 – The Romance: How to Write a Romance With a Classic Story Structure

By: Kristina Bjoran

Story Plots 101 – The Journey: Writing Plots With an Epic Story Structure

By: Kristina Bjoran

Story Plots 101 – The Fate Plot: Writing Plots by Using Tried and True Story Structures

By: Kristina Bjoran

Five Fiction Writing Prompts for Plot: Plot Development With Creative Writing Exercises

By: Kristina Bjoran

Creative Writing Ends With Conflict Resolution: Writing Resolutions Requires Solving Character Problems

By: Tara McClendon

Reaching Climax in a Novel Requires Planning: Fiction Writers Need to Understand How to Structure Plot Elements

By: Tara McClendon

How to Avoid Plot Cliches: Tips for Writers on Increasing Their Chances of Publication

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Four Story Plot Endings that Editors Do Not Want: Essential Advice on How to Write a Novel Ending

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Methods and Exercises to Inspire Plot: Using Prompts, Tricks and Plain Old Theft to Find Plot

By: Cynthia Keenan

How to Use a Plot Notebook When Writing a Book: A Simple Plotting Tool to Make Fiction Writing Easier

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

How to Develop Plots in Fiction Writing: Plots can be Planned or Evolve Through Characters.

By: Cynthia Keenan

Lucky-Dip Plotting: How to Create a Story From Nothing

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Point of View and Authorial Intrusion: Avoiding Author Interruption in Third Person and other POV

By: Vickie Britton

A Useful Plotting Tool – The Fold-out Timeline: How to Keep Control of the Story Chronology

By: Feature Writer Marg McAlister

Plot a Novel That Commands Attention: Arrange Fiction Writing to Move the Reader From Beginning to End

By: Tara McClendon

Write a Novel That is Action-packed: Pace Fiction Writing to Create a Page-turner

By: Tara McClendon

Writing Scenes Within Literary Novels: How to Write Action and Events to Create Tension Within a Story

By: Feature Writer Rachel Wills

Three Creative Novel Plotting Techniques: Using a Story Wheel, File Note Cards or Storyboard to Develop Plot

By: Vickie Britton

"A Telephone Call" By Dorothy Parker: Writers: Take a Note From Ms. Parker on Interior Monologue as Comedy

By: Eva Gordon

How to Write the First Pages of a Literary Novel: Writing Gripping Opening Scenes to a Fiction Story

By: Feature Writer Rachel Wills

Plot-Driven Novels vs Character-Driven Themes: Tom Clancy and Dan Brown – J. D. Salinger and Henry James

By: Vickie Britton

How to Create a Plot for a Novel: Plotting Has Five Basic Elements in Every Fiction Story

By: Feature Writer Suzanne Pitner

TSTL – Characters That are Too Stupid to Live: How Dumb Should a Heroine be?

By: Judith Bakley

Writing in Second Person Point of View: Second Person in Classic Literary Works, Novels and Short Stories

By: Vickie Britton

Character Desire Creates Well-Plotted Scenes: Focus Plots & Scenes by Knowing What Protagonist & Antagonist Want

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

Using Plot Twist Generators When Writing a Novel: Add Unexpected Conflict to Shake Up a Boring Story

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

How to Plot a Novel for Beginners in Writing: A Guide to the Three Act Structure of Storytelling Made Simple

By: Feature Writer Rachel Wills

Four Steps to Planning and Plotting Your Novel: Four Tasks to Complete Before Writing the First Page

By: Vickie Britton

How Dialogue Advances Plot: Fictional Conversations Carry the Story Forward

By: Bonnie Way

Writing in Third Person Point of View: Third Person Limited, Subjecitve and Third Person Omniscient

By: Vickie Britton

Fiction Writing and Plot Development: How to Develop a Plot for a Story or Novel

By: Carol Rzadkiewicz

Story Climax or Resolution -- The Difference? Distinguishing the Resolution of a Story From Its Climax

By: Aric Mitchell

How to Create a Plot: Ideas for a Timely-Planned Story Line

By: Michelle Pannecoucke

How to Create a Setting: Ideas for An Appropriate Landmark for Your Story

By: Michelle Pannecoucke

How to Build Tension in Fiction: How to Use Conflict and Stakes to Increase Tension

By: Carrie Lewis

Recipe for Riveting Writing: Using Subplots to Hook the Reader

By: Feature Writer Suzanne Pitner

How to Write an Original Plot: Brainstorm Ideas to Avoid Clichéd Story Lines

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

Writing the First Chapter: How to Plan a Strong Beginning Chapter for Your Novel

By: Vickie Britton

Fiction Plots Require Conflict: Characters Need Deep Desires and Increasing Problems

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

Plot Revision for Novel Writers: Revising Novel Structure Before Line Editing

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

The Plot Thickens: Tools for Scriptwriters: Building and Following a Great Story Line

By: David Fulmer

Ideas in Creative Writing – Plotwriting Exercise: An Exercise in Theme and Understanding Plotline

By: Feature Writer Nicholas Morine

Ideas in Creative Writing – Plot Construction: Tips on Constructing an Inventive and Unique Plotline

By: Feature Writer Nicholas Morine

Balancing Plot & Characters: Weave Storytelling Elements For Emotional Value

By: Joe Lam

The Seven Basic Plots: Christopher Booker Examines Common Narratives in Storytelling

By: Adair Jones

Fool-Proof Plots for Short Stories: How to Use the ABDCE Method to Structure Your Story

By: Blair Hurley

3 Ways to Build a Story: Developing a Story from a Theme, a Character, or a Specfic Scene

By: Vickie Britton

The Three Points of View in Writing: Writing in First, Second or Third Person

By: Vickie Britton

Storyboards Help Track Plots and Subplots: Use Index Cards and Sticky Notes to See What's Happening in a Novel

By: Feature Writer Jennifer Jensen

Do You Need a Plot Outline? Steps to Creating a Well-Constructed Plot Outline

By: Vickie Britton

Fiction Writing Tips: Story Grid: A writing plan exercise

By: JoMarie Grinkiewicz

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