by Jacque | Oct 7, 2020 | editor secrets, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Structure, Uncategorized
Well, it’s October again. That means cozy sweaters, apple cider, changing leaves, and bad puns. Of course, bad puns are welcome all year long. What it means for you is preparing for NaNoWriMo! Not sure what that is? However, you pronounce it (nano-REE-mo or...
by Jacque | Aug 12, 2020 | Conflict, Powerful Stories, Step 3: Story Conflict, Supersets, Uncategorized
You Need Overarching Conflict I hesitate to call books that have a specific genre with authors who intend to sell commercial fiction. It sounds a bit … icky, as if there’s no art behind it. It taints those authors with a feeling of “selling out” as opposed to those...
by Jacque | Jun 10, 2020 | Conflict, five requirements, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, step 6, Structure, Supersets, Uncategorized
The Best Way to Create Conflict Imagine the scene you’re reading involves the characters all sitting around a table eating dinner. The image is clear because you’ve had dinner at a table before, so you understand what goes on. During this scene, everyone is in a good...
by Jacque | Mar 11, 2020 | five requirements, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Structure, Uncategorized
The way a story ends is just as important as the way it begins. While the beginning should hook you in and drive you to continue reading, the ending should bring closure. At this point, the climax has answered many of the plot’s questions, so the ending should show...
by Jacque | Feb 12, 2020 | Controlling Theme, Essential Scenes, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Step 2, Structure, Supersets, Uncategorized
Controlling theme. Sounds a bit daunting, doesn’t it? As if there’s this point that needs to be made with your story, some lesson that you must prove. Well…there kinda is. But your story doesn’t have to be a grand statement or literary masterpiece, especially if...
