Writing Craft: Vol. 3: What is conflict?

What is the conflict? When a story starts introducing elements that directly affect the outcome of the story, that’s conflict. When characters fuss with small objects, make small talk, or think about backstory, that’s not conflict. The vital elements of character and setting are in place, and the “meat” of the story proceeds forward, leading …

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Writing Craft Vol. 3: Who’s telling the story?

We will talk more later about points of view in Writing Craft, Volume 4: Keeping the Reader Trapped In Your Story. But I do need to address a few points about creating point of view characters, because they are vital to how you write setting! You can’t write setting without a point of view character …

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Process Post: Reader Check-Ins

I’m second-guessing myself: should I include more information on how to write reader check-ins or not?  At first you have to think about writing reader check-ins. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally.  You: “I just want to tell the story!” Reader (eventually): “It’s a great story but it’s not for me…” You: [Sobbing] It seems like …

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