Category: Writing
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Tips for Writing a First Draft of a Novel
I’m writing the first draft of a new novel, and I love it. It’s so freeing to be able to write whatever I want, leaving it to future Lexi to fix later. But as I’ve been drafting, I’ve been thinking back to how much harder it was when I was writing the first draft of… Read more
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How to Create a Character: A Simple Guide for Pantsers
As a pantser/discovery writer, I know what it’s like to have an idea for a story and want to jump in without doing any prep work. Filling out character questionnaires and plotting out the story has never held much interest for me in the early stages. But over the years, I’ve discovered the benefits of… Read more
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“Yes, but/No, and” – How to Craft a Thrilling Character-Driven Plot
If you’re like me, you love character-driven stories. You love watching a character pursue their goals, struggle, fail, and eventually grow because of what they’ve gone through. You want to write a story just like that, but when you sit down to write it, you find yourself wondering “How do I write a character-driven story?”… Read more
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Rules or Tools: What Writing Advice Should You Listen To?
The internet is filled with writing advice—YouTube videos, blogs like this one, craft books, and more—some of it contradictory. So how do you know what writing advice you should listen to? As an editor and writer, I have an odd relationship with prescriptive advice. The editor side of me thinks writers should learn the rules… Read more
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Where to Get Helpful Feedback on a Novel
“Where can I get feedback on my writing?” A question that plagues many writers. You’ve finished a draft or two of your book, and now you want to see if this thing that you’ve dedicated so much time and effort to is any good. Getting feedback is critical for making your book the best that… Read more
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First Chapter Checklist Example – Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
If you’re wondering how to write the beginning of a book, I’ve got just the thing for you: a first chapter checklist that will help you ensure your opening chapter engages your audience, is full of action, establishes the essentials of your story, and makes your readers ask questions that will have them dying to… Read more
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How to Come Up with Names for Characters Without Wasting Time
All writers know that naming characters can be the cause of much pain. It can be so hard to know how to come up with names for characters. We’ve all spent hours searching through lists of baby names trying to find the perfect one. But I’ve found a better way to find memorable names for… Read more
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How to Write a Scene in a Novel
Whether you’ve just decided to write a novel or have already written one, it doesn’t take long to realize just how long novels are. That’s why it’s helpful to break it down into manageable parts. Today we’re going to be discussing one of the smallest units: scenes. This post will cover how to write a… Read more
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Book Prologue Definition and How to Write One
Prologues in books can be both tricky and controversial. You may be wondering how to write a prologue—or if you should. They can be a great tool for hooking readers or setting up a conflict, but many readers admit to skipping prologues. Today’s post will cover the meaning and purpose of a book prologue, how… Read more
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How to Write Act 3 of Your Novel Using Save the Cat
At last, we’ve reached the final act of your story. But how do you write Act 3 of a novel? It can be difficult because everything in the book has been building up to this point. You made promises to the reader in Act 1 and made progress on those promises in Act 2. Now… Read more