Writing Your Novel

I may not be able to write your novel for you, but I can help you navigate the conventional wisdom writers often hear when beginning to put words on the page.

With a focus on strong, active writing—as well as readability for your audience—the Write With Me series covers topics ranging from dialogue to characterization, from point of view to scene structure. Every post explores a single topic, which makes it all the easier to focus on one matter at a time.

The Write With Me Series

Before hopping into these posts, I recommend checking out this one on the writing “formula,” as well as this one on the importance of caring for ourselves as people first, writers second. There’s also this post on why it’s really okay to say “no” once in a while—we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin. Oh, and then there’s this one about balancing the need to create a platform while also avoiding the social media blues. And double oh, there’s another post here on authenticity and following your bliss.

• Finding a Writing Habit
• Overcoming Writer’s Doubt
• Show vs. Tell: The Eternal Battle
• Characterization and Exposition
• Point of View
  • Part One
  • Part Two
• Proportion
• Dialogue
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three
• Inner Monologue
• Active Voice and Specificity
• Sometimes it Pays to be Passive
• Elements of a Scene: Goal. Conflict. Resolution. Cliffhanger.
  • Cliffhanging: Not Always What It Seems
• Magic Beans: What They Are and Where to Find Them
• Character Action
• Who Knows What, and When? Mystery, Suspense, and Dramatic Irony
• Goal-oriented Storytelling
• Using the Five Senses and Avoiding Filtering

Once You’ve Finished Writing

• So You’ve Finished Your First Manuscript…
• You’re Between Novels. Now What?
• Bro, Do You Even Copyedit?
• On Letting Go

Check back often, as there’s always more on the way. Or, if you’re not feeling ready to start writing, check out the Outline With Me series instead.

For further reading:

• The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker
• On Writing by Stephen King
• Writing the Thriller by T. Macdonald Skillman
• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
• The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi