Plotting Your Book: Think of Plot as Set-up, Build-up, Pay-offOne way to think of a story’s plot is in three parts – the set-up, the build-up and the pay-off. What do those three parts involve? READ MORE 200+ Writing Prompts That Lead To StoriesYou’re stuck on what to write so check out some writing prompts toContinue reading “Think of Plot as Set-up, Build-up, Pay-off – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 28, 2025”
Author Archives: Rob Bignell
Great Writing Quotes by Author Delphine de Vigan
People who think that grammar is just a collection of rules and restrictions are wrong. If you get to like it, grammar reveals the hidden meaning of history, hides disorder and abandonment, links things and brings opposites together. Grammar is a wonderful way of organizing the world how you’d like it to be. Grammar isContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Delphine de Vigan”
Your Protagonist Must Solve the Story’s Problem
Among the big mistakes novice writers make is they don’t allow their protagonist to solve the story’s central problem. A story always is structured around the main character overcoming some conflict that sets the tale in motion; this is the central problem. The bulk of the story focuses on how our hero attempts to resolve thatContinue reading “Your Protagonist Must Solve the Story’s Problem”
How to Form Your Story’s Basic Structure – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 21, 2025
Plotting Your Book: How to Form Your Story’s Basic StructureIn every story, something happens. These events form the structure of your tale. Plot, then, is the drama and action through which characters come to life. READ MORE Writing Tips: Overcome Writer’s Block and Self-DoubtSuffering from writer’s block? Self-doubt about your talent? Has creative writing lost itsContinue reading “How to Form Your Story’s Basic Structure – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 21, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Screenwriter Joss Whedon
I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of. You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are. People love a happy ending. So every episode, IContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Screenwriter Joss Whedon”
Plotting Your Story: Falling Action and Denouement
Though your story may have reached its climax, the tale isn’t over yet. The author also should briefly detail the effects that the climax has on the characters. This section of the story is known as the falling action. It’s what happens to the main character as he descends the mountain that he has spent theContinue reading “Plotting Your Story: Falling Action and Denouement”
Conflict – The Heart of Every Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 14, 2025
Plotting Your Book: Conflict – The Heart of Every Story A good plot is about at least one character under adversity. Conflict typically arises from the characters’ perceptions, needs and wants. As each character has an urgent personal agenda, your plot really is a synthesis of its individual characters’ efforts to achieve their agendas. READ MOREContinue reading “Conflict – The Heart of Every Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 14, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Author Jacqueline Wilson
…children become readers before they can read. They become hooked on books because they were read aloud to as a child. I try to have reasonably happy endings because I would hate any child to be cast down in gloom and despair; I want to show them you can find a way out of it.Continue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Jacqueline Wilson”
Common Plot Pitfalls to Avoid
New writers, usually due to a lack of writing experience or because they haven’t had their writing critiqued, often will make some journeyman mistakes when plotting their story. If you’re just writing for yourself, there’s nothing wrong with any of these errors; the pleasure of writing alone overrides the need to follow a writing “rule.”Continue reading “Common Plot Pitfalls to Avoid”
What is a Story? An Autopsy of a Tale – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 7, 2025
Plotting Your Book: What is a Story? An Autopsy of a TaleWhat is a story? An idea or a setting or a character alone do not make a story. A fictional story is all of those and more. READ MORE The Best Guide to Writing Your Novel! You dream of being a published author. You don’tContinue reading “What is a Story? An Autopsy of a Tale – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 7, 2025”