Category Archives: Newsletter

Plotting Your Book: Consider Using Episodic Fiction Plot StructureOne powerful way to write a novel is episodically. Called episodic fiction, it breaks from the traditional introduction-rising action-climax story structure by presenting an anthology of brief stories or anecdotes usually about a single character, set of characters, or place. READ MORE Writing Advice: How to Overcome Writer’sContinue reading “Consider Using Episodic Fiction Plot Structure – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Oct. 21, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Consider Using The Journey for a Mythic PlotOne of the most common plot forms in modern fantasy and science fiction novels is the mythic structure. Often called a quest, in the mythic structure the protagonist undertakes an expedition that carries some moral significance or deeper meaning. Typically our hero seeks some definitive object, which usuallyContinue reading “Consider Using The Journey for a Mythic Plot – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Oct. 14, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Three-Act Structure Offers Alternate Story PlotOne common way to think about how a story is organized is the three-act structure. This approach dates to Aristotle, who stated that a story has a beginning, a middle and an end. READ MORE Following a Writing Process for Fiction One of the biggest mistakes aspiring authors make is denying that they’reContinue reading “Three-Act Structure Offers Alternate Story Plot – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Oct. 7, 2025”

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Plotting Your Book: Ways to Break Story Structure in Your NovelMost novels, short stories and screenplays today follow a traditional five-part story structure, involving an introduction-rising action-climax-falling action-denouement. While dominant, this isn’t the only form you have to follow as a writer. Indeed, some of the best stories and novels don’t. READ MORE How to Write Engaging,Continue reading “Ways to Break Story Structure in Your Novel – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 30, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Don’t Overwhelm Reader With Too Many SubplotsSometimes writers get too creative for their own good. Such is the case when they think about all the stories their characters – major and minor – could experience. While the writer’s understanding of the world he’s creating is laudable, for the reader all of those storylinesContinue reading “Don’t Overwhelm Reader With Too Many Subplots – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 23, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Use Subplot to Give Story More DepthOne way to give your story depth is to include a subplot, which is a secondary plot line. This sometimes is referred to as the B story, a term from screenwriting. READ MORE Writing Advice: Mastering Point of ViewFor beginning writers, point of view often is theContinue reading “Use Subplot to Give Story More Depth – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 16, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Don’t End Novel with CliffhangerOne of the new writing trends among self-published authors is to end their novel on a cliffhanger. The idea is that this will generate interest in purchasing the author’s next novel, which is a sequel. Unless readers know they’ve picked up a trilogy or a book in a storyContinue reading “Don’t End Novel with Cliffhanger – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 9, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Should You Write a Happy or an Unhappy Ending?When writing the climax your story, you’ll need to decide if the ending will be happy or unhappy. How should you choose which one to use? READ MORE Writing Tips: How to Create Your Story’s SettingAll too often, writers give their story’s setting short shrift.Continue reading “Should You Write a Happy or an Unhappy Ending? – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 2, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Falling Action and DenouementThough your story may have reached its climax, the tale isn’t over yet. Loose ends must be tied up. This typically occurs int he story’s falling action and denouement. READ MORE Make Sure the First Page of Your Story is the Best it can Be My writing guidebook Write Your Story’s First Page looksContinue reading “Plotting Your Book: Falling Action and Denouement – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Aug. 26, 2025”