Category Archives: Newsletter

Plotting Your Book: Always Start Your Story in the MiddleAn old but essential writing adage is “Start your story in the middle.” That is, rather than give background information about how the story’s main conflict came to be, instead start it by dropping the reader right into the hornet’s nest. READ MORE Writing Advice: Mastering PointContinue reading “Always Start Your Story in the Middle – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Mar. 4, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: How to Introduce Your Story’s ProtagonistAmong the many musts of a story’s opening page is introducing the protagonist. This “greeting” should provide just enough information that the reader feels the protagonist is interesting to follow. Since you have only a few lines to do this in, what to leave in and leave outContinue reading “How to Introduce Your Story’s Protagonist – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 25, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Start Your Story with Solid Narrative HookOne sign of a good opener is that it makes the reader want to continue with the story. Using a fishing metaphor, a good opener “hooks” the reader. READ MORE Writing Tips: How to Create Your Story’s SettingAll too often, writers give their story’s setting short shrift.Continue reading “Start Your Story with Solid Narrative Hook – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 18, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Create a Riveting Opener for Your StoryA vital part of your story is the opening lines, also known as the inciting incident. In this section of your story, we learn who the main character is, the central problem facing him and a little about the setting. READ MORE Make Sure the First PageContinue reading “Create a Riveting Opener for Your Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 11, 2025”

Plotting Your Book: Questions to Ask Yourself when Plotting a StoryWhen developing a plot for your story, there are several key questions you ought to ask yourself. Here are four of them. READ MORE How to Devise Your Story’s PlotWhen writers come up with a great story idea but don’t know how to develop it, usuallyContinue reading “Questions to Ask Yourself when Plotting a Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 4, 2025”

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”

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”

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”

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”