Plotting Article Archives - Now Novel Blog | Now Novel https://www.nownovel.com/blog/category/plotting/ Novel writing blog; Learn writing craft with writing guides, tips and videos. Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:34:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 Rising action that grips readers: 10 epic climax tips https://www.nownovel.com/blog/rising-action-definition-examples/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/rising-action-definition-examples/#comments Mon, 17 Jul 2023 01:15:00 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=7402 How do you create rising action? What is its purpose? How can you make rising events more suspenseful? Dive into dramatic theory and tips to make your rising action riveting.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/rising-action-definition-examples/feed/ 4 170 plot development questions (plus worksheet) https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-development-questions/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-development-questions/#comments Mon, 08 May 2023 11:08:00 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=9970 Brainstorm plot intrigues with 100 questions for plotting from beginning to end, plus an extra seventy on the seven basic plots in a free worksheet.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-development-questions/feed/ 6 Plot conflict: Striking true adversity in stories https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-conflict/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-conflict/#respond Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:04:00 +0000 http://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=2122 What is conflict's role in plot? In a plot, conflict creates untenable situations that make resolution vital. It moves events in a direction. Learn more.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-conflict/feed/ 0 Story plotting and structure: Complete guide https://www.nownovel.com/blog/story-plotting-complete-guide/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/story-plotting-complete-guide/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:24:50 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=16427 This complete guide to plotting and story structure provides resources for finding plot ideas, developing your plot and more.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/story-plotting-complete-guide/feed/ 2 Types of stories: 7 story archetypes (and ways to use them) https://www.nownovel.com/blog/types-of-stories-archetypes/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/types-of-stories-archetypes/#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2022 17:44:58 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=15970 Types of stories such as the seven story archetypes identified by Christopher Booker provide a starting point for writing something entirely your own.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/types-of-stories-archetypes/feed/ 3 How to write a plot outline: 7 plotting techniques https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-plot-outline/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-plot-outline/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000 http://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=2365 There is no single method for how to outline a story, but these are some ways to make story structure and planning work for you and your writing process.

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-plot-outline/feed/ 14 How to create a plot and guarantee a better story https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-create-plot/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-create-plot/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:56:57 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=12839 Acclaimed authors have often said that it's not plot that matters, but rather story. Yet knowing how to create a plot that uses universal storytelling elements such as action and reaction, incident and coincidence, helps you grab and keep your reader's attention. Learn how to come up with a plot for a better story:

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-create-plot/feed/ 2 How to write a scene: Nailing purpose and structure https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-scene/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-scene/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2021 06:04:00 +0000 http://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=3737 Understanding how to keep a scene interesting is a crucial skill for writing a novel or screenplay. Scenes are the basic building blocks of a chapter or act. Read on for tips on how to write a scene, plus analysis of story scene examples:

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-scene/feed/ 17 How to outline a novel (template plus 7 checks) https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-outline-novel-template/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-outline-novel-template/#respond Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:59:30 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=11247 Deciding how to outline a novel (or whether to outline at all) is a personal process for each author. This sample book outline plus 7 checks and insights will help you outline with purpose:

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]]> https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-outline-novel-template/feed/ 0 Plot and setting: Driving stories using time and place https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-and-setting/ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/plot-and-setting/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:06:00 +0000 https://www.nownovel.com/blog/?p=10444 Plot and setting are two essential elements of storytelling. Read tips, examples and exercises to make time and place drive story development:

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