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Search Results for: conflict in every scene

Scenes vs. Sequels: What’s a Good Balance?

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By Jami Gold We use the terms scene and sequel for so many definitions when it comes to writing that it can be difficult (not to mention confusing) to discuss Dwight Swain’s ideas of “scenes and sequels” (from his Techniques of the Selling Writer). But if we understand his insights, we can take a … [Read more...] about Scenes vs. Sequels: What’s a Good Balance?

Stoking Your Story’s Fire: Three Considerations for Revising Scene by Scene

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By David G. Brown The Two Pillars of Storytelling After my first couple years as a fiction editor, I realized that all of my developmental feedback for clients fit into one of two categories. The first is immersion: the quality of a narrative that transports readers to another time and place. … [Read more...] about Stoking Your Story’s Fire: Three Considerations for Revising Scene by Scene

The Mother Lode of Conflict Resources

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With the recent release of The Conflict Thesaurus (Volume 1), Angela and I have been here, there, and everywhere, sharing everything we've learned about what conflict can do for your stories and characters. Because we don't want you to miss a thing, we've collected them here, into one … [Read more...] about The Mother Lode of Conflict Resources

Need Compelling Conflict? Choose A Variety of Kinds

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All right, hands up: What’s the one thing we can’t get enough of in fiction but we avoid like a screaming toddler in real life? Conflict.  It's ironic that something we try to avoid in the real world is the very thing we can’t get enough of in books. Psychologically speaking, though, it … [Read more...] about Need Compelling Conflict? Choose A Variety of Kinds

Does Your Story Need More Conflict? Tap this Powerful Source

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Conflict is such a versatile storytelling element. Not only will obstacles, adversaries, and stressors keep tension high and readers focused, they also provide characters with valuable opportunities to prove themselves, chances to reexamine what they believe and want, and even failures that teach … [Read more...] about Does Your Story Need More Conflict? Tap this Powerful Source

The Conflict Thesaurus Writing Guide Is Coming

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Each year we look forward to this post, the one where we get to spill the beans and introduce to you the next book in our thesaurus series. This one we are so excited about, because no matter what genre and age group you write for, mastering conflict is a must. And this book is going to help you do … [Read more...] about The Conflict Thesaurus Writing Guide Is Coming

THE CONFLICT THESAURUS, Volume 1: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles

Now Available! Every story starts with a character who is motivated by a need and has a goal that can resolve it. Whether their objective is to find a life partner, bring a killer to justice, overthrow a cruel regime, or something else, conflict transforms a story premise into something … [Read more...] about THE CONFLICT THESAURUS, Volume 1: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles

Power Up Individual Scenes with a Scene Tracker

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One of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolkit is a scene tracker, also known as a scene map. Whether you’re drafting or you’re looking to revise a finished draft, there is no better way to simultaneously evaluate the efficacy of individual scenes and your story’s full internal and … [Read more...] about Power Up Individual Scenes with a Scene Tracker