This is the companion guide to my book on the craft of writing compelling fiction. It's pretty dense and not everything will make sense without also reading the main book or watching the free video series, but I hope it's useful - there's a lot of writing tips in there I didn't learn until I'd published 20+ novels and gotten a PhD in Literature.
10. (no return)
ACT II (A): Exploring New World
•
•
•
( f i r s t b a t t l e )
•
•
•
( v i c t i m t o w a r r i o r )
ACT II (B): Bad Guys Close In
•
•
•
( s e c o n d b a t t l e )
•
•
•
(darkest night)
ACT III: Defeat & Victory
11. •
•
•
( t r i u m p h - k n o w l e d g e )
•
•
•
( r e t u r n t o o r d i n a r y w o r d )
•
•
•
•
: Conflict and suspense
W h a t H a p p e n s
W h y I t M a t t e r s
•
•
•
•
12. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
= what DOES happen.
= what COULD happen.
= why is THIS happening?
•
•
•
Is this necessary to enjoy the story?
13. ✓
✓
✓
✓
Who is giving this information right now, and why?
In the first 25% of the book, before you get to the point of no return, readers and characters should be asking
what questions. What is even happening? What is this place? What is going to happen next?
At around 50%, this will change to who questions. Who is behind all this? Who can I trust? Who am I?
Finally, towards the end or around 75%, you’ll have all the deep motivational reveals, either when the bad guy
admits his evil plan and the reasons behind it; or after the major conflict when the danger has passed and you
can finally let your characters sit down and fill each other in on the miscellaneous story details. These are the
why questions.
•
•
•