The five commandments of a scene, as outlined by Shawn Coyne’s revolutionary Story Grid approach, will bring any scene to life. These commandments — Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution — are the pillars that sustain the drama, tension, and satisfaction in any given scene.
Tag: productivity
Narrative Elixir: Using Alchemical Humors in Creating Characters
Fellow writers, breathe life into your characters using alchemical wisdom. The four humors of alchemy offer a fascinating framework to sculpt characters imbued with diverse and nuanced personality types.
Fitting Writing Around Your Work: Five Steps to Success
How can you manage to get off the ground as a writer when you are saddled with a full-time job? I struggled with this very dilemma for many years. Yes, I’d love to dive headfirst into writing each and every day. But I have this funny habit…I like to eat. So how do we keep food on the table and a roof over our heads, yet still fulfill our passions as writers? The secret to fitting writing around your work lies in shifting some priorities and also shutting down diversions.
How Procrastination Can Make You More Productive
In a world buzzing with constant stimulation and digital distractions, it might seem counterintuitive to sing the praises of procrastination. Yet, for creative writers, stepping away from your main project can be a hidden gem, a fertile ground for inspiration, and a powerful tool for honing their craft. Learn how procrastination can make you more productive rather than feeling like wasted time.
Time Dieting: Maximize Writing Time
Writing is my passion. I’ve been at this crazy endeavor since I penned my first “story” about a battle between a chimera and a swordsman (big D&D nut here). But now, decades later, I have a full time job and a family. Oftentimes, my writing time each day is a scant fifteen minutes. But I’m on a mission to change that and maximize writing time.
Question Every Thought (Inner Peace with Stoicism)
In this whirlwind of a world, finding inner peace might seem like an adventure of its own. But fear not, the ancient wisdom of Stoicism can help. And you know what the secret sauce is? Question every thought!
Explore Character Roles to Improve Your Novel
When crafting a captivating novel, writers often employ an array of diverse characters. From the compelling protagonist to the formidable antagonist, and even the lesser-known deuteragonist, writers have a list of possible character types. Knowing what role each character serves will help you improve your novel.
Embrace Discomfort: The Path to Writing Success
Us writers yearn for comfort. Yet true growth lies beyond the well-trodden path. Stepping out of your comfort zone to embrace discomfort is an essential aspect of a writer’s journey. Writers can harness the power of being uncomfortable to propel their creativity and achieve their writing goals.
Write Compelling Scenes with Goal, Conflict, Disaster (The Dwight Swain’s Approach)
Picture this, fellow writers: you’re immersed in a writing session, yearning to craft a tale that grips readers with an ironclad hold. Yet the scene falls flat. Enter Dwight V. Swain’s Scene with his goal, conflict, disaster method for building a solid scene. Find out how to infuse your writing with tension, action, and an irresistible forward thrust. Swain’s ideas show you how to write compelling scenes that will truly captivate your readers.
Unleash Your Creativity by Doing the Opposite
Creativity is the lifeblood of artists and writers and we often seek ways to generate fresh, original ideas. Sometimes, however, our gut instincts can lead us in the wrong direction, rehashing concepts that we’ve explored to death. Instead, we can explore uncharted territory by deliberately going against our internal instincts. Doing the opposite of what you plan to do can generate more original ideas.
