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Making Plot Less Episodic—A Reader’s Question

March 22, 2016 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

How can you make plot less episodic? A reader’s question.

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Story Inspiration From the News

December 30, 2014 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Explore today’s news to get inspiration for your fiction. Don’t hesitate to use tidbits from and elements of current stories in your own work.

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Right Place, Right Time Syndrome

September 3, 2014 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Rid your stories of characters who just happen to always show up at the right place at the right time to discover secrets that they always understand.

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Plot, Goal, Inciting Incident—A Reader’s Question

June 18, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A readers asks about links between plot, character goal, and the inciting incident.

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You Got My Attention, But Where’s the Action?

September 5, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Stories need action events. Something needs to happen, not only to keep characters moving forward, but to keep readers interested.

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Sub-plots, Main Plots, and Digressions

July 30, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Sub-plots can add great depth to story. But these secondary plots can detract from the main plot. A look at sub-plots and their limitations.

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The Outline Dilemma—Plotting vs. Pantsing

May 27, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Should you outline your story before you begin writing or just jump in and write away? Plotters and pantsers each have their champions and their critics. But you should do what works for you.

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Plot Basics—The Events of Story

May 22, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Plot, one of the most important elements of fiction, is all about what happens to characters. Plot is concerned with story events and character reaction to those events. A look at plot basics.

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