What to Keep When You Cut

It’s extremely difficult to ascertain this information from reading a book because it’ll be blended into the finished story. It’s also a crushing blow to the junior writer when they fall into this invisible pitfall only realized long after the cuts are made. Then they have to scour distant memories for the little bits they … Continue reading What to Keep When You Cut →

Freytag’s Pyramid vs Story Arcs

Choose your character! That’s part of it yes but including either of these structures into your story can be a useful tool for organizing plots. Order and familiarity help ground the audience’s expectations while giving the writer the means to subvert, confirm, or reject those expectations. You can’t pull the rug out from someone if … Continue reading Freytag’s Pyramid vs Story Arcs →

What to Cut When Editing Your Story

“Everything that doesn’t advance the plot or reveal characterization.” Now to pat myself on the back and throw my laptop in front of a train. I never liked this shallow advice — as factual and aggravating as it is. Its distillation leaves out nuances in the determination. What’s the proportional focus of your story’s plot … Continue reading What to Cut When Editing Your Story →

Where’re We Going? Eh, Who Cares. (Writing a Story Without Plot)

There’s madness in every direction. No escape. No savior’s light at the end of the tunnel. Well, why go in search for one when you can just live the ride for its wildness?