Fiction

The Key to Great Fiction Why is deep viewpoint vital for hooking and holding your readers? Who is narrating each scene of your story? What are readers really looking for when they pick up a novel? Where does the real action of a written story take place? What are the two most important rules of...

Discover The Story Equation! One question can unlock your entire story! Are you struggling to build a riveting plot? Layered characters? How about fortify that saggy middle? Create that powerful ending? You can build an entire book by asking one powerful question, and then plugging it into an “e...

As a writer, what you do in your opening pages, and how you do it, is a matter that cannot be left to chance. The First 50 Pages is here to help you craft a strong beginning right from the start.

A Magical Key to Unlock Your Creative Wizard Are you writing a novel, but having trouble getting your first draft written? You’ve heard of “outlining,” but that sounds too rigid for you. You’ve heard of “organic writing,” but that seems a bit squishy to you. Take a look at the wildly pop...

From best-selling, RITA, Christy and Carol award-winning novelist Susan May Warren comes the advanced writing techniques that help you build a powerful story! An amazing novel has two elements – deep characterization of a sympathetic hero, and a compelling, wide, breathtaking plot. But how do yo...

Don't limit your fiction - LIBERATE ITAll too often, following the "rules" of writing can constrict rather than inspire you. With Story Trumps Structure, you can shed those rules - about three-act structure, rising action, outlining, and more - to craft your most powerful, emotional, and gripping st...

Take your first draft from so-so to sold!You've finished the first draft of your novel--congratulations! Time to have a drink, sit back...and start revising. But the revision process doesn't have to be intimidating. Revision and Self-Editing for Publication, Second Edition gives you the tools and ad...

Craft an Engaging PlotHow does plot influence story structure? What's the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that's gone off course?With Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure, you'll discover the answers to these questions and more....

Strategies and Tactics for the Master NovelistSuccessfully starting and finishing a publishable novel is often like fighting a series of battles. You not only have to work hard to shape memorable characters, develop gripping plots, and craft dazzling dialogue, but you also have to fight against self...

A complete guide to writing and selling your novel So you want to write a novel? Great! That’s a worthy goal, no matter what your reason. But don’t settle for just writing a novel. Aim high. Write a novel that you intend to sell to a publisher. Writing Fiction for Dummies is a complete guide de...

It doesn’t fetch coffee or make cookies. It just helps make your writing dreams come true. The writing journey can be long and lonely. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of your story, not sure where you are headed . . .or why. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guide along the way? Someone to ...

Enthrall your readers, love the process, & become the writer you are meant to be! Writers are given a wealthy of opportunities to cultivate a successful writing life, break out, and find an audience for their work. Yet so many writers, from beginners to veterans, find their careers stuck in neutral....

The essential guide to mastering Christian fiction!To write a powerful, meaningful Christian novel, you must embrace the soaring creativity inspired by faith, while also committing to the serious discipline required of an artisan. You must be able to weave a compelling story with an underlying messa...

What's more important to a story: a gripping plot or compelling characters? Literary-minded novelists argue in favor of character-based novels while commercial novelists argue in favor of plot-based stories, but the truth of the matter is this: The best fiction is rich in both.Enter Plot Versus Char...

To most, the term "Christian horror" probably seems like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, there are very good arguments to be made that "horror" is an eminently biblical genre and that Christian artists should be at the forefront of reclaiming it. In this work, novelist Mike Duran explores the Judeo-Chris...

One of these days, I'm going to sit down and write that novel....Everyone thinks about doing it, yet most people who do start a novel end up stalling after a few chapters. Where do these would-be novelists go wrong? Are the characters dull and cliched? Did the story arc collapse? Did they succumb to...

Becoming a writer begins with a simple but important belief: You are a writer; you just need to write. In You Are a Writer, Jeff Goins shares his own story of self-doubt and what it took for him to become a professional writer. He gives you practical steps to improve your writing, get published in...

Don't fall victim to the 12 fatal flaws of fiction writingFiction writers often struggle to improve their craftAnd the biggest challenge comes from the inability to see what isn’t working. The prose feels off. The scene isn’t gelling. The dialogue sounds stilted or clunky. But they don’t know ...

Want to write a visually powerful novel? Shoot Your Novel takes an in-depth look at cinematic technique for fiction writers. No other writing craft book teaches you the secret of how to "show, don't tell." Best-selling authors of every genre know the secret to hooking readers—by showing, not telli...

Discover Your Voice and Enthrall Readers!The craft of writing is filled with various debates: Should I include a prologue? Should I delete all adverbs from my manuscript? Just how much backstory--if any--can I include in my story? These questions--and their often-contradictory answers--can cause con...

Learn the secret of how to write the heart of your story! This writing skills book, full of fiction writing technique, is like no other. Some novelists write with the goal of becoming a best seller, hoping for wealth and fame. Some just want to write novels that earn them a steady income so they ca...

Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories. In this completely revised and updated second edition, Renni Bro...

The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction takes the mystery out of building a solid story and shows you how to go from idea to complete novel in practical, easy-to-understand steps. Build smart! Over and over, struggling writers make the same fatal mistakes in their manuscripts. Even writers who hav...

The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction takes the mystery out of building a solid story and shows you how to go from idea to complete novel in practical, easy-to-understand steps. And with this comprehensive workbook, you have a step-by-step blueprint to take your novel idea and build a strong, las...

Kiss and Tell, the essential step by step worktext on how to write a Romance. How do I structure my novel? How do I create loveable heroes and heroines? How should my hero and heroine meet? How do I create believable conflict? How do I make two characters fall in love? How do I write ...

What does it take to write a brilliant novel? Best-selling, award-winning novelist Susan May Warren knows how--and you're about to find out. She's coached hundreds of writers into publication, onto best-seller lists, and onto the awards platforms. (And she lives what she teaches. Susan is the bes...

Take your fiction to that next level, where agents and editors sit up and take notice – and where readers keep coming back for more! Writing Fiction for All You’re Worth contains the best of James Scott Bell's articles and blog posts on writing, easily searchable under these headings: The Writi...

Ramp up the tension and keep your readers hooked! Inside you'll find everything you need to know to spice up your story, move your plot forward, and keep your readers turning pages. Expert thriller author and writing instructor James Scott Bell shows you how to craft scenes, create characters, and d...

EDITION 2: Revised with some new material gathered through 13 years of teaching these concepts at writers conferences. ------------- Want to bring characters to life on the page as vividly as fine actors do on the stage or screen? Getting Into Character will give you a whole new way of thinking abou...

Finally! A grammar guide specifically designed for fiction writers! Introducing the second edition, with more than fifty new entries! WRITING CORRECTLY DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD Great writers write well. Grammatical errors mark a manuscript as unprofessional and the author as sloppy or an amateur. B...

What is the single greatest secret to a breakout writing career? What is it that every agent and editor wants to see, and every reader delights in? It's VOICE. Everyone talks about it, yet no one seems able to define it. Voice has therefore been the most elusive aspect of the entire writing craft t...

Story loves structure...and so do readers! Super Structure represents over two decades of research on what makes a novel or screenplay entertaining, commercial, original, and irresistible. Contrary to what some may think, structure is not a nasty inhibitor of creativity. Quite the opposite. Properl...

A KISS IS NOT JUST A KISS ... NOR IS A SIGH JUST A SIGH ... In ROMANCE-ology 101, Award-winning “Passion Most Pure” expert Julie Lessman tackles the subject of romantic tension in today’s inspirational/sweet markets with humor and heart. Offering tips for ramping up the WOW factor with roman...

There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel fast. . . You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down. On the other hand, if your dialogue is crisp and ful...

The keys to success as a writer are yours for the thinking! All success begins in the mind. For writers, the mind fuels the imagination and creates stories. But for authors who are productive and resilient, and see a good return on their efforts, there is another factor at work. They are winning t...

Sell more books and build your career by kicking these blunders to the curb! Ever wonder why some books shoot to the top of the bestseller lists? And others that you think should, don't? It's usually a matter of mistakes that could have been avoided! #1 bestselling writing coach James Scott Bell ha...

A powerful secret and a fresh approach to writing bestselling fiction! What's the best way to write a "next level" novel? Some writers start at the beginning and let the story unfold without a plan. They are called "pantsers," because they write by the "seat of the pants." Other writers plan and out...

In Writing for the Soul, best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins takes you on a personal and inspiring journey, imparting experience and wisdom gained from his impressive writing career. Unknown in his early days, Jenkins persisted in his passion to write, and his story reveals the rewards that can com...

The first thing a reader or an editor, whether acquisitions or content, sees when they open your book to page one is your best effort at what you are trying to say. Fiction or nonfiction doesn't matter. If your writing is weak, sprinkled with grammatical errors, and plagued by shifting points of vie...

Learning one skill will improve everything you write. Ready? Here it is: Write like you talk That s it? Yes, that s it. But it s not as easy as it sounds. It s a skill and like any skill, it can be learned and with some practice, you can master it. What s in it for me, you ask? First, writing will...

How to Write Romance & Romantic Comedy - Romantic comedies are stories with light-hearted, humorous plotlines that demonstrate how true love can overcome all obstacles. In a typical romantic comedy, the two lovers tend to be young, likable, and apparently meant for each other, yet they are kept apar...

Admit it: you ve gone to your local book store, picked up a book, and skimmed the opening page. Don t be ashamed. You re not alone. Now, as a writer, ask yourself this: if a casual consumer picked up your story, your novel, what would they think of your first line? Scary thought? If you re a writer...

HAVE A ROMANCE IN YOUR HEART CLAMORING TO BE SET FREE? Amazon best-selling mystery author, Cynthia Hickey, has compiled hints and tips from her own experiences and from others to bring you a helpful guide to get you started writing your romance. No matter the genre, you're bound to find something t...

If you love reading and discussing fiction, this book is for you.Ever wonder why you respond to a novel in a certain way? You loved it. You hated it. Or somewhere in between. Maybe the story started slowly, then improved. Maybe it hooked you in the beginning, then lagged. Maybe the dialogue didn't s...

Two prolific and award-winning science fiction writers, Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg, have been publishing a "Dialogue" in every issue of the SFWA Bulletin, official publication of the Science Fiction Writers of America, for more than a decade. These collected columns explore every aspect of t...

Want to take your writing to the next level? Discover the “secrets” of story structure other authors are overlooking!If you’ve read all the books on story structure and concluded there has to be more to it than just three acts and a couple of plot points, then you’re absolutely right! It’s...

Acclaim for Structuring Your Novel “I have long wished for a book like this. Structuring Your Novel is so much more than a writing craft book—it’s a recipe to help writers structure a deep, meaningful journey for their hero that will captivate readers from beginning to end.”—Angela Ackerm...

Discover the Proven Blueprint for Creating Stories That Sell! Award-winning author K.M. Weiland’s previous book, the award-winning Structuring Your Novel, showed writers how to create stories with strong and compelling plot structure. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use! Building upon t...

Acclaim for Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success “Not into outlining? Then someone did not demonstrate it for you the way Weiland has in her book. If you can make a quick trip grocery list, you can outline your next manuscript to benefit your process, using Weiland’s guide.”—Leslie...

Learn How to Make Your First Draft Easy! Award-winning author K.M. Weiland’s previous book, the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, showed writers how to embrace outlines in a way that makes the writing process fun, inspiring, and easy. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use! Building upon th...