» Blog Archive » Plotting Your Novel – The Quick Outline Tool
Nothing draws a line in the sand of novel writing like the question, “To outline or not to outline.” Is there any kind of middle ground? In fact, I think there is. When I started my first novel, I wrote into the void, with no outline to guide me. By the time I’d rewritten the 3rd draft with no more idea where the story was going than when I’d set out along the path years earlier, I decided I’d better channel my inner Virgo and see what outlining could do for me. So I learned everything I could about outlining. I made convoluted complex road maps. As my good friend and YA author Janice Hardy is fond of reminding me, “Plot is a verb, not a noun.” So let’s go plot your character’s journey… Okay, so if we think of plot as a verb, then what we are looking for isn’t some magical overlay that we place onto our story or our characters, but an organic progression of actions our characters “do” or “take” that become the plot. But what choices should they make? Let’s talk about Act I.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Skills Builder
Magic 11 Combat 37 Stealth 0 Non-Combat 11 Level Needed: 60 This type of magic deals with altering the world around you. Clear Points This type of magic deals with summoning creatures and creating weapons of pure magic. This type of magic deals with channelling the elements of fire, ice, and lightning into increasingly destructive properties. The art of enchanting weapons/armors/items in order to provide both offensive and defensive magic without the need for a magic proficiency. This type of magic deals with creating illusions and manipulating the mind. This type of magic deals with healing you and your companions. This skill determines your proficiency with the bow and arrow. This skill determines how well you can use the shield to fend off against oncoming attacks. This skill determines how well you can function in combat while wearing Heavy Armor. This skill determines how well you can use a One-Handed weapon, such as a sword or battle axe. Next Rank: Left click to add a point Rank:
20 Essential Elements of a Bestselling Thriller, by Jodie Renner
If you want your thriller or romantic suspense to be a compelling page-turner, make sure you’ve included most or all of these twenty elements: 1. A protagonist who’s both ordinary and heroic. Rather than having a “Superman” invincible-type hero, it’s more satisfying to the readers if you use a regular person who’s thrown into stressful, then increasingly harrowing situations, and must summon all of his courage, strength and inner resources to overcome the odds, save himself and other innocent people, and defeat evil. 2. The readers need to be able to warm up to your main character quickly, to start identifying with her; otherwise they won’t really care what happens to her.So no cold, selfish, arrogant characters for heroes or heroines! 3. Your antagonist needs to be as clever, strong, resourceful and determined as your protagonist, but also truly nasty, immoral and frightening. 4. 5. If it doesn’t, change your protagonist — or your story line. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
How To Make Facial Hair Grow Faster & Thicker
Thick, full facial hair has historically been a symbol of power, ruggedness and masculinity in some cultures. Growing a full beard or even just a mustache requires some patience and perseverance, since the rate your hair grows and how thick it comes in depends largely on genetics and levels of testosterone. Although nature dictates your hair growth, you can take some steps to help it along. Eat right and get plenty of rest. Supplement your healthful diet with vitamins and minerals shown to improve hair growth. Commit to growing your facial hair. Work with what you’ve got.
Old Plots, New Plots
This turned out to be a long entry so Thriller Guy is going to break it up into two. He'll be putting the other half up in a few days. TG has spoken many times about the difficulties in coming up with great plot ideas. Oh, how many times have the Little Ones gathered at his knee and pleaded, (pled?) “Oh, TG, tell us your secret, how can we too come up with killer plot ideas?” TG reads a ton of books, and most of them are running through the same old plots, mash-ups and ripoffs. But instead of continuing to rail against the paucity of today's plots, TG is going to reprise an old plot and give you some new ones he likes over the last year's reading. Clive Cussler used to be the master of the over-the-top, bizarro plot. It's 1865 and the Confederate ship CSS Texas takes on a special prisoner and fights her way out through a Union blockade. OK, TG is too tired to go on. The point is, it's one hell of a plot.
Cool Mens Hairstyles Pictures, Hair Care, Facial Hair & Styling Tips
The 39 Steps to writing a perfect thriller by author John Buchan's grandson
By Toby Buchan Updated: 22:01 GMT, 15 January 2011 'The 39 Steps, in its language, its settings, its nods to contemporary technology and its characterisation, belongs firmly to the 20th century,' said John Buchan's grandson, Toby On a late-summer’s day in 1914, a man walks with his small daughter down a rickety flight of wooden steps leading to a private beach from a house on the clifftop. The girl, just turned six, is improving her counting by determinedly calling out the number of each step. ‘Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-NINE!’ Thus Alice Buchan gave the title to her father’s, my grandfather’s, new novel, little knowing that it would prove to be one of the most enduring adventure stories ever to be published. John Buchan wrote The 39 Steps in a few weeks towards the end of 1914, while staying with his wife and children at Broadstairs in Kent, in a house on the cliffs overlooking Stone Bay. He need not have fretted.
This Insane Torchlight II Mod Adds A New Class, New Regions, And More
OK so I've been keeping an eye on this game for a long time, and even though I started regretting my Diablo 3 purchase lately (when PVP got canceled), I don't regret NOT buying this game. My best guess is, that this game just doesn't have that awesome atmosphere that Diablo does. Eternal battle between pure good and evil. Diablo 3 was messed up in many ways, but in my opinion it's still is a true sequel to the franchise. Yes, it did become a bit wowish with the cooldowns, but other than that, it was just fine. (not trying to taunt the fans/haters)
Five Rules for Writing Thrillers - David Morrell
Thrillers have never been more popular. On the New York Times fiction bestseller lists, over half are often filled with examples of the genre. Thrillers even have their own organization, International Thriller Writers (which I co-founded with Gayle Lynds). But thrillers didn’t always have this presence. Back in 1972, when my debut novel, First Blood, introduced the character of Rambo, bestseller lists favored a mix of literary, sentimental, and historical fiction as well as the sort of celebrity gossip novels that we identify with Harold Robbins and Jacqueline Susann. Not that thrillers were entirely absent. If you’re a writer who’s thinking of going in this direction, here are five pieces of advice that might help. NUMBER ONE: KNOW YOUR MOTIVESHave a good reason for writing a thriller. I remained sane by imagining stories in which I was a hero overcoming adversity. By contrast, if you’re merely writing thrillers because they’re currently popular, you ought to think twice.
