Category Archives: Novel Writer’s Toolkit

#Nanowrimo: Kernel Idea Examples

Posted on November 19, 2011 by

The last post was about the Kernel Idea. Let’s look at some ideas Character:  “A housewife and female assassin must uncover the truth of the men in their lives in order to save their own.”  BODYGUARD OF LIES Plot:  “What … Continue reading →

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#Nanowrimo The Kernel Idea: The Alpha and Omega of Your Book

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

You have to start somewhere. Have you ever listened to a writer who just recently started a new project? They are practically jumping out of their pants with excitement. Their eyes light up and oddly enough, they break out of … Continue reading →

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Changes in Writing and Publishing over 20 years

Posted on July 31, 2011 by

I wrote my first draft of The Novel Writer’s Toolkit in 1994 after four books published.  It was all of 11 pages long.  That was the extent of what I consciously knew about writing a novel.  In 2009, I wrote … Continue reading →

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Give your protagonist an anomaly to generate interest

Posted on May 8, 2011 by

Your basic story dynamic is the Protagonist (the character who owns the story) struggles with . . .The Antagonist (the character who if removed will cause the conflict and story to collapse) because both must achieve their concrete, specific . … Continue reading →

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Seven Keys To Unforgettable Characters

Posted on February 22, 2011 by

Think of your favorite book.  What the first thing that comes to mind when you bring it up in your brain?  I’m willing to bet, it’s the characters.  Most people relate to people, not things. Characters bring emotion to story, … Continue reading →

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Write It Forward: An Introduction to Plot

Posted on January 28, 2011 by

Aristotle defined plot as:  “An interesting character facing a problem.” If you’d like a blueprint for a novel then I give you the narrative structure.  There are 5 elements to narrative structure: 1.  An inciting incident (hook) This is a … Continue reading →

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Everything you wanted to know about How to Outline your Novel…

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

How do you organize your life?  Your day? That is how you will organize your novel. When I say this in workshops, many people are shocked.  But the reality is, your creative side comes out of your habitual side.  So … Continue reading →

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The Common Traits of the Successful Writer: Part II

Posted on January 21, 2011 by

If I wanted to be an architect I should not be satisfied that I only had grand visions of what the design for my buildings should be.  Nor would anyone be impressed with my visions if I couldn’t put them … Continue reading →

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The Common Traits of the Successful Writer: Part I

Posted on January 18, 2011 by

It’s not normal to sit alone and write 100,000 words.  So let’s get that out of the way.  You aren’t normal.  You aren’t in the bell curve and you aren’t necessarily on the good side of the curve.  You’re cursed.  … Continue reading →

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The Writer’s Toolkit: The Alpha and The Omega of your novel

Posted on January 13, 2011 by

The kernel idea is the Alpha and the Omega of your book.  By that I mean it starts your creative process and it completes it.  It’s what you begin with and at the end of the manuscript, everything in the … Continue reading →

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