LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON

Tag: Writing Tips

  • Compelling Character Arcs in 4 Easy Steps

    I’ll let you in on a secret: readers want your character to change. They know, deep down, that your character is unhappy with the status quo at the beginning of your book. Something is terribly wrong in your character’s life, and things can’t keep going on this way. Something’s got to give. Readers fervently hope…

  • 7 Keys to Irresistible Plots

    Is there a simple way to make the plot of your story irresistible, so that your readers keep turning pages, desperate to find out what happens next? Yes. Every irresistible plot contains seven key elements that help catch the reader’s attention and hold it to the very last page. These keys are so universal that…

  • The Ultimate Guide to Character Motivation (Part 2)

    Why do heroes and villains do what they do? In Part 1 of this article, we explored Greed, Revenge, and Acceptance, three of the most powerful motivations in literature. Now, let’s find out how you can you can create fascinating characters driven by the need for Identity, Love, or Survival. I is for Identity Who am…

  • 6 Easy Steps to Planning Out Your Novel

    Even if you hate the idea of writing an outline or synopsis, you can still figure out a plan to help you finish your novel fast, avoid major revisions, and beat writer’s block forever. It’s surprisingly easy. Here’s how to do it. First, turn off your computer and set aside your notebook. For this exercise,…

  • 3 Secrets to Writing Vivid Settings

    There are three elements that make up every story: people, problems, and places. To form a good story, those elements need to be in balance, because each one affects the others. That’s why you need to put as much effort into the places in your story—your setting—as you do for your characters and your plot.…

  • 5 Books That Will Inspire You to Be a Writer

    Are you planning to write a book in 2020? Want some writing inspiration and wisdom from authors who have written dozens or even hundreds of stories and books? Check out my list of the five most inspiring books about writing over at Civilian Reader. P.S. Do you love free stuff . . . like books,…

  • The Secret to Writing Fascinating Villains

    What makes a villain fascinating? It’s not just about scaring the pants off the reader. The most terrifying thing a villain can do in a story isn’t killing the hero or blowing up the world — it’s making their twisted viewpoint seem morally right, and making the hero seem wrong. Because if the villain’s outlook…

  • 9 Surprising Things I Love about Writing (and One Thing I Hate)

    True story: When I was 17, I met an African storyteller. He traveled to distant parts of the world, collecting oral stories and writing them down for posterity. He was my first real-life writing teacher. His feedback helped me get started as a writer. Within a couple of years, I had sold my first magazine…

  • Making Fascinating Monsters on The Bibliosanctum

    How do writers create fascinating monsters? For me, it’s a many-layered process that involves thinking about where a monster came from, what it’s after, how it thinks, and what happens when it encounters the heroes. I actually got the chance to dive deep into the monster-creation process and explain how to do it step-by-step, thanks…

  • Why Writers Should NEVER Carry a Notebook

    Before I became a published author, I used to carry around a writing notebook in my back pocket. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little black book that tells the world you’re a Serious Writer. But that little notebook is a big mistake, I eventually learned. Here are three reasons why you should…