By
David Farland
***
Next week I will be doing my writing workshop in Salt Lake. It’s now full, but you can always check out my other live workshops to see if anything interests you.
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How to Write a Novel: A 16-Step Guide
How to write a novel, from beginning to end in 16 steps. Brainstorm, develop a great character, create an antagonist, and more.
How to Write a Story: A Checklist for Writing Your Story
Use this checklist for writing your story, and you will write even stronger stories. David Farland was a best-selling author and contest judge for the world’s largest short story competition.
Are you looking to publish a book? Let me tell you how to get it done. Today, there are two paths to publishing: traditional publishing and self- (or independent) publishing.
How to Build a Better Outline For Your Novel
You probably wouldn’t sink a million dollars into building a home without a blueprint. You certainly wouldn’t begin creating something as intricate as a cathedral without detailed plans. So why would you sink a year or two into composing a novel without plotting it?
As lead judge to the world’s largest competition for sci-fi and fantasy short fiction, David Farland can tell you exactly how to write a short story that’s a winner. The
If you aren’t excited about a novel, chances are excellent that you’ll lack the energy to finish it. Your subconscious will rebel at the idea, and you’ll just go through the motions, wishing that you were working on another project. So you have to find story ideas that thrill you. You have to write from the heart.
How to Write Your First Five Pages
How to Write Your First Five Pages:
1. From the very first sentence, I want to see that you’re not just a competent writer, but a skillful one.
I want to see that you have a way with words, so that I feel as if I’m in the hands of a professional storyteller. That means that I won’t feel confused, and I won’t get tripped up by typos or beginner’s mistakes. Indeed, I want to see that you’re talented right from the first sentence. Half of the editors and agents say that they look for a great voice right out the gate, whether it be the voice of the narrating character or of the author.
How to Make a Million Dollars with Your Writing
Million Dollar Outlines A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in IndieReCon, a free online writers’ conference for self-published authors. I did a Google Hangout with Ali
Brainstorming for Stories: How to Turn Sparks into Worlds
Brainstorming is one of the most magical—and challenging—parts of being a writer. Ideas may arrive in a rush or drip in slowly, but either way, they form the first threads of story. The truth? Waiting for inspiration won’t always serve you. Instead, the key is to explore how to spark fresh ideas from familiar tropes, surprising “what ifs,” and creative collisions. Originality doesn’t mean inventing something brand new—it means putting your unique spin on timeless patterns so readers experience them as both familiar and exciting.
Foreshadowing is the art of planting clues that make your story’s twists feel both surprising and inevitable. Learn the different types of foreshadowing, strategies for layering clues, and how to test your twist so it hits the perfect balance.
Why Your Writing Muse Isn’t Your Friend
Too many writers wait for the writing muse to return, convinced that inspiration is the only way forward. But waiting keeps you stuck, staring at the page. The truth? Momentum is born not from longing, but from action. Start writing, and the muse may find you already at work.
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