Writing a Passive Protagonist?
Passive protagonists are often frowned upon in the writing world. They don’t influence the plot enough and make it harder for readers to get invested
September C. Fawkes
David Farland's Writing Tips
At MyStoryDoctor.com, Master Author and Teacher David Farland and his team will lead you through the crucial steps to writing a compelling book, from creative concept to strong completion. Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel? The number one reason most people fail to realize their dream is because they don’t know where to start.
Is Your Story Idea Worth Writing About?
Every story begins with an idea. The idea may come to you while listening to a song, driving a car, or reading a newspaper. You
David Farland
How to Get a Book Published
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
David Farland
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
David Farland
Why Conflict Drives Story
Life without conflict equals bliss. My wife and I have been married more than half a century. We’re not only lovers, but we’re also friends.
Special Guest
4 Ways to Avoid a Dead-End Writing Career
A writing career isn’t easy, but these four things will help you avoid a dead-end one. Have you ever seen a talented new writer rise
David Farland
Strong Act Structure Creates Stronger Stories
In storytelling structure, people use the term “act” rather broadly and vaguely. Most in the writing community break stories down into three acts: beginning, middle,
September C. Fawkes
The Value of a Logline
A logline, or log line, is a simple description of a story that is only a sentence long. It boils the story down to its
David Farland
The Value of a Tagline
A tagline is a single sentence that describes a film or book in a defining way. Choosing a tagline early can help you write your
David Farland
How to Fix Flat, Two-Dimensional Characters
When people say that a character is “flat” or “two-dimensional,” they’re typically just saying that the character isn’t interesting. And uninteresting characters are a plague
Special Guest
4 Tips for Writing a Positive Relationship
Writing a relationship plotline is key for almost any story. Most narratives will feature a relationship that arcs positively through the book–whether the characters are
September C. Fawkes
Top Ten Ways of Getting an Editor’s Attention
Yesterday I got an email from a reader who wanted to know how to get an editor’s attention. He said that he had heard that
David Farland
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
David Farland
March 27, 2023
6 Tips for Writing a Great Romance
Romance is one of the largest selling genres of all time. Yet, it often gets overlooked or seen as substandard or an easy genre to write in. This
Special Guest
March 20, 2023
Why Editors Reject Your Story
As many of you know, I judge stories for the Writers of the Future contest. Today I want to talk about those stories that get
David Farland
March 13, 2023
5 Keys to a Satisfying Denouement
Often as writers, we put a lot of our focus on the starting, climax, and middle of a story, and the denouement or falling action
September C. Fawkes
March 6, 2023
Building a Better Battering Ram
Last night, a new writer who is preparing his first novel asked, “When do I begin approaching agents?” I get that question at least once
David Farland
February 27, 2023
Choosing a Point of View: Understanding the Nuance
When we first start writing, the question of point of view (POV) usually seems straightforward. Either we choose to use the default third-person POV or
Special Guest
February 20, 2023
