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
December 26, 2022
David Farland: Story Doctor Writing Tips
Recent Writing Tips
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
December 21, 2022
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?
David Farland
December 21, 2022
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
December 12, 2022
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
December 5, 2022
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
November 28, 2022
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
November 21, 2022
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
November 7, 2022
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
November 5, 2022
Are You Writing a Book or a Movie?
Writing a book requires a different approach than writing a movie. Each medium has different strengths, particularly with viewpoint. In his book on screenwriting, George
David Farland
October 31, 2022
What Makes a Great Story?
What defines “good” writing when it comes to a story? That’s a question that I have to ask time and again as I’m judging contest
David Farland
October 24, 2022
Opening Your Story with Conflict to Hook Readers
Open your story with conflict to hook readers and keep them reading. Every story should get to a significant conflict quickly. Conflict should be on
David Farland
October 10, 2022
Haunting Your Character with a Ghost (or Wound)
In storytelling, a character’s ghost is a past, significant (and often traumatic) event that shaped his worldview in a thematic way. It prepares the character
September C. Fawkes
October 3, 2022
Writing with Emotional and Intellectual Payoff
Writing with emotional and intellectual payoff not only draws in readers, but keeps them turning page after page. There are several types of emotional payoffs,
David Farland
September 26, 2022
7 Considerations for Characters
Characters are important in every story, and we don’t want to create “stick figures” for key characters. Here are seven things to consider when creating
David Farland
September 19, 2022
