This is the companion guide to my book on the craft of writing compelling fiction. It's pretty dense and not everything will make sense without also reading the main book or watching the free video series, but I hope it's useful - there's a lot of writing tips in there I didn't learn until I'd published 20+ novels and gotten a PhD in Literature.

2. Welcome!
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3. PART ONE: PLANNING
: Fiction basics
Story:
Purpose:
Drama:
Structure:
Resolution:
Credibility:
A very simple story framework:
Main character attributes:
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: Plotting Basics
Ordinary World (start with lack)
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Inciting Incident (call to adventure)
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6. 1st Plot Point (point of no return)
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1st Pinch Point (first battle)
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7. Midpoint (victim to warrior)
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2nd Pinch Point (second battle)
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2nd Plot Point (dark night of soul)
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Final battle (triumph-knowledge)
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Epilogue (come home changed)
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9. : Plotting Advanced
ACT I: Hero & Ordinary World
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(call to adventure)
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10. (no return)
ACT II (A): Exploring New World
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( f i r s t b a t t l e )
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( v i c t i m t o w a r r i o r )
ACT II (B): Bad Guys Close In
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( s e c o n d b a t t l e )
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(darkest night)
ACT III: Defeat & Victory

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( t r i u m p h - k n o w l e d g e )
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( r e t u r n t o o r d i n a r y w o r d )
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: Conflict and suspense
W h a t H a p p e n s
W h y I t M a t t e r s
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= what DOES happen.
= what COULD happen.
= why is THIS happening?
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Is this necessary to enjoy the story?

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Who is giving this information right now, and why?
In the first 25% of the book, before you get to the point of no return, readers and characters should be asking
what questions. What is even happening? What is this place? What is going to happen next?
At around 50%, this will change to who questions. Who is behind all this? Who can I trust? Who am I?
Finally, towards the end or around 75%, you’ll have all the deep motivational reveals, either when the bad guy
admits his evil plan and the reasons behind it; or after the major conflict when the danger has passed and you
can finally let your characters sit down and fill each other in on the miscellaneous story details. These are the
why questions.
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15. PART TWO: WRITING
: Hook attention
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S T O P
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✓
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: Beginning of Act II
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Understanding leads to conviction
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: End of Act II

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: Ending
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22. The Magic Words
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23. PART THREE: EDITING
What
Why
How

24. Now
: What happens
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. Motivation
Find plot holes with these questions:

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Commented [DM1]: Typoe!

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. Description
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. Editing
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Thanks!
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www.creativindie.com | www.writethemagic.com
PS I also write fiction:
YA fantasy at UrbanEpics.com or TheYAshelf.com