Tag: WritingTips

The Foundation of Every Great Story: A Strong Story Core

Welcome to Writer's Edge, your weekly resource for mastering the art and craft of storytelling. Every Tuesday, I'll share insights drawn from my experience as a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, blending the best elements of Edge Coach, First Edge, and Craft Edge. Whether you're staring at a blank page, wrestling with revisions, or fine-tuning your final draft, you'll find actionable advice, proven techniques, and encouragement tailored to your stage of the writing journey. Let Writer's Edge sharpen your skills, spark your creativity, and guide you toward building stories that captivate readers.

The Foundation of Every Great Story: A Strong Story Core

Every great novel begins with a solid foundation—a Story Core that holds the entire narrative together. Whether you’re a discovery writer (pantser), a meticulous planner (plotter), or something in between, identifying your Story Core early can save you hours of revision and keep your narrative on track.

What is a Story Core?

At its heart, the Story Core is the central driving force of your novel. It’s made up of three key elements:

  1. Protagonist’s Goal: What does your protagonist want more than anything?
  2. Conflict: What stands in the way of achieving that goal?
  3. Stakes: What happens if the protagonist fails?

Without these elements working in harmony, even the most beautifully written prose can fall flat.

Why Your Story Core Matters

A strong Story Core:

  • Provides focus and direction for your narrative.
  • Keeps your characters’ motivations clear and believable.
  • Gives readers a reason to invest emotionally in the story.

Practical Steps to Identify Your Story Core

  1. Ask the Big Questions:
    • What does my protagonist want?
    • Why can’t they have it?
    • What happens if they don’t succeed?
  2. Refine Your Answers: Be specific. “Save the world” is vague. “Stop the reactor before it melts down and destroys the city” is clear and immediate.
  3. Write It Down: Create a one-sentence summary of your Story Core. Example: A timid librarian must confront her fear of public speaking to save her town’s historic library from demolition.

Edge Coaching Tip:

If you’re struggling to clarify your Story Core, step away from the plot for a moment. Focus on your protagonist—what do they fear, love, or regret the most? Often, your Story Core is buried in their deepest desire or most haunting fear.

Your Challenge This Week:

Write a one-sentence Story Core for your current project. Share it in the comments or keep it as your guiding light for this stage of your draft.

Next Tuesday, we’ll dive into how to align your plot points with your Story Core to create a compelling narrative arc.

Happy writing!

– Your StoryCoach

Use the Contact form to schedule a phone call or a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Edge Coach—Three-Point Scene Analysis for Stronger Endings

EDGE COACH - TUESDAYS
Welcome to Edge Coach, my Tuesday focus on professional story development. As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I share techniques to strengthen your writing and engage your readers. Whether you're revising your first draft or polishing your final one, Edge Coach offers practical guidance for your story.

The Three Points Every Scene Needs

  1. Character Change
  • Entry state vs. exit state
  • Emotional transformation
  • Knowledge gained or lost
  1. Story Movement
  • Plot advancement
  • New complications
  • Stakes escalation
  1. Reader Experience
  • Question answered
  • New question raised
  • Emotional impact

Applying the Three Points to Scene Elements

Entry Hook

  • Establishes character’s initial state
  • Sets scene tension
  • Poses story question

POV Goal

  • Drives character movement
  • Creates story momentum
  • Raises stakes

Scene Middle

  • Develops complications
  • Shows character agency
  • Builds tension

Scene Climax

  • Forces character change
  • Answers scene question
  • Creates consequences

Exit Hook

  • Shows transformation
  • Plants next scene’s seeds
  • Maintains momentum

Scene Name

  • Reflects main change
  • Highlights key element
  • Aids revision tracking

Analysis in Practice

When analyzing your scene, ask:

  1. What changes for the character?
  2. How does the story advance?
  3. What does the reader gain?

If any point is missing, your scene needs strengthening.

StoryCoach Tips

  • Track all three points in your scene outline
  • Verify each element serves multiple points
  • Ensure changes ripple forward
  • Connect points to your story’s theme
  • Build each scene’s points toward your ending

Remember: Strong scenes need more than structure—they need meaningful change on multiple levels.

#SceneStructure #WritingCraft #StoryEditing #ThreePointAnalysis #WritingTips #StoryCoaching #SceneWriting #RevisionStrategy

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Creation Edge—Mastering Multiple Endings with Scrivener’s Snapshot Feature

CREATION EDGE - SUNDAYS
Welcome to Creation Edge, my Sunday focus on writing technology. Here you'll learn how to use Scrivener to organize, write, and revise your novel. Whether you're setting up your first project or managing your manuscript, Creation Edge helps you make technology serve your creativity.

Not sure which ending best serves your story? Scrivener’s Snapshot feature lets you explore multiple possibilities while keeping all versions safe and accessible. Here’s how to use this powerful tool effectively.

Taking Your First Snapshot

Before creating alternate endings:

  1. Select your ending scene in the Binder
  2. Click the camera icon in the toolbar, or use Documents → Snapshots → Take Snapshot
  3. Name your snapshot (e.g., “Original Ending – Happy”)
  4. Add a brief description of the ending’s key elements

Setting Up for Multiple Endings

Create a clear organization system:

  1. Make a folder called “Alternate Endings”
  2. Create separate documents for each version
  3. Take snapshots of each attempt
  4. Use clear naming conventions (e.g., “Ending_Bittersweet_v1”)

Using Snapshots Effectively

Comparing Versions

  1. Click the Snapshots button in the Inspector
  2. Select two versions to compare
  3. Use the comparison tools to see changes
  4. Make notes about what works in each version

Rolling Back Changes

  • Select the version you want to restore
  • Click “Roll Back” to revert to that version
  • Or use “Roll Back to Selected” for partial changes

Advanced Snapshot Strategies

Version Tracking

  • Date each snapshot
  • Add detailed notes about why you made changes
  • Track emotional impact of different versions
  • Note connection to various story themes

Mixing and Matching

  • Use snapshots to combine elements from different endings
  • Track which elements work best together
  • Create hybrid versions from successful elements

Organization Tips

Keep your endings manageable:

  1. Create a spreadsheet linking to each version
  2. Track the pros and cons of each ending
  3. Note feedback received on different versions
  4. Document your decision-making process

Best Practices

  1. Always snapshot before major changes
  2. Use clear, descriptive names
  3. Add detailed notes to each version
  4. Keep your comparison notes in the project
  5. Regular backup your entire project

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When to Take New Snapshots

  • Before significant changes
  • When trying new directions
  • After receiving feedback
  • When combining elements

Managing Multiple Snapshots

  • Regular cleanup of unused versions
  • Clear labeling system
  • Folder organization
  • Backup important versions

Moving Forward

With Scrivener’s Snapshot feature, you can:

  • Explore different endings safely
  • Track your revision process
  • Compare versions easily
  • Make informed decisions
  • Keep all options available

Remember: The perfect ending might combine elements from several versions. Snapshots help you find that ideal combination.

Use the Contact form to schedule a phone call or a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Edge Coach—Mastering Character Goals in Fictionary: A StoryCoach’s Guide

EDGE COACH - TUESDAYS
Welcome to Edge Coach, my Tuesday focus on professional story development. As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I share techniques to strengthen your writing and engage your readers. Whether you're revising your first draft or polishing your final one, Edge Coach offers practical guidance for your story.

Today, we’ll explore how Fictionary’s Character tab helps you track and strengthen your character’s journey through their goals and motivations. This powerful set of tools ensures your characters drive your story forward with purpose and impact.

## The Foundation: Character List and POV

Before diving into goals, establish your story’s framework:

– Use Character List to track every named character

– Mark POV (Point of View) clearly for each scene

– Ensure POV choices serve your story’s purpose

## Goal Tracking: The Heart of Character Development

Fictionary provides multiple layers for tracking goals:

### POV Goal

– What does your POV character want in this scene?

– Is it clearly shown through action or dialogue?

– Does it connect to their larger story arc?

### POV Goal Internal

The emotional driver behind your character’s actions:

– What internal need motivates them?

– How does this goal reflect their wounds or desires?

– Where does internal conflict appear?

### Goal Related to Plot

Connect character desires to story movement:

– How does this scene’s goal advance the main plot?

– Are character and plot goals aligned or in conflict?

– Does each scene goal build toward the story goal?

## Stakes and Consequences

### What if Goal Fails

Fictionary prompts you to consider:

– Immediate consequences of failure

– Long-term impact on character arc

– Ripple effects through the story

### Impact Tracking

Two crucial elements:

1. Impact on POV Character

– Personal consequences

– Character growth opportunities

– Emotional fallout

2. Impact on Protagonist

– How secondary character goals affect your protagonist

– Relationship dynamics

– Story momentum

## Knowledge and Movement

### POV Knowledge Gained

Track your character’s understanding:

– What do they learn in each scene?

– How does new knowledge affect their goals?

– Does information change their motivation?

### Character in Motion

Ensure active character engagement:

– Physical movement that reveals character

– Goal-driven actions

– Dynamic scene presence

## Putting It All Together

When reviewing your manuscript, use these elements to:

1. Verify goal consistency across scenes

2. Strengthen motivation-action connections

3. Ensure satisfying character arcs

4. Track subplot impact on main story

5. Maintain tension through goal conflicts

Remember: Every scene should move your character either toward or away from their goals. Fictionary’s Character tab helps you track this movement with precision.

## StoryCoach Tips

1. Review goals scene by scene first, then look at the larger pattern

2. Check that internal and external goals create tension

3. Verify that knowledge gained affects future goals

4. Ensure character movement serves goal pursuit

5. Track impact ripples through your story

Your characters’ goals drive your story. Use these tools to make every scene count.

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Edge Coach—First Pages: What Story Coaches Look For

As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I often see beginning novelists struggle with their opening pages. Today, let’s explore what makes those crucial first pages work—and what might be holding yours back.

Let’s start with an example:

Weak Opening: “Sarah Jones had always loved the ocean. Growing up in coastal Maine, she spent summers watching waves crash against rocky shores while dreaming of adventure.” Why it doesn’t work: Background instead of story

Strong Opening: “Sarah’s hand trembled as she gripped the ship’s radio. Three hours into her first solo sailing trip, and the storm warnings changed everything.” Why it works: Character in action, immediate tension

Key Elements Story Coaches Evaluate:

  1. Opening Hook
  • Does your first sentence create curiosity?
  • Are readers immediately engaged?
  • Does something happen or change? Common Issue: Starting with background instead of story momentum
  1. Point of View (POV)
  • Is your viewpoint character clear?
  • Are we grounded in their perspective?
  • Do we experience the scene through their senses? Common Issue: Shifting perspectives or distant narration
  1. Character Introduction
  • Do we meet your protagonist in action?
  • Are they facing a challenge or decision?
  • Do readers have a reason to care? Common Issue: Character descriptions without purpose
  1. Story Question
  • What makes readers wonder what happens next?
  • Which story questions emerge naturally?
  • Is there clear tension or conflict? Common Issue: No compelling reason to turn the page

FICTIONARY KEY ELEMENTS: Using Fictionary’s storytelling elements, I evaluate:

  1. Opening Scene Function
  • Introduces main character
  • Establishes tone
  • Sets story in motion
  • Creates story questions
  1. Scene Entry Point
  • Character doing something
  • Clear setting anchors
  • Immediate conflict
  • Sensory details
  1. Scene Tension
  • External pressure
  • Internal conflict
  • Time constraints
  • Stakes matter
  1. Character Goal
  • Clear motivation
  • Visible actions
  • Specific obstacle
  • Meaningful outcome

EVALUATION EXERCISE:

  1. Read your first page aloud
  2. Mark with different colors:
    • Character actions (blue)
    • Background info (red)
    • Dialogue (green)
    • Setting details (yellow)
    • Internal thoughts (purple)

Analysis Questions:

  • Which color dominates?
  • Where does true story action begin?
  • When do readers first care?
  • What makes them want more?

Coming Soon: Watch for more professional editing insights in future Edge Coach posts, where we’ll explore:

  • Transforming weak openings
  • Layering in background naturally
  • Building organic tension
  • Creating compelling hooks

Need help evaluating your first pages now? Schedule a First Chapter Focus session to get professional guidance on starting your novel strong.

You’re invited to schedule a consultation.

Book a 30-minute appointment
Pay for your appointment

Note: If this is your first appointment, you do not have to pay. I offer a FREE—initial consultation.

Sharpening the Edge—Layering Character Backstory: Scene 13A Revelations

Current progress:

Deep in phase one edits of Novel 12, today I tackled Scene 13A: Doubts in Action. My goal? Adding crucial layers to Alexis’s backstory that drive her current decisions.

Craft Challenge:

Adding backstory without disrupting the scene momentum presents a common writer’s dilemma. Too much explanation kills pacing; too little leaves readers disconnected. The key lies in weaving past details through present action.

Writing Insight:

This morning’s breakthrough came through action-reaction sequencing. Instead of explaining Alexis’s history, I let her reactions to current events reveal her past. Each choice she makes hints at previous experiences, layering her character while maintaining scene tension.

Try this technique:

1. Identify a character decision

2. Link it to past experience

3. Show the connection through reaction, not explanation

4. Keep the story moving forward

For example, when Alexis questioned Pastor Josh and he gave her the standard “God works in mysterious ways” response, her hesitation revealed more about her history than a full paragraph of explanation could.

Remember: Strong characters aren’t built through exposition—they’re revealed through action.

You’re invited to schedule a consultation to discuss your character development challenges.

Book a 30-minute appointment
Pay for your appointment

Note: If this is your first appointment, you do not have to pay. I offer a FREE—initial consultation.