Category Archives: plot

The Stages of Storytelling

I love this site and the newsletter that comes with it. The posts offer practical advice and inspiration for writers of all levels.

The site promotes a couple of kinds of story development software, but you don’t need to buy either to enjoy the current posts and the archive.

Today’s post breaks writing down into four steps.

  1. Inspiration
  2. Development
  3. Exposition
  4. Storytelling

My current projects are on the fifth step–revision, but that involves looking back at the others to evaluate my original intention and to “see again” (re-vise) what the story has become.

Where are you in this process?

See Me Around the Internet

My contemporary acrylics on canvas

My Authors Guild Site

Art ideas for kids related to my book, Everyday Art for the Classroom Teacher

My handle on Instagram

Poetry Prompts and Samples Related to My Chapbook Early Tigers

My Writing Page on Facebook

My Stock Photo Portfolio on iStock

Life on Colorado’s Western Slope

Learning Ideas for Pre-K- Grade 1 Related to my Book ABC Follow Me

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    Before the Hero’s Journey

    This fantastic blog post provides insight into a journey of great interest to writers of middle grade and young adult fiction–the path to individuation, and even better, that path as it relates to women and girls.

    The post refers to many classic and recent books for writers for further investigation. I’m bookmarking this one, and you might like to as well. Click on the link below to check it out.

    Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc

    Some Recent Posts on One Way to Wonder

    Other Places to Find Me

    My Art Portfolio

    Especially for Poets

    My Local Trips

    Notes From a Virtual Easel

    My Authors Guild Site

    My Latest on Instagram

    Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints

    My Latest on Flickr

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/redrockpoet/

      Find More Articles for Writers on This Blog

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      Revising for Structure

      When I finish the dummy for my current picture book project, I’m going to dig back into my magical realism middle grade novel.

      Here’s an amazing post that came in an e-newsletter today. It’s perfect and I know it will help me. If you’re revising your NaNoWriMo magnum opus, it might help you too.

      The Five Commandments of Storytelling

      2012 2013 advice agent agents author authors blogs books challenge character children's books contest creativity fiction help hints ideas information inspiration literary literary agents NaNoWriMo NaPoWriMo novel novels november picture book picture books plot poem poem a day poetry professional promotion publication publicity publishing resources revision social media structure submissions writers writing

      Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints https://www.zazzle.com/mystery_in_blue_violet_poster-228494279116330300 #art #print "Decisions" Contemporary acrylic painting on canvas at #fineartamerica https://fineartamerica.com/featured/east-river-l-armstrong.html?product=metal-print #metal print #digitalart #cityscape #newyorkcity #Fineartamaerica #decorideas #modifiedphotography Set a timer. Get up and move. Refreshes your mind and you may even live longer. (She says as she sits here for hours... )#RedRoseThorns #OurVoiceIsOurPower #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #add #workfromanywhere #work Depression isn't sadness. It's no feelings at all and it's the worst feeling in the world. You don't have to suffer. Help is available and you can use your insurance. I just posted Coda, part of my Saddlehorn Variations Series, on the Saatchi site, https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Coda/8064/10326047/view

      How to Write a Chapter Book from an Expert

      Interested in writing for children? Don’t miss this great post on literary agent Jill Corcoran’s blog. While you’re there, check out other useful information for writers. I have heard her speak at conferences. Writers who have her as an agent are very lucky. She is warm, honest, and experienced.

      #WritingTips Raffle Editor Jen Arena’s Expert Advice on Writing Chapter Books Win a Copy of Jen’s 100 SNOWMEN.

      From The Write Practice Blog, Advice on Creating Good Bad Guys

      The most important character in your story is the villain. If you find that your story is lacking something, you probably don’t have to look any further than the opposition. If your hero doesn’t have much to overcome, he can’t be much of a hero. The greater the evil he faces, the greater your protagonist will be. Even in stories of man against nature, it can’t just be any storm, it has to be the Perfect Storm. See what I mean? Click below for some great ways to make your opposition more effective–and more original.

      50 Shades of Villain: How to Characterize Without Cliché.

      Storytelling Basics: Tragedy

      Here’s another in a terrific series of posts summarizing basic plots on The Write Practice blog. For a quick review of the bottom line of storytelling, take an hour or so and review the basic plots covered on the site. It may save you years of learning the hard way.

      The 7 Basic Plots: Tragedy.

      Borrow a Plot, Or Not…

      Here are some thoughts on everyone’s favorite occupation–plot smashing. Especially since top book pitches now follow the _____ meets ______ in ________ screenplay convention.

      Every story has already been told, many times. Why not just update a favorite? Well, you can, but that’s just a beginning. Click on the link below for important elements to consider.

      Borrowing Plots – BecomingAWriterBlog.com.

      Create Conflict with Action

      Make your character commit to action. Read why this is important and how to do it in Kristen Lamb’s blog.

      Would You Rather? An Exercise in Creating Max Conflict in Fiction | Kristen Lamb’s Blog.

      Voyage and Return: A Classic Plot

      The vogage and return is a very common storytelling structure. It fits classic epic poems as well as children’s fiction. In my case, both this month’s picture book for Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 book and a MG fantasy novel in progress for 5 years and counting follow this format.

      Click on the link below for a great overview.

      The 7 Basic Plots: Voyage and Return.

      There Can Be Only One…Main Character, That Is

      About main characters. Screenwriters know about story structure. It is a good idea to listen to them about this. Of course, there are always exceptions, but if you think your book has more than one main character, this post is worth reading.

      Let’s Schmooze – Doug Eboch on Screenwriting: There Can Be Only One…Main Character, That Is.