You may have noticed that the site is being revamped. Sometimes it’s good to shake things up and have a makeover.

Sometimes your story needs a makeover as well. How do you tell if you need to shake things up and make a change?

• You find the writing increasingly difficult
• Your writing just seems boring and humdrum
• You can’t think of any way to solve a problem the characters have gotten into
• You’re having trouble ending a scene or chapter
• You find yourself describing the weather
• You find yourself describing a character’s typical day
• You can’t imagine where to go next

If you find yourself in any of the above situations, try going back to the last place where things made sense. Ask yourself: what can I change here?

Go forward in a new direction from that last scene. You might have to try this several times before you find something that works, but you’ll end up with a better story.

What are some of your tips for changing dull writing?

 

 

It can be difficult to keep a good plot interesting. How do you find the right balance between action and description? How much tension is enough, and how much is too much? And there’s that point every writer reaches, where everything you put down seems boring and lifeless….

Here are some tips you can use to make things more exciting:

1. Brainstorm a list of the worst things that could happen to your character – then start making them happen!
2. Ask “what if?” questions – figure out what would logically happen in each scene – then find a way to make something else happen instead!
3. Go for emotion – let your character respond to situations with feeling!
4. Pile on the pressure – does your character have enough on his or her plate? Add something else to the mix!
5. Add a timetable – there’s nothing quite like a ticking clock to ramp up the tension!

What are some tips you’ve developed over the years to make your scenes more interesting?

Having trouble thinking of plots? Twisted around when it comes to twists? Here are some tips and tricks to help you solve your problems.

1. Brainstorm. This is the number one way I come up with plots. Just sit down and write out everything that comes to your mind about your topic. That’s everything. Doesn’t matter how off-the-wall it seems, or how boring. Write it down anyway. You’ll end up with a list of possibilities. Some of them will turn out to be worthless, but lots of them will pan out. You might end up with an idea for a scene, or for an entire novel. And the more ideas you come up with, the more your brain will toss out. It’s like exercising a muscle: use your creative mind and it’ll reward you with more creativity.
2. Ask questions. Go through your outline (or read through your plot if you’re a “pantser”) and ask yourself as many questions as you can. What if the villain finds out about the hero’s plan? What would I do in this situation? Why does the character make this decision? What would happen if the villain’s plot was discovered by a third character? Then, come up with answers to those questions. The more questions you have, the more plot ideas you’ll find to answer them with.
3. Wonder. One of the things that makes writers special is their curiosity. Give yours free rein. Surf the internet for new information. Ask people about their jobs or hobbies. Pick up a magazine about a subject unfamiliar to you, or browse a new section of your bookstore. The more information you have, the more plot ideas you can come up with.
4. Scheme. A great way to improve your plot is to plan ways to thwart your characters. Life is rough, and people don’t want to read about characters who get everything they want without a struggle. Throw roadblocks on the path to their goals. Complicate their lives. Make your characters miserable: it’ll make a more interesting plot.
5. Turn things around. Try outlining your plot from the point of view of your antagonist, or of a secondary character. This is also a good way to expose plot holes, such as having the villain be an evil genius until it’s time for the hero to defeat him, when he suddenly forgets how to think. Look at your book from another angle and you’ll find new plot twists to play with.

Get started with these ideas and you’ll probably come up with other ways to plot. Turn on your brain and let ‘er rip!

What is the most unusual way a plot has come to you?