Three Act Structure: Act I

Hi, Gang. Craig with you again today. It occurred to me that I’ve mentioned Three Act Structure several times on this site, but never posted anything about it before. That ends today. This is a great way of plotting your stories, but it’s so much more than that. It will keep you on point with …

It’s Time to Start Planning for November #NaNoWriMo

Hi, SEers! It’s Mae with you today, and I’m here to chat about the writing hoopla fast approaching. National Novel Writing Month kicks off in November, and if you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know I’m a fan. I’ve participated several times, “won” twice, and racked up excellent story content in …

Expansion Pack: Secondary Stressors

Hi, Gang. Craig with you today. I want to try something a little different this time. I’m a work in progress just like everyone else. I’ve spent most of my career writing stand-alone novels and short stories. It was only recently that I dove into series work. I’ve made a few observations and maybe some …

What I Learned from High School History

Hi, SEers. You’re with Mae today, and I’m spinning the clock back to highlight education during my teen years. High school history taught me numerous events, but it also taught me something about myself. When I was in school, I sorta/maybe/kinda liked history class, but there was something missing. It was only later, as an …

Plot-Driven vs. Character-Driven Fiction

Hi, SEers! You're with Mae, and I’m glad you’ve chosen to spend time with me. Today, I’d like to discuss plot-driven fiction vs. character-driven fiction. As writers (and readers) we have preferences, and each style has merit. Plot Driven Situations and circumstance take center stage in a plot-driven story. The work is focused on events …