From The Vaults: Screenwriting with Brian Bird

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Welcome back, loyal listeners! Last week, you asked for an episode on screenwriting, and so we deliver this gem for you. Brian Bird joins us to talk screenwriting and adaptation. Tons of good advice. If you’ve got questions, let us know. As always, thanks so much for...

Gross Anatomy of a Novel: Dramatic Question

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Firsts in Fiction Gross Anatomy of a Novel: Dramatic Question In Part 2 of our Gross Anatomy series we turn our attention to an element of plotting: Discovering the plot’s dramatic question(s). First, let’s define “plot.” A plot is a series of events in a novel or...

Gross Anatomy of a Novel: Character

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If you’re looking for the novel spotlight, you can find it (and many other fun features) on our newsletter. Be sure to sign up at aarongansky.com! Intro: What is Gross Anatomy of a Novel? In this series, we’re going to take a holistic look and approach to novel...

From the Vaults: 10 Tips for Naming Your Character

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*ADDENDUM* The good people at EditionGuard.com put together a pretty fancy infographic, and were kind enough to ask me to include a link to it in this particular post. I’ve checked it out, and it’s got some good information that really supplements what we’re talking...

Juggling Multiple Plot Lines

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NOVEL SPOTLIGHT (Pops): In 2011, Simon & Schuster published Stephen King’s 11/22/63. I received the book as a Christmas present from one of my sons-in-law. It’s weighty book, as King’s novels often are, of 850 pages or so. King has proven himself a master writer....