The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Two Ways for Tracking Important Elements of Your Story

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You’re writing your story in multiple point of view. How do you keep track of how many scenes you have in each POV?

Your story has a specific time frame. How do you track your scenes to ensure you follow that timeline?

Maybe your story takes place in 5 different cities. How can you ensure you’re in the right place?

Today, I’m going to look at 2 ways for tracking important elements of your story and how you can see them at a glance. [Read more…] about Two Ways for Tracking Important Elements of Your Story

7 Ways to Overcome Discouragement

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I can do this! With God, all things are possible.

You want to get published.

You want to get your book to the best seller lists.

Maybe you’d just like to see your book sales adding up and receive a decent royalty check every month.

But it isn’t happening. Instead you find yourself in a daily battle with the big D—discouragement.

So what do you do? I’m well acquainted with the emotion and have developed a few weapons to wield… [Read more…] about 7 Ways to Overcome Discouragement

The Major Plot Events of a Novel and When They Occur

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building blocks, an analogy of plot eventsThis month’s last post on plotting concerns the major plot events, or building blocks, of your story.

Most writers understand all fiction has a climatic scene, aka the climax. They also know it occurs very near the end of the story.

However, many writers miss several other plot events essential to their story. [Read more…] about The Major Plot Events of a Novel and When They Occur

Capturing life events for your book ideas: an interview with Melody Schaefer

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Capturing life events for your book ideasI’ve got children’s author Melody L. Schaefer here with me today. I met Melody at my local writers group, and we’ve had a good time getting to know each other. Besides writing her books, she does all her own illustrating.

Melody’s newest release, Penny the Parakeet and the Solar Eclipse, is the perfect example of capitalizing on life events.

A total solar eclipse happens next month, and the best place for viewing it in its totality is none other than where we each live, St. Joseph, Missouri. Here in St. Joe this event has been a topic of conversation for over a year.

Melody realized early on this was an event she could tag onto by [Read more…] about Capturing life events for your book ideas: an interview with Melody Schaefer

Story Premise: What it is and how to develop it

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In last week’s “To Plot a Story,” guest Deborah Lyn Stanley stated, “A one-sentence premise is essential to a strong story.”

Many writers may not understand what a premise is or how to arrive at that one-sentence, so let’s take a look at it today.

Premise. Little boy meets alien.In almost all of the books I have on the craft of writing, discussion of premise is missing, or perhaps they use different terminology. So is it any wonder when I ask writers what is the premise of their book, they answer with a blank stare. [Read more…] about Story Premise: What it is and how to develop it

To Plot a Story – Guest Post by Deborah Lyn Stanley

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Deborah Lyn Stanley author artist editorToday’s guest post is from writer, artist, and editor Deborah Lyn Stanley. She is a retired project manager who now devotes her time to writing, art and care-giving mentally impaired seniors. She has published a collection of 24 artists’ interviews titled the Artists Interview Series. The series published as monthly articles for an online news network, can also be found on her web-blog: Deborah Lyn Stanley – Writers Blog. Her “How-To” articles have appeared in magazines. [Read more…] about To Plot a Story – Guest Post by Deborah Lyn Stanley

Plotting: Finding a system that works for you

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Plotting know where you're headedIn recent months I’ve been stymied by my work in progress (WIP). Would I call it writer’s block? No. I was struggling to write because I simply didn’t know where the story was going.

You see, I decided to take a short story I wrote for a college class a few years back and develop it into a novella. That meant I had to expand on the plot of the story, and I hadn’t taken the time to do that before I started writing.

If you have no plot, you have no story.

For that reason, I’ve decided [Read more…] about Plotting: Finding a system that works for you

Ask the Editor: I’ve written a book, how do I get it published?

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I question I get at least once or twice a month by email is “I’ve written book, how do I get it published?” or similar variations.

It’s a question I covered on my Facebook page live “Ask the Editor.” For those of you who don’t follow my FB page, I thought I’d offer it here.

If you have a question you’d like to have answered via live FB video, leave it in the comments.