Mastering Scenes

Every story is broken down into scenes. A chapter may have more than one scene.

The most important takeaway is this: make every scene count. Don't just kill time or add filler. A scene has a job to do.

It can be an action scene, a taut conversation, a love scene, a chase scene, or an introspective scene.

Make sure you scenes earn their page time.

Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms.

Story and Scene Goals

Understanding Scene Goals

The Importance of "Why?"

Priming the Pump

Reaction Beats

Five Tough Questions

Composing the Scene

Scene Construction Sheet

Scene Worksheet

Goals, Stakes & Outcomes

The Bare Bones Draft

The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my websitewww.dianahurwitz.com. 

Mastering Story Structure

Whether a writer prefers stream of consciousness or in-depth planning, a basic understanding of story structure is invaluable.

Reading books helps familiarize one with stories. However, analyzing a story's architecture, identifying the things that make it strong and things that make it weak, is a good way to learn the craft of storytelling.

I spent thousands of man-hours poring over books, movies, and television shows scene by scene, beat by beat. Outlining and analyzing story structure, character development, setting, worldbuilding, that I used as fodder for my Story Building Blocks Book Series. I hope the wisdom I distilled can help other writers too.

Here are some articles on understanding story structure.

Are You Plotting or Plodding?

Where to Begin?

First Steps: Situation or Story?

Stretching the Story Seed

Why Pick Genre First?

Does Genre Matter?

Keeping Your Promise

Writing for Children

The Central Question

Genre and the Overall Story Problem

Story Frame

Do You Need A B-Story?

Parallel Plots

What's Your Angle? (Choosing Points of View)

5 Tips For Avoiding POV Speedbumps

Shifting POV

Structuring a Series: The Trilogy

Structuring a Series: The Serial

Structuring a Series: The Relay

Framing the Plot Part 1 Protagonist and Antagonist

Framing the Plot Part 2 Friends

Framing the Plot Part 3 Foes

Framing the Plot Part 4  The Synopsis

No Stakes No Tension

Four Layers of Conflict

External Conflict

Antagonist Conflict

Interpersonal Conflict

Internal Conflict

Layering the Conflicts

Organizing the Layers Part 1

Organizing the Layers Part 2

Shades of Doubt

The Takeaway

Perils of the Paranormal

Jumping the Sharknado

Top 5 Things that Bore Me

Top 10 Reasons I Quit Reading

Toxic Messages in Fiction Part 1

Toxic Messages in Fiction Part 2

History's Mysteries

The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my website www.dianahurwitz.com. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms.

Mastering the Romance

Whether you are writing a swoon-worthy Romance novel or incorporating romance as a layer in other genres, building a believable relationship is crucial to success. As some of the following articles relate, there are areas for improvement in terms of the depiction of healthy relationships.

Here are some tips on writing Romance.

Romance Subgenres

Romance Skeleton

Is it a Love Story?

Dressing Up Your Romance

Romance: Points of Connection

Obstacles to Love

Sixteen Lovers Part 1

Sixteen Lovers Part 2

Sixteen Lovers Part 3

Sixteen Lovers Part 4


Working with Romance

Writing Sex Scenes

The Five Ts of Sex Scenes

The Antagonist Role in Romance

Bad Guys in Romance

Bad Romance

The Trouble with Romance


Subliminal Messages in Romance

Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook: Romance is available in ebook and print.

The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my website 
www.dianahurwitz.com. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms:

Sixteen Lovers

Romance Points of Connection

Obstacles to Love

Mastering Mystery

This week, we offer resources for writing Mysteries. From cozy murders to graphic urban serial killers, readers love a good whodunit. Here are some tips for making a mystery:

The Mystery Skeleton

Mystery Subgenres

The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my website 

www.dianahurwitz.com.

Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms including these for mysteries:

Crime Worksheet

Suspect Worksheet

Victim Profile

Detection Exercise 1

Detection Exercise 2

Detection Exercise 3

Detection Exercise 4

Dissecting Christie

Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook: Mystery is available in ebook and print.