The best way to approach novel-length writing is to use a planning framework to ensure the three primary differences, length, depth and audience, don’t cause you to fail when transitioning from short stories. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Writing a novel is a distinct skill in the field of creative writing. Their length, depth and audience require a new approach for short story authors thinking of writing a novel. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Cut detail from a short story so your reader isn’t distracted from the single conflict at its heart. In a novel, keep that detail. Your reader has committed time and needs the detail to see a larger world with many conflicts #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

When writing for the novel audience, they want every detail, they have time and want to spend it. Your writing can be more luxuriant in its approach to description, foreshadowing and tension. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Short stories are punchy. They grab you, show a scenario and then dump you. A novel leads you on a tour of its world and introduces to its characters. At the end, you feel a connection with that world. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

The audience for a novel wants to settle in to a new world and a new way of thinking and stay there for hours at a time. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Given the time commitment and the topics of a novel compared to a short story, it isn’t surprising to find they each have different audiences. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

With the greater length of a novel, an author can take us on a journey that plumbs the myriad intricate nooks and crannies of a character’s evolution. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Imagine trying to paint a murderer as a sympathetic character with just a couple of thousand words. But imagine doing the same over the course of a hundred thousand. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

There is a cost to the reader in working through all the words in your novel and if there is insufficient gold, they’ll stop. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

A novel can explore each idea and emotion raised by a short story in greater detail. But don’t be fooled into thinking a novel is just a short story that takes longer to tell. #writingcommunity #writerslife #shortstory #writingtips

Story is a timeline of events. Plot is the reason for each event. The plot pulls the audience into the story. There are captivating stories about dull topics. It is the plot that makes the difference. #writingcommunity #writerslife #plotting #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

Story - plot = snooze, what's the point? Use a simple tool to build a story and add a plot to it. Start with the story so you have the sequence that your plot gives reason and breathes life into. #writingcommunity #writerslife #plotting #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#plotting 5: the final condition. After the finale, compare the final condition of the hero with the initial condition. This answers the dramatic question. The comparison ties the entire plot together. #writingcommunity #writerslife #plotting #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#plotting 4: Complete the phrase “this and so that” From the start condition to the 1st event then to the midpoint. From the mid-point to the finale use “this and so that, but…” to increase tension and drama. #writingcommunity #writerslife #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#plotting 3: the midpoint. It should be really good or really bad. Does the 1st event amount to good or bad. This is the inflection point of your story. If things got good at the mid, then now they go downhill. #writingcommunity #writerslife #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#plotting 2: what will be asked? If the start is peace and the 1st plot point is battle, then the Q might be “will the hero find peace again?” That's the dramatic question and it's what your readers should ask. #writingcommunity #writerslife #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#plotting 1: Starting condition. A plot is reason and direction. A starting condition will grow and change to an end. The start should contrast with the first plot point. This point will propel your characters. #writingcommunity #writerslife #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

A plot is easily noted in absence. Ever seen a movie and after a 1/2 hour you don’t see the point? Some plots are subtle, but they are required to tell your audience what direction they are travelling. #writingcommunity #writerslife #plotting #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq

#StoryIdea step 3: The other end. Step 1 was a “wow”. If it was the start, what happens at the end? What part did the hero have? What part did the baddie play? Not a plot yet. For that we need reason. #writingcommunity #writerslife #plotting #writingtips buff.ly/3bCFfEq