Posts by Mike Klaassen
Raising the Stakes: The Fuel that Propels Compelling Fiction
By Mike Klaassen In fiction writing, stakes are as vital as a heartbeat to a living creature. It’s the element that keeps readers turning pages, hearts pounding in anticipation of what’s next. But what exactly are stakes, and how can writers effectively wield them to captivate their audience? At its core, stakes in fiction refer…
Read MorePunctuating Dialogue In Fiction
Evan Marshall, in The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing, provides straightforward advice: “Follow the specialized rules of punctuation in dialogue.”[i] But in the world of fiction-writing, “rules” vary somewhat, depending on who is dictating them. And in some situations there are allowances for variations in objectives and personal style. QUOTATION MARKS No fiction-writing mode is…
Read MoreExternal Plot Vs. Internal Plot
My definition of a story doesn’t include the word obstacle, but the phrase a character’s attempts to achieve a goal requires that each attempt be met with some obstacle, which may be one of two types: internal or external. EXTERNAL PLOT An external plot is one in which the obstacles are outside the focal character,…
Read MoreThe “Making of” Fiction-Writing Modes
I suspect we all have “Ah-hah!” moments when something is revealed to us.
Read MorePlot Structure
The skillful use of sensation as a fiction-writing mode is a powerful tool for engaging readers.
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