Bring Your Fiction to Life

Book excerpt: Craft a Story That Towers Above the Rest You know it when you read it: In page after page and scene after scene, a truly engrossing novel has qualities that set it apart. Authentic characters, a well-rounded plot, and immersive settings work in harmony to create a three-dimensional experience--one you can practically step inside and explore. But while you can recognize this work when you read it, writing it can be much more challenging. Bring Your Fiction to Life teaches you how to build a solid narrative structure and layer in lush, textured scenes to create a story that rings true. You'll learn how to: • Master the three-dimensional aspects of characters, plots, and settings using detailed sketches that define the past, present, and future aspects of each element. • Develop complex opening, resolution, and bridge scenes that expertly lead readers through your fictional world. • Construct and analyze an outline for your manuscript, using tools and techniques to analyze scenes that lack dimensionality. • Brainstorm, research, and draft efficiently and effectively, and juggle multiple projects with ease. Packed with story-development charts, worksheets, and checklists, Bring Your Fiction to Life shows you how to craft a vivid story world that readers will instantly recognize as remarkable.