how to write - The Writer's Ally

Why Now? How to Identify Problems with Causation in Your Novel

By Allyson Machate / July 27, 2018

From the day you started writing your novel, you’ve been excited to reach the scene. The moment of confrontation between your main characters. The explosion of rage and anger (or possibly love and lust, depending on your story!) building between them from the very first page. But even though your writing is sharp, and the dialogue clear and convincing, the scene doesn’t have the emotional impact you intend. You want this scene to happen. You need it to happen. But the narrative you’ve written has left one important question unanswered: Why does it happen right now?

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3 Things You Need to Know About the Domino Effect in Fiction

By Allyson Machate / June 29, 2018

Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or take your time with a careful outline, the process of plotting a novel ultimately comes down to one simple question, repeated again and again: What happens next? Considering how to use the domino effect in fiction will help you answer that question in a compelling way.

But what specifically is it that makes the next plot beat work? How do a series of moments combine to create effective action in a story? As a professional book editor, it’s my role to analyze the stories with which I work and determine exactly why this plot beat or that action sequence is unconvincing. In this first installment of a four-part blog series on cause and effect, we’ll explore how many of our struggles with plot come down to one basic misunderstanding: Plot isn’t about action. It’s about reaction.

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how to write the best book introduction ever

5 Steps to the Best Book Introduction Ever

By Allyson Machate / April 27, 2018

I’m sure you’ve heard many times that your book’s opening pages are critically important. In keeping with this advice, the most important chapter you write in your nonfiction book may be the introduction. But do you know how to write the best book introduction? What does that even look like, and why is it so important?

In this article I’m going to give you a five-step method to write the best book introduction that will engage your reader, establish trust, and keep your reader interested enough to read the rest of your book.

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