The First Pinch Point: The First Real Battle & Raising the Stakes
The first act of a novel is all about disruption—the protagonist’s life is thrown off course, they’re...
Derek MurphyAuthor of 36 Articles
studies the art and craft of writing to inspire joy.
The Power of Premise: How to Start with a Strong Story Idea
Ever open a book’s flap, read one sentence, and think: Okay, I need to see how this ends? That’...
The First Plot Point: The Moment of No Return
Every great story has a moment where the protagonist crosses a threshold—where they step into the unknown and can’...
4 First Chapter Fails: How To Keep Readers Hooked (Without Screwing It Up)
First chapters are brutal. They have to do everything—hook the reader, establish the protagonist, set up the world, hint...
Plotting Your Novel: Three-Act, Four-Act, and Every Other Story Structure That Works (and Why You Need One)
(In Which We Discover That Story Structure Is Your Friend, Not Your Dictator) There’s a moment in every writer’...
How to Start Your Story: The Ordinary World, the Hook, and the Art of Making Readers Care
You’ve got about three seconds—maybe a sentence or two—to convince a reader not to toss your book...