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Develop Your Skills
All the skills you need to write a great chapter: master narration, dramatic build up, paragraph flow, and character development. Log in over here / Buy the course over there.
The answer to this popular question is simple: one to two unicorns.
Log In to View Lessons The Components of a Dramatic, Easy-to-Read Scene
To write chapters that flow well: orient your writing around your protagonist's attempts to get what they want or avoid what they detest.
Log In to View Lessons How to End a Chapter
Ideally, a chapter ends with a change — either for the protagonist or the reader.
Log In to View Lessons Use Orientations to Anchor your Reader
Start each scene by re-connecting the reader to the protagonist.
Log In to View Lessons The Trouble with Exciting Scenes
Look at your novel's best scene: did you forget to include… THIS?
Log In to View Lessons Pulses and Motion
Great scenes rely on two opposites: forward motion that keeps the protagonist working against the clock (plot) and sparks / pulses of character motivation that show the reader how the events are affecting their protagonist (narration). Here's how to blend them.
Log In to View Lessons How to Introduce a “Lyrical Moment”
Novels aren't only about the plot. Some of the most memorable passages in a novel come from its lyrical moments.
Log In to View Lessons Set Backs, Pauses, and Relocations
A paradox: in order to keep raising the tension in a scene, you have to take breaks.
Log In to View Lessons Bonus Lesson: Open Loops
What about novels where you simply MUST share a lot of information about the fictional world: historical fiction, fantasy, sci fi etc? Here's a more advanced technique for mingling drama and exposition.
Log In to View Lessons Your Protagonist’s Two Plot Traits
Here are two theories about human psychology: they are almost everything you need to create a great protagonist.
Log In to View Lessons Protagonist First Aid
If you notice you've let the reader drift away from the protagonist — use the next scene to deliver emergency first aid.
Log In to View Lessons The Sympathetic Villain
How to make a bad character likeable?
Log In to View Lessons Transition Smoothly Between Chapters
This is so simple: at the start of each chapter, just repeat.
Log In to View Lessons The Ladder of POV
It's often a good idea to pull back at the start of a chapter.
Log In to View Lessons The Three Necessary Scenes Before a Twist
You can reveal anything as long as no one is paying attention.
Log In to View Lessons The I Wish Scene
The best way to open a story?
Log In to View Lessons The “I’ve Changed” Scene
Here's an easy way to show that the story is changing your protagonist.
Log In to View Lessons Frustrated Exposition
Sometimes you just need to do an info-dump. Here's one way to make it work.
Log In to View Lessons The "Clarifying the Stakes" scene
Not all scenes advance the plot. Some, instead, clarify it.
Log In to View Lessons The Big Decision Scene
How to make a scene of internal choosing dramatic on the page.
Log In to View Lessons How to write a “Tour de Force”
When it's time to deliver a dramatic, unforgettable scene — here are two great techniques.
Log In to View Lessons Five Tips for Compelling Dialogue
Dialogue is tricky to master: here are five shortcuts
Log In to View Lessons Guarantee that Each Character Sounds Unique
Give each minor character a dominant mood. After all, most people don't change!
Log In to View Lessons What Chekhov Actually Said
Heighten your setting description with drama and variety.
Log In to View Lessons The Busy Writer’s Guide to Evocative Description
Use the "heads and tails" trick when you're writing in a hurry.
Log In to View Lessons Don’t Hate Me, But: No One Needs Eye Colour
Okay. Don't get angry. But it doesn't matter what shade your love interest's eyes are.
Log In to View Lessons Masterclass 1: use these prompts to write a novel
You've learned so much in this course. Let's use these lessons to sketch out a novel together, right now.
Log In to View Lessons Masterclass 2: write an exquisite scene
Let's put these techniques together to write an unforgettable chapter
Log In to View Lessons Final Thoughts
Thank you so much for taking this course.
Daniel is the creator of the "character-first" approach and the host of his trio of annual summits. He writes a semi-daily newsletter to almost six-thousand writers around the world.
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Hi, I started reading Jade City and I am hooked.
I was never one for gangsta movies or books but her very first words got me:
“The two would-be jade thieves …” What a wealth of information and intruige in this six words! It instantly hints on danger and disaster: would-be is only used for not sucessful. So I needed to read on to find out how they floundered.
And there is even more information in it:
-they are no regular thiefs, so they are newbies.
Jade must be very important, if they try to steal exactly that and not ‘jewels’ or money. I am at awe here!
By the way, my reader shows me that this novel has over 1100 pages, is that true or do I have a strange copy?
If so, would you please also mention the chapters, Daniel? It would be easier to follow then. Thanks!
I received the paperback edition today, which is 495 pages. Chapter 1, The Twice Lucky is page 1; Chapter 2, The Horn of No Peak on page 10; Chapter 3, The Sleepless Pillar on page 19; Chapter 4, The Torch of Kekon on page 31; Chapter 5, The Horn’s Kitten, on page 40. Since there are 57 chapters plus an Epilogue, I won’t go through the entire book.
I’m really liking Jade City so far. I’m on the second chapter.
I enjoyed the start of Jade City and had to stop myself reading beyond two chapters. It was so easy to read I underestimated the skill in the way the dialogue was written. A lesson well learned.
Hello Daniel I am an aspiring screenwriter who wants to learn and writer character-driven screenplay. I want to have a deep and thorough understanding of characters, character development and character arc.
Please directed me to the appropriate place.
Thank you
Intrigued by your comment on the importance of mid-point in Midnight Library… I’m writing a memoir/ family history so didn’t think this could apply to my work – but maybe it does???