The First Draft Pro Blog

We freaking love stories

You do too? Well, well, well. That smells like BFF potential.

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The one trick you can use to progressively move your story forward

A singular strategy for maintaining forward momentum in your story.
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Using questions to drive your plot forward

Employing unanswered questions as a tool for plot progression.
An illustration of a maze.

How interconnected complications propel your plot

Utilizing complex situations to advance the storyline.
An illustration of witches in a communal space.

Understanding suspense and tension

Creating engaging narratives through suspenseful elements and tense moments.
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A complete guide to plot driven stories

Developing stories focused on plot progression and events.
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A complete guide to character driven stories

Crafting narratives centered around character development and dynamics.
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Understanding events/situations that build plot

Analyzing plot-building elements and scenarios in storytelling.
An illustration of a maze, used in this context as a metaphor for the complex balance of internal conflict in your novel.

Internal conflict — the 5 types, and how to use them to drive your plot forward

Uncover the five pivotal internal conflicts: moral dilemmas, identity crises, religious or philosophical challenges, self-esteem issues, and intricate relationship dynamics.
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How conflict drives your story forward

The role of conflict in advancing plot and character development.
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The 3 types of conflict that your protagonist can encounter

Exploring internal, external, and relational conflicts in storytelling.
A collection of post-it notes representing a complex storyline for a novel that needs to be simplified

How complex should you make your plot, and how do you know when you need to simplify it

Find out how complex your plot should be and identify when it needs simplification.
Novel notes on a corkboard representing plot points in a story

An introduction to plot devices

An introductory guide to plot devices and their role in enhancing your narrative.