Please note: Formerly titled "Planning Your Novel: Ideas and Structure" Do you have a great story idea? Do you want to turn it into a novel? Award-winning author Janice Hardy (and founder of the popular writing site, Fiction University) takes you step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel with her book Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure. She'll show you how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration to a complete story, develop the right characters, setting, plot, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series. 
With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Each workshop builds upon the other to flesh out your idea as much or as little as you need to start writing (useful for both plotters and pantsers). You'll find multiple options that allow you to find the right process that works for you. 
Learn how to: 
<ul>
<li>Create compelling characters readers will love</li> <li>Choose the right point of view for your story</li> <li>Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and keep readers hooked!)</li> <li>Find the best writing process for your writing style</li> <li>Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea</li> </ul>
Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure also helps you develop the critical elements for submitting and selling your novel once it's finished. You'll find exercises on how to: <ul>
<li>Craft your one-sentence pitch </li> <li>Create your summary hook blurb (which makes writing query letters and cover copy easier)</li> <li>Develop a solid working synopsis</li> </ul>
Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is an easy-to-follow guide to planning and writing your novel, or fixing a novel that isn’t quite working. For those who like a hands-on approach with easy-to-use worksheets, a companion guide, Plotting Your Novel Workbook is also available in paperback.

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure (Foundations of Fiction)

Reference

Hardy, Janice

Words, Language & Grammar

Janice Hardy

A Hands-On Workbook for Plotting Your Novel! Award-winning author Janice Hardy guided writers through the often challenging process of planning a novel with her book, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure. At reader request, she created this workbook as a companion guide. Its larger workbook format is perfect for writers who enjoy brainstorming on paper and developing their novels in an organized and guided format. <ul>
<li>No more searching for ideas jotted down on bits of paper </li> <li>No more losing notes just when you need them most</li> <li>Keep all your thoughts in one, easy-to-use workbook</li> </ul> The Plotting Your Novel Workbook contains more than 100 exercises for the novel-planning process. Plus Bonus Questions! The Plotting Your Novel Workbook offers writers additional exercise questions not found in Plotting Your Novel. Work through the exercises of ten workshops that build upon each other to flesh out your idea as much or as little as you need to start writing. Find exercises on: <ul>
<li>Creating Characters </li> <li>Choosing Point of View </li> <li>Determining the Conflict </li> <li>Finding Your Process </li> <li>Developing Your Plot </li> </ul> Start writing your novel today! The Plotting Your Novel Workbook was created to be used with Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure. It contains only the exercises and assignments.

Plotting Your Novel Workbook: A Companion Book to Planning Your Novel: Ideas and Structure (Foundations of Fiction)

Do you struggle with show, don't tell? You don't have to. Award-winning author Janice Hardy (and founder of the popular writing site, Fiction University) takes you deep into one of the most frustrating aspects of writing--showing, and not telling. She'll help you understand what show, don't tell means, teach you how to spot told prose in your writing, and reveal why common advice on how to fix it doesn't always work. With in-depth analysis, Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It) looks at what affects told prose and when telling is the right thing to do. It also explores aspects of writing that aren’t technically telling, but are connected to told prose and can make prose feel told, such as infodumps, description, and backstory. Her easy-to-understand examples will show you clear before and after text and demonstrate how telling words change the prose. You'll learn how to find the right balance between description, narrative, and internalization for the strongest impact. These examples will also demonstrate why showing the wrong details can sound just as dull as telling. This book will help you: <ul>
<li>Understand when to tell and when to show</li> <li>Spot common red flag words often found in told prose</li> <li>Learn why one single rule doesn't apply to all books</li> <li>Determine how much telling is acceptable in your writing</li> <li>Fix stale or flat prose holding your writing back</li> </ul>
Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It) is more than just advice on what to do and what not to do—it’s a down and dirty examination and analysis of how show, don’t tell works, so you can adapt the “rules” to whatever style or genre you’re writing. By the end of this book, you’ll have a solid understanding of show, don’t tell and the ability to use it without fear or frustration.

Understanding Show, Don't Tell: And Really Getting It

Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

Get all three Fixing Your Revision Problems books in one omnibus! This book contains Fixing Your Character &amp; Point-of-View Problems, Fixing Your Plot &amp; Story Structure Problems, and Fixing Your Setting &amp; Description Problems--PLUS a BONUS workshop: How to Salvage Half-Finished Manuscripts. A strong story has many parts, and when one breaks down, the whole book can fail. Make sure your story is the best it can be to keep your readers hooked. Janice Hardy takes you step-by-step through the novel revision process, from character issues, to plot problems, to description issues. She'll show you how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix problems hurting your manuscript. With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft offers eleven self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you: <ul>
<li>Flesh out weak characters and build strong character arcs </li>
<li>Find the right amount of backstory to enhance, not bog down, your story </li>
<li>Create unpredictable plots that keep readers guessing </li>
<li>Develop compelling hooks to build tension in every scene </li>
<li>Determine the right way to include information without infodumping </li>
<li>Fix awkward stage direction and unclear character actions </li>
</ul>
Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft starts every workshop with an analysis and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. Learn how to: <ul>
<li>Develop a strong and effective revision plan </li>
<li>Analyze your manuscript to find its strengths and weaknesses </li>
<li>Spot common red flag words for problem areas (such as told prose) </li>
<li>Determine the best way to revise a scene, plot, character, or novel </li>
<li>Fix problems holding your novel back </li>
</ul> Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft is an easy-to-follow guide to revising your manuscript and crafting a strong finished draft that will keep readers hooked.

Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A step-by-step guide to revising your novel (Foundations of Fiction)

Do you struggle with creating conflict in your novel? You don't have to. Janice Hardy, award-winning author and founder of the popular writing site, Fiction University, takes you deep inside one of the most important aspects of storytelling--conflict. She'll help you understand what conflict really is, discuss the various aspects of conflict, and reveal why common advice on creating conflict doesn't always work. With in-depth analysis and easy-to-understand examples, Understanding Conflict (And What It Really Means) looks at how to develop and create conflict in your novel. It also explores the things that affect conflict (such as tension), and the misconceptions that confuse and frustrate so many writers. This book will help you: <ul>
<li>Understand what conflict means and how to use it</li> <li>Tell the difference between external and internal conflicts</li> <li>See why conflict isn't a "one size fits all" solution </li> <li>Determine the type of conflict your story needs</li> <li>Fix lackluster scenes holding your writing back </li> </ul>
Understanding Conflict (And What It Really Means) is more than just advice on what to do and what not to do—it’s a down and dirty road map to how conflict works, designed to help you create the right conflict for whatever genre you're writing. By the end of this book, you’ll have a solid understanding of what conflict means and the ability to use it to craft strong and compelling fiction.

Understanding Conflict: (And What It Really Means) (Skill Builders)

(This book is included in Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft) Fix the character and point-of-view problems holding your manuscript back! Characters are at the heart of every story, and if readers don't like those characters, they won't keep reading. Make sure your characters keep those readers hooked. Janice Hardy takes you step-by-step through revising character and character-related issues, such as two-dimensional characters, inconsistent points of view, too-much backstory, stale dialogue, didactic internalization, and lack of voice. She’ll show you how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix those problems. With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Fixing Your Character &amp; Point-of-View Problems offers five self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you: • Flesh out weak characters and build strong character arcs • Find the right amount of backstory to enhance, not bog down, your story • Determine the best point(s) of view and how to use them to your advantage • Eliminate empty dialogue and rambling internalization • Develop character voices and craft unique, individual characters Fixing Your Character &amp; Point-of-View Problems starts every workshop with an analysis to pinpoint problem areas and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. Learn how to: • Develop a strong and effective revision plan • Analyze your manuscript to find its strengths and weaknesses • Spot common red-flag words for problem areas • Determine the best way to revise Fixing Your Character &amp; Point-of-View Problems is an easy-to-follow guide to crafting compelling characters, solid points of view, and strong character voices readers will love.

Fixing Your Character and Point of View Problems: Revising Your Novel: Book One (Foundations of Fiction)

(This book is included in Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft) Fix the plot and story structure problems holding your manuscript back A great plot will pique reader interest and make them want to know what happens next, but predictable plots can lose them after a few chapters. Make sure your plot keeps those readers hooked. Janice Hardy takes you step-by-step through plot and story structure-related issues, such as wandering plots; a lack of scene structure; no goals, conflicts, or stakes; low tension; no hooks; and slow pacing. She'll show you how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix those problems. With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Fixing Your Plot & Story Structure Problems offers five self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you: - Create unpredictable plots that keep readers guessing - Find the right beginning and setup for your story - Avoid the boggy, aimless middle - Develop compelling hooks to build tension in every scene - Craft strong goals, conflicts, and stakes to grab readers - Determine the best pacing and narrative drive for your story Fixing Your Plot & Story Structure Problems starts every workshop with an analysis to pinpoint problem areas and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. Learn how to: - Develop a strong and effective revision plan - Analyze your manuscript to find its strengths and weaknesses - Spot common red-flag words for problem areas - Determine the best way to revise Fixing Your Plot & Story Structure Problems is an easy-to-follow guide to crafting gripping plots and novels that are impossible to put down.

Fixing Your Plot and Story Structure Problems: Revising Your Novel: Book Two (Foundations of Fiction)

(This book is included in Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft) Fix the setting and description problems holding your manuscript back A strong and well-described setting can draw readers right into your story, but a flat and bare world will make them leave it. Make sure your descriptions keep those readers hooked. Janice Hardy takes you step-by-step through setting and description-related issues, such as weak world building, heavy infodumping, told prose, awkward stage direction, inconsistent tone and mood, and overwritten descriptions. She'll show you how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix those problems. With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Fixing Setting & Description Problems offers five self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you: <ul> <li>Choose the right details to bring your setting and world to life</li> <li>Craft strong descriptions without overwriting </li> <li>Determine the right way to include information without infodumping</li> <li>Create compelling emotional layers that reflect the tone and mood of your scenes</li> <li>Fix awkward stage direction and unclear character actions </li> </ul> Fixing Setting & Description Problems starts every workshop with an analysis to pinpoint problem areas and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. Learn how to: <ul> <li>Develop a strong and effective revision plan </li> <li>Analyze your manuscript to find its strengths and weaknesses </li> <li>Spot common red-flag words for problem areas </li> <li>Determine the best way to revise </li> </ul> Fixing Setting & Description Problems is an easy-to-follow guide to crafting immersive settings and worlds that draw readers into your story and keep them there.

Fixing Your Setting and Description Problems: Revising Your Novel: Book Three (Foundations of Fiction)

On the run from beings that can’t possibly exist… Grace Harper has spent her life on the run, ever since her mother’s unnatural death at the hands of creatures that shouldn’t be real. It’s hard to believe in vampires, but the things chasing her fit every legend she’s ever heard. She dubs them “Pretty Boys,” though their beautiful faces hide ugly appetites. For twenty years, she and her father have stayed ahead of them, but for the last five years, their lives have been quiet. Grace has found a home, a life, and people she could even care about. She thinks the nightmare is finally over, but then a man shows up asking questions about a missing woman who’s somehow connected to her and her mother. He might also have answers about her mother’s death, if she’s willing to take a risk. Before she can decide, she’s attacked by a Pretty Boy and barely escapes. If the Pretty Boys have found her, it’s time to run. Reluctantly, she prepares to abandon her life, possible answers, and the only friend she’s ever had. Until they take her father. Fleeing is no longer an option. To find him, she must face ancient secrets, creatures from legend, and an unbelievable truth that will shatter her world. But to save him, Grace has to do the hardest thing of all: stop running and start fighting.

Blood Ties: A Grace Harper Novel (The Grace Harper Series)

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Hardy, J.T.

Fantasy

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Books by Janice Hardy