20. Writing Mechanics: Structure

PubCrawl Podcast

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20. Writing Mechanics: Structure

S. Jae-Jones

Mar 03, 2016

This week Kelly and JJ get into WRITING MECHANICS, or How to Write a Book. Starting with Structure, they discuss what makes a good story: beginnings, middles, and endings. Also, TV show recommendations.

Show Notes

Beginnings must answer the Who (characters), the What (premise), and the When (setting). Middles must answer the Why (the point of your book). Endings must answer the How (resolution).

A Plot Chart!
JJ wrote a series on Beginnings, Middles, and Endings at her blog
Browse our Beginnings, Middles, Endings, and Structure tags
Inciting Incidents: A Breakdown by JJ
Midpoints: A Breakdown by JJ
A previous podcast episode about beginnings
Start With a Change, Not Just Action by Jodi Meadows
Common Problems With Beginnings by Jodi Meadows
Beginnings: Action and Change by Jodi Meadows
What happens in the middle? by Jodi Meadows
The Point When Everything Changes by Susan Dennard
Crafting an Ending that Sings by Susan Dennard
Endings by Jodi Meadows
Outlining on Excel…(yes, that’s right, Excel) by Kat Zhang
Fiction University by Janice Hardy*
Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland (and podcast!)

Books Reading/Discussed

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman* and Jay Kristoff

What We're Working On

Kelly is working on her freelance career and credits and her professional website
JJ is also working on career stuff; she recorded an interview with Jenn Baker of Minorities in Publishing and working on some things for Disability in Kidlit. She's also working on her newsletter, if you guys want to read part I of "the long shitty synopsis" of Wintersong (as detailed in her origin story post).