writing

The Secret to Bestselling Fantasy: The External Plot

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

In The Magic of Opening Images and First Chapters, we looked at the power of the opening image—that first glimpse that hooks a reader and promises a journey worth taking. But once you’ve hooked them, how do you keep them?

The answer lies in the External Plot.

Every story needs a visible, tangible goal. It’s the movement of the protagonist through the world. While internal growth is beautiful, the external plot is the engine. It’s the answer to the reader’s subconscious question: What is this person actually trying to do, and what happens if they fail?

In fantasy, where the worlds are vast and the magic is complex, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. That’s why I want to introduce you to a tool we use at Fictionary: The Skeleton Blurb.

What is a Skeleton Blurb?

A skeleton blurb isn’t the flashy copy you see on the back of a book. It’s a structural tool for you, the writer. It’s the shortest possible version of your story that answers three vital questions:

  1. Who is the protagonist?
  2. What is their goal?
  3. What is at stake?

Think of it as the North Star for your manuscript. If a scene doesn’t move your protagonist closer to that goal or raise those stakes, you have to ask yourself: Does this scene really belong?

The Fantasy Layer: More Than One Skeleton

Fantasy writers have a unique challenge. Often, a “real-world” goal isn’t enough. You might need multiple skeleton blurbs to keep your subplots on track. At a minimum, you’ll likely have an External Plot (the physical journey) and a Supernatural Plot (the magical journey). We’ll cover the supernatural plot next month.

Take Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Violet Sorrengail doesn’t just have one problem.

  • External: She must survive the Riders Quadrant; otherwise, she’ll die as a cadet.
  • Supernatural: She must control her signet; otherwise, she can’t protect the borders.

By separating these, you ensure every “layer” of your story has a beginning, middle, and a satisfying climax.

Identifying Your True Protagonist

Before you can write your blurb, you must be certain who your protagonist is. This sounds simple, but in complex fantasies with multiple Point of View (POV) characters, it can get murky.

We look at the data:

  • The Opening Image: Usually, the character we meet first is our lead.
  • Scene Count: Who owns the most “real estate” in your book?

In The Unbroken by C.L. Clark, we have two strong characters: Touraine and Luca. However, Touraine owns 60% of the scenes and leads the opening. She is our single protagonist.

In contrast, look at A Game of Thrones. George R.R. Martin uses a Group Protagonist strategy. No single character’s goal encompasses the whole story. Instead, the skeleton blurb belongs to the collective: The humans must choose who sits on the throne; otherwise, the kingdoms will fall apart.

Build Your Own

Are you writing a single protagonist story like Twilight or A Court of Thorns and Roses? Or are you weaving a massive ensemble?

Whatever your path, I challenge you today: Write your External Plot Skeleton Blurb. 

Protagonist [Name] must [Goal]; otherwise, [Stakes].

If you can’t fit your plot into that sentence, your story might be missing its bones. Get the skeleton right, and the rest of the body will follow.

Secrets to Writing a Sci-Fi Novel

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

I’m super excited to announce Alexandria Yandt has accepted my offer to co-author Secrets to Writing A Sci-Fi, the 9th book in the Write Novels That Sell series.

Alexandria is a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach editor and instructor. She brings with her a strong knowledge of story structure and the science fiction genres. She writes both historical romance and science fiction with, you guessed it, a romance subplot.

Key Details:

  • Series: Write Novels That Sell (Book 9)
  • Authors: Alexandria Yandt & K. Stanley
  • Expected Release: 2027

We’ll keep you updated on upcoming events in Fictionary that teach how to write a science fiction novel.

Please join me in welcoming Alexandria to the team.

Secrets to Writing Subplots

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

We have some exciting news to share that will definitely help you level up your storytelling game.

Kristina Stanley and Lisa Taylor are officially back in the lab! They are currently co-authoring the 8th novel in the Write Novels That Sell series.

As they are well under way with their research, they have started writing, and you can expect the same high-level craft advice and actionable insights that have made this series a staple on every bookshelf.

Key Details:

  • Series: Write Novels That Sell (Book 8)
  • Authors: Lisa Taylor & K. Stanley
  • Expected Release: Late 2026

We’ll keep you updated on upcoming events that teach how to write a subplot.

The Heart of the Start: The Romance Meet-Cute

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

In the world of commercial fiction, structure is your best friend. It provides the guideposts that keep a story moving and ensures readers stay buckled in for the ride. But when you are writing romance, there is one specific “guidepost” that carries more weight than almost any other: the inciting incident, better known in our genre as the Meet-Cute.

In our book, Secrets to Writing a Romance, Kristina Stanley and I do a deep dive into why this moment is the literal spark that lights the fire of your story. If you’re looking to level up your manuscript, here is how to craft a meeting that keeps readers turning pages.

1. Make it an “Active” Event

A common pitfall is placing the meeting in the backstory. You might be tempted to start the book with your protagonist reminiscing about a “gorgeous jerk” they saw yesterday. Don’t. In romance, the inciting incident must happen on the page in an active scene. Readers don’t just want the information; they want to be in the thick of it. They need to feel the pulse spike and the breath hitch along with your characters. If you skip the “good stuff” at the start, the reader loses their emotional investment before the story even begins.

2. The Power of the “Re-Meet”

While many stories focus on strangers, remember that a powerful meet-cute can also be a re-meet. This is perfect for friends-to-lovers or second-chance arcs. In these cases, the “meet-cute” is a transformative event where two people who already know each other—perhaps as lifelong neighbors, bickering coworkers, or platonic best friends—suddenly see one another in a brand-new light. This shift in perspective acts as the catalyst, launching their existing relationship onto an entirely new, romantic course.

3. Disruption is Key

A great meet-cute should flip your protagonist’s “normal” upside down. This is the moment their ordinary world goes “poof.” Crucially, this disruption should be caused by the love interest. If the world is falling apart because of a meteor strike, you’re writing an action movie. If the world is falling apart because a specific person just walked into the room (or finally looked at them differently) and challenged their status quo—now you’re writing a romance.

4. Lean Into the “Meet-Ugly”

It doesn’t always have to be sunshine and roses. In fact, many of the most memorable pairings start with a meet-ugly. Whether it’s an awkward misunderstanding, an unwanted encounter, or a heated argument, the goal is friction. The initial interaction should be characterized by high emotional intensity. Whether that is instant attraction or instant annoyance doesn’t matter, as long as the emotion is powerful.

5. Early and Intertwined

To keep the pacing tight, aim to have your characters meet (or have their “re-meet” moment) early—ideally before you are 15% into the book. Once they collide, give them a reason they must stay in close proximity. Whether it’s a shared project, a family crisis, or a forced living situation, proximity keeps the tension simmering.

6. Leave Them Wanting More

The meet-cute raises a vital question in the reader’s mind: How on earth are these two going to end up together? Keep that question alive. Let your characters resist the attraction and fight the goal. Readers love knowing what’s right for the characters before the characters do—it’s what makes them cheer for that final “Happily Ever After.”

To learn more about Happily Ever Afters and other romance topics, pick up a copy of Secrets to Writing a Romance. 

Post Written by Linda O’Donnell

Linda O'Donnell

Linda O’Donnell is a writer, certified structural editor, certified copy editor, and a writing and editing instructor. She co-authored Secrets to Writing a Romance with Kristina Stanley, and together they are working on their latest book, Secrets to Writing a Novel. Linda’s contemporary romance novel, Behind the Scenes, is coming out soon.

The Secrets to Creating a Killer Cast for Your Mystery

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

Here’s one of the first secrets unlocked for a mystery novel: There are mandatory
characters you need to set your mystery in motion.
The Mandatory Mystery Crew
You can’t have a mystery without a crime, and you can’t have a crime without the core
cast. These characters form the required foundation of your story:

  • Victim: Without a victim, there is no crime. They may or may not be dead when
  • the story begins.
  • Sleuth: The character who investigates the crime: your professional or amateur
  • detective.
  • Multiple Suspects: You need more than one character who could have done it. At least a few of these need to have the opportunity to commit the crime. Otherwise, the mystery is solved too quickly.
  • Motive: Each suspect must have a reason why they are a suspect.
  • Culprit (Antagonist): The character

Once you have your mandatory characters, you can fill out the rest of your cast with supporting players, such as a sidekick, a mentor, multiple victims or antagonists, experts, or characters who provide local color.

The Protagonist Rule: Why One is the Magic Number

One of the most fundamental principles we stress is this: A story can only have one protagonist.

This isn’t just an arbitrary rule; it’s about engaging the reader. The protagonist is the central character whose journey the reader follows and whose goal drives the entire plot. Readers need a single entity to connect with and root for. If they don’t know who to cheer for, they’re likely to lose interest.To help writers focus their energy, we identified three types of protagonists:

  • Single Protagonist: The most straightforward, where one main character drives the plot toward a clear goal.
  • Combined Protagonist: Two main characters who share the exact same story goal and stakes. If an event helps one, it helps the other; if it hurts one, it hurts the other. They must have distinct personalities to create necessary friction.
  • Group Protagonist: Three or more characters who work together to achieve the central story goal (like a heist team or a community). While individual characters may experience events differently, the group as a whole is either moving closer to or farther away from the main goal.

Defining this pivotal character is the first step in crafting an effective skeleton blurb for your mystery. For those of you not familiar with a skeleton blurb, it is a simple sentence that captures the heart of your story. Using only the protagonist, the story goal, and the story stakes, you can create a sentence that you can use as a touchstone for every scene in your story. I’ll write more about this in the near future.

I’m sure you already have ideas for your protagonist.

Want to dive deeper into story structure, learn how to weave in powerful subplots, and plant the perfect clues and red herrings?

Secrets to Writing a Mystery provides a full framework to support your creativity and set you up to write a commercially successful mystery novel. If you can’t wait for the next blog post, our book is available now to help you solve your own mystery and write your book.

Until next time, Lisa.

From the moment the children’s librarian walked a young bookworm upstairs to the Adult Department and introduced her to the mystery section…Lisa Taylor has been hooked on the genre.

For years, Lisa was an educator and librarian, honing her skills in helping readers and writers develop with curiosity and creativity. Now as an editor and writing coach, Lisa works with a small publishing house as well as being a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Certified Instructor.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery is Lisa’s first published book. Along with editing and coaching, she is currently writing an amateur cozy mystery series set in Northern Ontario.

Want to Learn to Self-Edit?

Join the Fictionary School for Writers and Editors

The Secret to Bestselling Fantasy:The Magic of Opening Images and First Chapters

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

The first page of a fantasy novel isn’t just paper and ink—it’s a portal. But how do you ensure your readers actually want to step through it? In our latest guide, Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, we pull back the curtain on the mechanics of world-building, starting with the two most vital components of your debut: the Opening Image and the Opening Chapter.

While they sound similar, understanding the nuance between them is the difference between a reader who browses and a reader who buys.

The Opening Image: Setting the Tone

The opening image is the very first visual or conceptual seed you plant. In fantasy, this often takes the form of “pre-text”—perhaps a haunting quote from a fictional ancient tomb or a snippet of a forgotten prophecy.

Its primary duty is to support two pillars: the external plot and the supernatural plot. You may want to check out Why Your Story Needs Two Story Arcs. You have a crucial choice here: does your “ordinary world” include magic from the start, or is the supernatural something that breaks into a mundane reality? Your opening image sets that expectation immediately. Here are some options for what this scene can accomplish.

  • Establish life-or-death stakes.
  • Hint at what the protagonist loves (and what they stand to lose).
  • Set the atmospheric tone before a single line of dialogue is spoken.

The First Chapter: The Engine of Engagement

If the opening image is the atmosphere, the first chapter is the engine. This is where genre-agnostic duties kick in. Regardless of whether you have dragons or starships, your first chapter can:

  1. Introduce the Protagonist: Unless there is a high-level narrative reason to wait, the reader needs someone to root for now.
  2. Define the Ordinary World: This is the status quo. We need to see your hero in their natural habitat before the inciting incident blows it all to pieces.
  3. Mirror the Closing Image: Expertly crafted novels often begin with a visual or thematic beat that finds its “answer” or reflection in the final pages of the book.

Case Study: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

In Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, we analyze bestsellers to see these rules in action. Take Fourth Wing.

Yarros utilizes a powerful opening image: a paragraph explaining that the text was transcribed by a scribe to honor the dead. This immediately signals that the stakes are lethal. She follows this with a quote from the Dragon Rider’s Codex, weaving the supernatural (dragons) into the very fabric of the world before Chapter One even begins.

When we reach Chapter One, we meet Violet Sorrengail. Her ordinary world is a library, but the inciting incident—her mother forcing her into the Riders Quadrant—has already happened. Yarros uses clever backstory beats to show us what Violet is leaving behind, proving that you don’t need a linear timeline to create an emotional connection.

Excel at the Art of the Beginning

Are you showing the ordinary world in action, or are you weaving it through backstory? Is your tone consistent from the first sentence?

Don’t leave your opening to chance. Whether you’re writing a grimdark epic or a cozy portal fantasy, the transition from the “Opening Image” to the “Opening Chapter” is your first and best chance to cast a spell on your audience.

Ready to build a world readers never want to leave? Check out Secrets to Writing a Fantasy for the full story.

Don’t leave your structure to chance. Stop guessing and start building a structurally sound novel, scene by sensational scene. 

Write Your Novel in 6 Months: Only 25 New Writers Accepted

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

On April 1st, Fictionary is launching our next Write Your Novel cohort. This is a comprehensive, 6-month journey designed to take you from a story idea to the final draft of your novel.

This program includes 3 live, 8-week courses to Outline, Write, and Edit your novel under the guidance of our world-class instructors. You’ll learn how flawless structure builds great stories and unlocks the secrets behind novels that sell.

Only 25 new members will be accepted into the April cohort to ensure every writer receives the professional eyes their work deserves. Join 100% risk-free for your first 30 days. Fictionary School Memberships then start at just $69 /month.

JOIN APRIL COHORT

A Proven Framework for Success

Fictionary Testimonial

We’ve been called “Peloton for Writers” because we provide elite, live instruction combined with our StoryTeller Premium software. No recorded sessions here. We are live online to support you. Our 6-month curriculum is broken into three actionable courses:

  1. Outline Your Novel: Use our story visualization software to build a story arc that works before you waste time on scenes that don’t matter.
  2. Write Your Novel: Transform from an aspiring writer into a confident author with a novel containing the must-have scenes and structure for commercially successful fiction.
  3. Edit Your Novel: Skip the vague feedback of amateur critique groups and use our expert framework to fix your pacing and structure.

Why The Write Your Novel Program is Different

We’re more than just courses. We’re a kind community where you can ask questions in “Ask-an-Editor” if you get stuck and join weekly check-ins that promote accountability and keep you writing.

By joining this cohort, you get access to our StoryTeller Premium software combined with live, interactive classes led by certified editors. It’s the ultimate roadmap to ensure your book is structurally sound and ready for traditional or high-end publication.

JOIN APRIL COHORT

Join 100% risk-free for your first 30 days.

From Shake-Up to Finale: The 5 Essential Scenes Every Story Needs

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

I’m thrilled to be a guest on the Rakuten Kobo Inc. Writing Life blog to share the 5 Essential Scenes Every Story Needs.

Every novelist wants to write a book that keeps readers turning pages until 2 AM. But without these five structural pillars—the Inciting Incident, Plot Point 1, the Midpoint, Plot Point 2, and the Climax—even the best prose can lose its momentum.

In this post, I break down why these scenes are the “make or break” moments for your narrative arc.

Check out the full guest post here: https://www.kobo.com/kobo-writing-life/blog/the-5-essential-scenes-every-story-needs

Romance: Keeping the Promise

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

One of the most common questions I hear when I tell people I co-authored a craft book on writing romance is, “Does it really have to end with a happily ever after?” The short answer is yes. The longer answer is far more interesting, because it gets to the heart of what makes romance such a powerful and enduring genre. If you’re new to writing romance, understanding this expectation will save you a lot of confusion and revision down the road.

Romance isn’t defined by the presence of a love story. Plenty of novels contain love stories — literary fiction, thrillers, historical, even horror. A romance is defined by its promise: the central relationship must resolve in a way that is emotionally satisfying for the reader. In other words, it must end with either an HEA (Happily Ever After) or an HFN (Happy For Now). Think of an HEA as “we’re in it for the long haul” and an HFN as “we’re together and happy, and we’ll see where life takes us.”

This isn’t a formula. It’s a contract.

When a reader picks up a romance, they’re entering into an agreement with the author. They’ll endure the wounds and fears, the complications and obstacles you put in the character’s path, trusting that, in the end, their heart is safe. The HEA/HFN is the fulfillment of that promise. It’s the moment when the emotional arc lands, the internal epiphanies click into place, and the characters choose each other in a way that feels earned.

An HEA is the classic version: the couple is together, committed, and looking toward a shared future. It doesn’t require a wedding, a ring, or a baby. It simply requires clarity: the reader closes the book knowing the relationship is solid, and the characters have done the work to make it last.

An HFN offers a future that’s hopeful, even if it’s not fully mapped out. HFNs are especially common in romance series arcs or in stories where the characters are still in transitional phases of life. The key is that the ending feels emotionally complete, even if the future isn’t yet spelled out.

If you’re new to romance, you might worry that this makes your story predictable or less “serious.” In reality, readers choose romance because they want that emotional payoff. Your job isn’t to surprise them with whether it ends happily, but to surprise and move them with how it happens. Genre expectations don’t limit creativity; they shape it. Mysteries must solve the crime. Thrillers must stop the threat. Romance must resolve the relationship. Readers want to feel hopeful and secure about the couple’s future. Within that framework, authors set their stories apart through character depth, emotional complexity, unique conflicts, and fresh settings. The HEA/HFN simply ensures that the emotional journey lands where romance readers need it to.

And readers do need it. Romance is one of the few genres that consistently affirms hope — not in a naïve way, but in a deeply human one. These stories remind us that people can grow, relationships can heal, and love is worth the risk. In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, that promise matters.

So yes, a romance requires an HEA or HFN. Not because the genre is rigid, but because the emotional payoff is the point. It’s what makes romance comforting, cathartic, and profoundly satisfying. It’s what keeps readers coming back. And it’s what makes writing romance such a joyful, meaningful pursuit.

To learn more about Happily Ever Afters and other romance topics, pick up a copy of Secrets to Writing a Romance. 

Post Written by Linda O’Donnell

Linda O'Donnell

Linda O’Donnell is a writer, certified structural editor, certified copy editor, and a writing and editing instructor. She co-authored Secrets to Writing a Romance with Kristina Stanley, and together they are working on their latest book, Secrets to Writing a Novel. Linda’s contemporary romance novel, Behind the Scenes, is coming out soon.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

Mysteries offer readers a unique experience. As well as being drawn into the life of a character, the reader also enjoys the challenge of solving the crime along with the sleuth. The reader uncovers clues and examines all the evidence to deduce motive and opportunity for every suspect with the goal of finding the culprit among them.

Whether they lean into the emotional community connection found in many cozies or the sometimes gritty mental distance and challenge in police procedurals, all mystery readers appreciate the twists and turns offered by a mystery writer.

Mystery writers weave this web, building from the solid foundation of mystery structure that supports the strands of surprise. Writing a mystery offers a challenge by integrating the unique and surprising into a familiar and expected structure. For mystery readers, the knowledge that the sleuth will uncover the culprit doesn’t diminish the thrill of the chase.

Instead, it allows them to trust that the writer will include every clue needed to discover the truth. The climax can come as a surprise or a confirmation for the reader, but it always delivers a sense of satisfaction. The story world may be different than it was at the start of the novel, but there is a sense that at least there is justice in the world.

Writing a great mystery requires both meeting the reader’s expectations for specific genre elements and adding your story’s unique twists.

The desire to help writers understand the underlying secrets to writing a compelling mystery that meets readers’ expectations and opens ideas for creativity in storytelling inspired Kristina Stanley and me to write Secrets to Writing a Mystery.

Deep analysis of the structure found in commercially successful mysteries uncovered clues. By identifying what the mysteries have in common as well as their unique twists, we discovered a framework that we hope will inspire every writer to find the path for their mystery. In our book, we share insights and tips aimed to support writers’ creativity while equipping them with the necessary tools to craft their best mystery.

One of the first secrets we unlocked is that a mystery novel solves a crime by answering who committed that crime and why. There are different types of mysteries. We focused on three subgenres that encompass many mysteries: amateur cozy, amateur traditional, and detective. These types share several common aspects:

  • The reader learns about the crime early, often on the book jacket description or from early events in the story.
  • Neither the reader nor the protagonist knows who the culprit is at the beginning of the story.
  • The protagonist might not be in danger at the beginning of the story.
  • The protagonist solves the crime in the climax scene.
  • There will be multiple suspects until the climax scene.
  • In most novels, the antagonist isn’t known until the climax scene.

Do you have an idea for the crime in your book? Write it down. If not, don’t worry. The crime will become clearer as you make other decisions about your story.

I will be sharing insights and unlocking more secrets from our book to inspire your writing. From victims to suspects and clues, through structure and genre expectations, watch for new insights each week.

And if you can’t wait, Secrets to Writing a Mystery is already available to help you solve your own mystery and write your book.

We really hope you do, we love reading mysteries!

Until next time, Lisa.

From the moment the children’s librarian walked a young bookworm upstairs to the Adult Department and introduced her to the mystery section…Lisa Taylor has been hooked on the genre.

For years, Lisa was an educator and librarian, honing her skills in helping readers and writers develop with curiosity and creativity. Now as an editor and writing coach, Lisa works with a small publishing house as well as being a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Certified Instructor.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery is Lisa’s first published book. Along with editing and coaching, she is currently writing an amateur cozy mystery series set in Northern Ontario.

Want to Learn to Self-Edit?

Join the Fictionary School for Writers and Editors