Chapter 1. Key Elements of Genre Fiction
- Literary Fiction versus Genre Fiction
- Literary Fiction
- Genre Fiction
- Fiction Length
- Key Elements
- Plot, Story, and Structure
- Setting
- Characters
- Point of View
- Prose
- Theme and Subject
Chapter 2. Choosing your Genre
- Action/Adventure
- Christian
- Fantasy
- Light Fantasy
- Arthurian Legend
- Heroic Fantasy
- Gay/Lesbian
- Historical
- Horror
- Mystery/Detective
- The Amateur Detective
- The Cozy
- The Police Procedural
- The Private Detective
- The Puzzle
- Romance
- Contemporary
- Gothic
- Regency
- Other Subgenres
- Science Fiction
- Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic
- Cyberpunk
- First Contact
- Hard
- Military
- Soft/Sociological
- Space Opera
- Time Travel
- Spy/Espionage
- Thriller
- Medical Thriller
- Legal Thriller
- Technothriller
- Western
- Young Adult
Chapter 3. Backstory to Description
- Backstory
- Direct Methods
- Indirect Methods
- Backstory Length
- Clichés
- Cliché Phrases
- Cliché Characters
- Cliché Situations
- Description
- Blending Description
- Brand Names
- The Words to Use
Chapter 4. Figurative Language to Introspection, Insight, & Perception
- Figurative Language
- Painting Mental Pictures
- Substituting Words for Sounds
- Other Functions
- Foreshadowing and Flash Forward
- Foreshadowing
- Flash Forward
- Form and Structure
- Form
- Structure
- Imagery
- Levels of Imagery
- Suggestions for Using Imagery
- Information
- Interlocking Episodes
- Introspection, Insight, and Perception
- Introspection
- Insight
- Perception
Chapter 5. Linking Episodes to Series
- Novels
- Linking Episodes
- Modifiers
- Adjectives
- Adverbs
- Valueless Modifiers
- Narrative
- Point of View
- First-person Point of View
- Third-person Point of view
- Multiple Points of View
- Second-person Point of View
- Sentences
- Sentence Fragments
- Sentence Variety
- Series Novels
Chapter 6. Setting to Special Scenes
- Setting
- Time
- Place
- Experience
- Mood
- Simultaneity
- Special Scenes
- Action Scenes
- Crowd/Battle Scenes
- Death Scenes
- Love Scenes
Chapter 7. Style and Tone to Verb Strength
- Style and Tone
- Style
- Tone
- Symbolism and Allegory
- Symbolism
- Allegory
- Telling versus Showing
- Telling
- Showing
- Time
- Transitions
- Simple Transitions
- Jump-cut Transitions
- Chapter Breaks
- Verb Strength
- Active versus Passive Voice
- Strong versus Weak Verbs
Chapter 8. Plot
- Plot Structure
- Parallel Plots and Subplots
- Parallel Plots
- Subplots
- Crisis and Challenge
- Crisis
- Challenge
- Conflict and Suspense
- Conflict
- Suspense
- Coincidence
- Withholding Information
- Story Focus
- Plot Driven Story
- Idea Driven Story
- Character Driven Story
- Twenty Basic Plots
- Plot Summary
- Outlining
Chapter 9. Structure
- Title
- Categories
- Importance
- Prologue
- Types of Prologues
- Prologue Test |
- Beginning
- Story Question
- Questions Readers Ask
- Components of the Beginning
- Wide and Narrow Beginnings
- Beginnings to Avoid
- Middle
- Complications
- Crisis
- The Sagging Middle
- End
- Climax
- Resolution
- Types of Endings
- Stated Goal versus True Goal
- Deus ex Machina
- Symbolic Event
- Epilogue
- Structure Chart
Chapter 10. Scene and Sequel
- Scene
- Questions to Answer
- Cause and Effect
- Scene Stages
- Scene Length
- Sequel
- Purposes of a Sequel
- Sequel Stages
- Sequel Length
- Variation of Scene-Sequel Structure
- Scene Structure Variation
- Sequel Structure Variation
- Ways to Keep the Reader Worried
- Scene Ways
- Sequel Ways
- Pacing
Chapter 11. Characterization
- Character Classification
- Major Characters
- Minor Characters
- Major or Minor Characters
- Character Description
- Dominant Characteristics
- Tags
- Uniqueness
- Involvement
- Desires and Goals
- Compensation
- Self-image
- Character Development
- Methods of Creating Characters
- Personality Components
- Examples of Character Attributes
- How to Bring in a Character
- Character Chart
Chapter 12. Dialogue
- Conversation versus Dialogue
- Direct and Indirect Dialogue
- Uses of Dialogue
- Types of Dialogue
- Directed Dialogue
- Interpolated Dialogue
- Misdirected Dialogue
- Modulated Dialogue
- Dialogue Techniques
- Dialogue Conventions
- Men Talking to Men
- Bits and Pieces versus Chunks
- Situational Dialogue
- Individuality
- Internal Dialogue
- Emphasis
- Sounds
- Speeches
- Cursing
- Rules for Good Dialogue
- Dialogue Tags
- Speech Tags
- Action Tags
- Creative Dialogue Tag Syndrome
- Excessive Direct Address
- Overuse of Modifiers
- Dialect, Slang, and Jargon
- Dialect
- Slang
- Jargon
- Slang and Jargon Websites
- Punctuating Dialogue
- Statements, Questions, and
Exclamations
- New Speaker
- More than One Paragraph of Dialogue
- Nested Quotation Marks
Chapter 13. Emotions
- Characteristics of Emotion
- Etiology of Emotions
- Mixed Emotions
- Range of Emotions
- Levels of Emotion
- Emotions and Body Language
- Table of Emotions
- Examples of Emotions
- Descriptive Phrases
- Emotional Situations
Chapter 14. Body Language
- Types of Body Language
- Facial Expressions
- Gestures
- Posture
- Spatial Relationships
- Groups
- Table of Body Language
- Examples of Body Language
Chapter 15. Additional Information
- Copyright and Plagiarism
- Copyright
- Plagiarism
- Getting Ideas
- Sources for Ideas
- Record your Ideas
- Manuscript
- Format
- Revision
- Query Letter and Synopsis
- Query Letter
- Synopsis
Appendix. Grammar Tips
- Comma and Semicolon Use
- Lists
- Nonessential and Essential Clauses
- Commonly Confused Words
- Double Negatives
- Modifiers
- Dangling Modifiers
- Nearly, Almost, and Only
- One Word or Two?
- Possessives
- Pronouns
- Case
- Noun-pronoun Agreement
- Antecedent Agreement
- Sentence Structure
- Comma Splice
- Run-On (Fused) Sentences
- Split Infinitives
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Verbals
- Participles
- Gerunds
- Infinitives
- When to Use Verbals
- Whether or Not |
