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Love the question. And I think you are onto a major feature - originality. Assuming an author can describe characters and setting and present dialog that seems real, what contribution can they make beyond basic skills? We should probably start a list. You named one - fresh directions with...

If you follow reddit, watch for posts in xxchromosomes. Read them as a person. Notice the issues. The fears. Learn. When appropriate, apply what you learned to your character development.

Thoughts on chapter length: My novels also have long chapters. It just seemed right. Then I read some James Patterson novels. Really short chapters. Bestselling novelist on the planet (his book jackets say). I reread my own chapters. Could I cut them up? I found when I reviewed that many...

I need a character, a place for the character, and a problem for the character. And I have to get it all in the first paragraph. MAYBE, if I can do that my readers will bother reading paragraph two. No guarantees. So, what do I need before I write the first sentence? A mental image. I need...

I killed off one of my MCs on the second page. The whole book then tries to determine who she was and why she died. Turns out she had a tough life. I didn't want the whole novel to be tragic, but it was the very end before there is some happiness. There is a risk in such negativity. Like...

I have one series that is 8 books long. I would finish one and immediately have an idea for another arc. I think I rounded everything up and finally came to a conclusion in book 8, but there are still times when I think of writing #9. I think that comes from loving the characters and places...

I woke up this morning with the endling to my novel. I write mysteries, and I am 65,000 words into an 80-85,000 word murder mystery. Now I finally know who the killer is. Complete surprise to me. I was leaning toward another guy for most of the book. But now I like this other killer better...

I got a one-star rating on one of my books (Waters of the Kalahari). It was deserved. I was deep into a series and moving right along. Didn't take the time to revise. I left the book on Scribblehub thinking I would get back to it. But it was months later. Too long to leave bad writing out...

Interesting question. And valid. There was a period not too long ago when most cop movies were buddy films. Two guys argue all the time but eventually appreciate each other. Now? Not so sure. Let me extend the question. I have been reading what agents are looking for (and after another 40...

You may be new to the forum, but you ask a good question. I am currently reading a lot of James Patterson. According to his jacket covers, he is the most popular author in America. Maybe a good guy to learn from. The first thing that struck me about his writing is how short his chapters are...

I love the way this thread is evolving. Lots of back and forth leading to more clarity and more insights. Me? I have discovered my audience since the move to draft2digital. I have twenty novels on there, and I can see each day what my readers want. I have a series of alternate history (fun...

I think breaks have value. The world moves on, you move on, you learn and grow. Your story will be richer for what you have encountered. If your story has value to you, you will reflect on today's insights and rethink your characters and plot. You might even change your ending. Historical...

I invent a beginning. I have heard over and over and over you get your readers (and agents and editors) in the first page. So I work that page over and over. It defines the characters. It defines the ending. It tells me what will happen in the middle. I'm still not good enough to get...

I spend a lot of time developing characters, but there is a risk. We want something to happen (I think). There has to be action. But we also need characters we care about (at least I do). But taking page after page to develop characters seems to slow everything down. Chapters of character...

As a writer, I want to keep my readers reading. I fear if I am not posting, they will lose interest and just move over to any of hundreds of other writers. Wish I could keep them breathlessly waiting for my next chapter, but I am just not that good. So, yes, life intervenes. I have gaps...

Always good to hear from someone who made it big. Thanks for listing your insights. My numbers are still three digits, but that still represents a large number of readers who gave my words a chance. I also give SH credit for good feedback. Not just gross numbers. I can look at the chapter...

My whole novel is about a young boy who cross-dresses. He looks and acts as a girl. His/her death is the mystery of the novel.

I just went back and rewrote an entire series - for the second time. I needed to. I found lots of simple grammar stuff, but I also found paragraphs that made no sense, or characters saying things badly. I loved the basic premise of all the books, so why would I not want them to be better...

I struggle every time I have a large number of characters. How do I account for them all? Do they all talk? Where are each of them? My solution - fewer characters. There are just so many I can manage. Classic solution? The Illiad. Best battle scenes ever - but all of it is in...

My novels include characters from various countries. To come up with reasonable names I either use "Most Popular names in X" or I upload either the names of their Olympic winners or their main politicians. Generally gives me a good range of character names that won't be laughed at by locals.