Kishōtenketsu Story Structure: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Compares to Western Plotting

Note From KMW: In recent years, one of the questions I’ve been asked most often is whether I’ll write more about Eastern story structure—particularly how it compares to the Western Monomyth and the structural beats I tend to teach. In fact, when I ran my reader survey last year, exploring Kishōtenketsu was one of the […]
The post Kishōtenketsu Story Structure: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Compares to Western Plotting appeared first on Helping Writers Become Authors.
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/kishotenketsu-story-structure/

#StructuringYourNovel #kishotenketsu #structuringyournovel

The Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story

When writers start talking about story structure, usually the first things people think of are beats, turning points, and acts. But underneath all of that is a more fundamental question: What is the shape of story itself? Is story fundamentally linear, moving from beginning to middle to end—or does a different pattern emerge? This question […]
The post The Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story appeared first on Helping Writers Become Authors.
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/four-act-structure-shape-of-story/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #WritingInspiration #WritingLife #fouractstructure

The Mirror Moment in Fiction: A Midpoint Method for Plotters and Pantsers

Note From KMW: One of the first writing teachers I remember learning from was James Scott Bell. When I started religiously reading the Writer’s Digest magazine as a young writer, Jim’s regular column always spoke to me. He had a knack for naming high-concept ideas in a way that always felt accessible and practicable. Years […]
The post The Mirror Moment in Fiction: A Midpoint Method for Plotters and Pantsers appeared first on Helping Writers Become Authors.
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/mirror-moment-in-fiction/

#StructuringYourNovel #midpoint #mirrormoment #structuringyournovel

5 Ways to Keep the Story Moving Between the Big Moments

Many writers discover that connecting the plot points of a story is far harder than identifying them. It’s easy enough to name the big turning points on a beat sheet, but when you sit down to write the pages that bridge those landmarks, the story can…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/connect-plot-points-keep-story-moving/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #plotpoints #plottingyournovel #scenestructure

The Real Purpose of the Second Act (And Why You Can’t Skip It)

Note From KMW: Before we dive in, I wanted to share that I’m part of this year’s 2025 Novel Writing Tools StoryBundle. This is a limited-time collection of 13 books for writers covering craft, business, mindset, and more. You can grab my book Creating Character Arcs…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/real-purpose-of-second-act/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #midpoint #momentoftruth #secondact

“Who Am I?” The Midpoint as Self-Recognition in Story Structure

Note From KMW: The winner of the giveaway for the Freewrite Word Runner keyboard will be announced to my mailing list (and on Instagram) later today. Stay tuned! *** “Who am I?” is the question that echoes beneath every character arc. At…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/midpoint-story-structure-self-recognition/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #liethecharacterbelieves #midpoint #mirrormoment

Structuring Your Novel Workbook: Second Edition Launch + Freewrite Wordrunner Giveaway

When I first wrote Structuring Your Novel over a decade ago, I didn’t know it would become one of my most beloved books—helping almost 100,000 writers find clarity and confidence in their storytelling. Hearing from writers…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/structuring-your-novel-workbook-second-edition-launch-giveaway/

#StructuringYourNovel #structuringyournovelworkbook

The 5 Types of Scene Endings Every Writer Must Master

There’s nothing quite like a scene that ends with a bang—or at least a purposeful beat that pulls readers deeper into the story. A well-crafted scene ending doesn’t just wrap things up, it launches momentum into the next scene, tightens your pacing, and deepens the…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/types-of-scene-endings/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #chapterendings #scenebreaks #sceneendings
@indieauthors

The 5 Types of Scene Endings Every Writer Must Master

There’s nothing quite like a scene that ends with a bang—or at least a purposeful beat that pulls readers deeper into the story. A well-crafted scene ending doesn’t just wrap things up, it launches momentum into the next scene, tightens your pacing, and deepens the…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/types-of-scene-endings/

#Podcast #StructuringYourNovel #chapterendings #scenebreaks #sceneendings
@indieauthors

How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 2 of 2)

One of the most exciting challenges in storytelling is writing characters who grow over time—not just within a single story, but across several. Whether you’re working on a series or revisiting a familiar…
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-different-character-arcs-for-the-same-character-part-2-of-2/

#Characters #Podcast #characterarcs #characters #structuringyournovel
@indieauthors