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  • novel writing
    • Don’t Submit Your Dream Novel First
    • WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MIX GENRES WHEN STARTING OUT
    • Raise the Stakes or Lose Your Reader
    • PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 1951 CHRISTMAS CAROL
    • Speech-to-Text: A Writer’s Secret Weapon
    • The #1 Reason Readers Quit Your Book
    • The One Trick That Hooks Every Reader
    • Why Every Scene Needs Intent and Obstacle
    • The One Golden Rule Every Novelist Must Know
  • how to.. writing tips
    • HOW TO CONTROL YOUR NOVEL’S PACE
    • How To Create A Powerful Story With 6 Words
    • Why Writing Your First Book Is Brutal (Truth)
    • The Secret to Rereadable Novels
    • How to Write a Villain Readers Fear
    • Fix Your Ending, Fix Your Story
    • The One Trick That Hooks Every Reader
    • Why Most Flashbacks Kill Your Story
    • How to Write an Epic Trilogy That Works
  • working your novel
    • Speech-to-Text: A Writer’s Secret Weapon
    • Stop Writing Flat Characters (Do This)
    • UNDERSTANDING A CHARACTER’S WANTS AND NEEDS
    • Why Character Arcs Make or Break Stories
    • Why Passive Heroes Kill Suspense
    • Too Late to Write a Novel? Absolutely Not
  • beginning your novel
    • The Fastest Way to Create Real Characters
    • The Writing Skill Most Authors Ignore
    • The Emotional Secret of Unforgettable Novels
    • Why Writing Your First Book Is Brutal (Truth)
    • What Jokes Teach Us About Writing Novels
    • Why You Shouldn’t Start at the Beginning
    • Why Most Twist Endings Fail in Novels
    • How To Create A Powerful Story With 6 Words
    • Planner or Pantser? What Stephen King Really Does
  • editing your novel
    • HOW TO CONTROL YOUR NOVEL’S PACE
    • Fix Your Ending, Fix Your Story
    • The Smart Way to Research Your Novel
    • SEEING THINGS THROUGH A LITERARY AGENT’S EYES
    • Do You Really Need Apps to Write a Novel?
  • quick writing tip
    • The Writing Mistakes Bad Sequels Reveal
    • The One Golden Rule Every Novelist Must Know
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Write Scenes Like a Film Director

Write Scenes Like a Film Director

Posted on January 2, 2022March 16, 2026 by mark

How to Write Your Novel Like a Movie Director Most beginner novels suffer from the same problem. Two characters are talking… but they seem to be floating in empty space. The reader doesn’t know where they are.Is it day or night?Are they inside a café or standing on a windy street? It feels like two…

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Write an Opening They Can’t Ignore

Write an Opening They Can’t Ignore

Posted on December 19, 2021March 20, 2026 by mark

Your First Line Sells the Story If it doesn’t pull them in, nothing else will.   The truth most writers learn too late A reader doesn’t commit to your novel. They test it. In a bookstore, online preview, or late at night on their phone—they read one line. And in that moment, a decision is…

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Why Stephen King Isn't Really a Horror Writer

Why Stephen King Isn’t Really a Horror Writer

Posted on December 16, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

Why Stephen King Is Not a Horror Writer Most people would call Stephen King the greatest horror writer alive. His books sell millions of copies.Movies are constantly made from his stories. Naturally, new writers try to copy him. They fill their novels with demons, ghosts, monsters, and bloodshed. They assume that if they write something…

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Design a Villain Readers Never Forget

Design a Villain Readers Never Forget

Posted on December 16, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

Why Readers Never Forget Great Villains (And How You Can Create One) Close your eyes for a moment. You can probably picture a great villain instantly. A mask. A voice. A way of standing in a room. That isn’t an accident. The most memorable antagonists in storytelling history aren’t remembered only for what they do….

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The Real Reason Your Novel Feels Flat

The Real Reason Your Novel Feels Flat

Posted on December 13, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

The Hardest Part of Writing a Novel (And Why It Matters) Most writers think the hardest part of writing a novel is plot. Or structure. Or finishing. It isn’t. The hardest part of writing a novel is allowing yourself to feel something you’d rather avoid — and putting that feeling on the page. If you…

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The Real Work Begins After Draft One

The Real Work Begins After Draft One

Posted on December 13, 2021March 20, 2026 by mark

Your First Draft Isn’t Your Book Yet You finished your novel. That moment feels incredible. For a brief second, it even feels done. But here’s the truth most writers don’t want to hear: You haven’t finished your book—you’ve just started it.   The Promise Most First Drafts Break Every writer dreams of typing “The End”…

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Should You Copy Famous Writers?

Should You Copy Famous Writers?

Posted on December 13, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

Whose Writing Style Should You Copy? Every new writer has the same quiet dream. You read a novel by Stephen King or J.K. Rowling and think: If I could write like that, I’d be successful too. It seems logical. If great writers have already figured out the formula, why not copy what they do? But…

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Are Flashbacks Quietly Killing Your Novel?

Are Flashbacks Quietly Killing Your Novel?

Posted on December 8, 2021March 17, 2026 by mark

The Problem With Flashbacks in Your Novel Most writing advice says the same thing: “Avoid flashbacks. They’ll ruin your novel.” But then you read great books — and they use them. So what’s the truth? Do flashbacks destroy tension?Or are writers just using them poorly? Let’s clear this up. By the end of this article,…

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THE RISKY SIDE OF SELF-PUBLISHING YOUR NOVEL

The Risky Side Of Self-Publishing Your Novel

Posted on December 8, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

The Hidden Risks of Self-Publishing a Novel Every writer dreams of the same moment. You walk into a bookstore… and there it is. Your novel on the shelf. Maybe someone is reading it in a quiet corner of a café, completely lost in the world you created. For decades, the only path to that moment…

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Do You Really Need Apps to Write a Novel?

Do You Really Need Apps to Write a Novel?

Posted on November 25, 2021March 16, 2026 by mark

Should You Buy Apps to Help With Novel Writing? Every new writer eventually asks the same question: Do I need writing apps to create a good novel? If you browse the internet, it can feel like the answer is yes.There are apps promising to help you plan your plot, design characters, structure your chapters, and…

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Most Writers Get This 3-Hour Rule Wrong

Most Writers Get This 3-Hour Rule Wrong

Posted on November 25, 2021March 17, 2026 by mark

Why 3 Hours a Day Is Enough to Write a Novel Most new writers believe one dangerous myth: If you’re serious about writing a novel, you should be writing all day. Eight hours. Ten hours. From sunrise until exhaustion. But here’s the truth professional writers quietly understand: More hours do not equal better books. Three…

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Mark Douglas Doran

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A novel writer looking to help you become the greatest writer you can be. teaching the in and outs of writing your novel.

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    • Write Endings That Echo
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    • Why Readers Quit Your Story Halfway
    • The Writing Mistakes Bad Sequels Reveal
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    • The MacGuffin Mistake That Kills Stories
    • How to Write an Epic Trilogy That Works
    • Why Stephen King Isn’t Really a Horror Writer
    • Raise the Stakes or Lose Your Reader
    • Fix Your Ending, Fix Your Story
    • Most Writers Get This 3-Hour Rule Wrong
    • The Real Work Begins After Draft One
    • The One Golden Rule Every Novelist Must Know
    • Design a Villain Readers Never Forget
    • Why Passive Heroes Kill Suspense
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