Skip to content

Mark Douglas Doran

become a great writer

Menu
  • novel writing
    • Learn How To Master The Book Publishing Business
    • WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MIX GENRES WHEN STARTING OUT
    • Why You Must Raise The Stakes To The Limit In Your Novel
    • PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 1951 CHRISTMAS CAROL
    • The Benefits Of Speech To Text As A Writer
    • Why Someone Gives Up On Your Novel And How To Stop It
    • How To Hook A Reader Throughout Your Novel
    • How Intent And Obstacle Can Sell Your Novel
    • Here Is The Golden Rule When Writing A Novel
  • how to.. writing tips
    • HOW TO CONTROL YOUR NOVEL’S PACE
    • How To Create A Powerful Story With 6 Words
    • How Difficult Is It To Write Your First Book
    • How To Get Someone To Read Your Novel Again
    • How To Have A Great Villain For Your Novel
    • How To Have The Perfect Ending To Your Novel
    • How To Hook A Reader Throughout Your Novel
    • How To Properly Place A Flashback In Your Novel
    • How To Write Your Own Epic Trilogy Novels
  • working your novel
    • The Benefits Of Speech To Text As A Writer
    • Applying Complex Psychology To Your Characters
    • UNDERSTANDING A CHARACTER’S WANTS AND NEEDS
    • Understanding Character Arcs In Your Novel
    • Put Your Protagonist In The Greatest Danger
    • Are You Too Old To Start Writing A Novel?
  • beginning your novel
    • Amazing Tips For Creating Characters For Your Novel
    • The Greatest Tip On How To Be A Great Writer
    • The Emotional Secret of Unforgettable Novels
    • How Difficult Is It To Write Your First Book
    • If You Can Tell A Joke You Can Write A Novel
    • Which Part Of The Novel Do You Start Writing First?
    • Why Most Twist Endings Fail in Novels
    • How To Create A Powerful Story With 6 Words
    • Is Stephen King A Planner Or Panster?
  • editing your novel
    • HOW TO CONTROL YOUR NOVEL’S PACE
    • How To Have The Perfect Ending To Your Novel
    • How To Research Information For Your Novel
    • SEEING THINGS THROUGH A LITERARY AGENT’S EYES
    • Do You Really Need Apps to Write a Novel?
  • quick writing tip
    • What A Writer Can Learn From Bad Movie Sequels
    • Here Is The Golden Rule When Writing A Novel
Menu
THE BIG NO-NO WITH MacGUFFINS IN NOVEL WRITING

The Big No-No With MacGuffins In Novel Writing

Posted on May 11, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

The big no-no with MacGuffins in novel writing. What truly sells a novel. what to focus on as a writer. what the reader cares about.   There’s a mistake a large number of new writers make when writing a novel, trying to use a “MacGuffin” to sell their book.  But shockingly can actually hurt their…

Read more
WHY SOMEONE WILL GIVE UP ON YOUR NOVEL AND HOW TO STOP IT

Why Someone Gives Up On Your Novel And How To Stop It

Posted on May 10, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

Why someone gives up on your novel and how to stop it. How the focus on character needs to be the driving force. make the reader care.   There are some novels you love reading no matter how many pages.  You can read them all night.  You feel compelled to quickly turn the page to…

Read more
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

How To Have The Perfect Ending To Your Novel

Posted on May 9, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

How to have the perfect ending to your novel. Where does it lead to? what is the theme? how does it all wrap up with meaning?   “All’s well that’s ends well.” It’s not only a title of a play but it’s the basis of every story ever told.  Your novel’s success all comes down…

Read more
HOW TO CREATE A POWERFUL STORY WITH 6 WORDS

How To Create A Powerful Story With 6 Words

Posted on May 4, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

How to create a powerful story with 6 words. How to get to the point right away. a few words have a powerful effect.   Look back at all books you’ve read, short or long and ask, “What makes for a powerful story?”  Do you have to write a long complex story in order for…

Read more
HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN EPIC TRILOGY

How To Write Your Own Epic Trilogy Novels

Posted on May 3, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

How to write your own epic trilogy novels. planning out all three storylines. focusing on the main storyline and characters.   You want to create your very own J.R.R Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. You’ve always wanted to, It can be done, but it’s hard work.   In this blog here are a few…

Read more
WHY YOU MUST RAISE THE STAKES TO THE LIMIT IN YOUR NOVEL

Why You Must Raise The Stakes To The Limit In Your Novel

Posted on April 30, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

Why you must raise the stakes to the limit in your novel. how to make the reader want to turn the page. how to create tension on each page.   So you want to write a novel that will grab everyone’s attention and have them turning the pages as quickly as possible.  Can it be…

Read more
HOW TO PROPERLY PLACE A FLASHBACK IN YOUR NOVEL

How To Properly Place A Flashback In Your Novel

Posted on April 28, 2021February 7, 2025 by mark

How to properly place a flashback in your novel. how it can hurt the flow of your story. how to tell the story correctly.   We’re told a million times over as writers never have flashbacks in your novel, but we have to ask why?  What is it about flashbacks that hurt the novel to…

Read more

Posts pagination

  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • Next

Social Media Icons

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On LinkedinVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On YoutubeVisit Us On Instagram

Mark Doran’s New Blog – Sign Up Now

Mark Douglas Doran

mark

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

View all posts

Goodreads

search all things writing and editing blogs right here

Recent Comments

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Archives

    • March 2026
    • February 2026
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • January 2016

    Editors Choices

    • Write Endings That Echo
    • How To Control Your Novel’s Pace
    • Why Readers Quit Your Story Halfway
    • What A Writer Can Learn From Bad Movie Sequels
    • The Risky Side Of Self-Publishing Your Novel
    • The Big No-No With MacGuffins In Novel Writing
    • How To Write Your Own Epic Trilogy Novels
    • Why Stephen King Is Not A Horror Writer
    • Why You Must Raise The Stakes To The Limit In Your Novel
    • How To Have The Perfect Ending To Your Novel
    • Most Writers Get This 3-Hour Rule Wrong
    • How To Edit After Your First Draft
    • Here Is The Golden Rule When Writing A Novel
    • Design a Villain Readers Never Forget
    • Put Your Protagonist In The Greatest Danger
    © 2026 Mark Douglas Doran | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
     

    Loading Comments...
     

    You must be logged in to post a comment.