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How to start a book Story Structure

How to start a story: Writing better preview pages

Wondering how to start a story? Learn all about hooking readers, establishing vivid scenarios and creating beginnings that make readers want to know urgently what happens next.

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Story Structure Writing Process

Story structure examples: How to create payoffs for readers

A well-structured story is satisfying to read, as independent parts feel cohesive and related. Read a definition of story structure, followed by effective story structure examples and their insights.

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Narration Story Structure

Prologues and epilogues: Writing prefaces and after chapters

What are prologues and epilogues? What can we learn from prologue examples by Tolkien, G. R. R. Martin, Paula Hawkins and others? Learn more about these useful story elements.

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Story Structure Writing chapters

How to write the first chapter of a book: 7 ideas

Learn how to write the first chapter of a book in such a way that you tease but don’t give everything away and hook readers with implication and context.

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Story Structure Writing tools

Novel planner tools: 7 tips to propel your progress

Using novel planner tools helps you build a story with purpose. Whether you use a step-by-step, prompted outlining process like Now Novel’s dashboard or other story software, try these tips to for planning and making progress:

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Narration Story Structure

9 exposition examples: How to write clear introductions

There are many types of exposition in stories, in literature, film and other media. Exposition introduces your reader to important and intriguing details of your story – who, what, why, where and when. Read 9 exposition examples that show how to introduce characters, settings and scenarios memorably:

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Story Structure

How to write the middle of a story: 9 tips

Writing the middle of a novel has its own unique challenges. You need to develop your story further after your engrossing start and set in place the build to the end. The curse of the ‘sagging middle’ can’t take hold. Read 9 tips on how to write the middle of a story and get it right:

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How to start a book Story Structure

8 story hook examples (how to grab attention)

A ‘hook’ in a story promises intrigue, entertainment and answers to the questions it raises. Far from the trickery of a bait and switch, a hook gives a true sense of what your reader can expect of your story’s pleasures. Explore great story hook examples and what they teach us about starting strong:

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Short stories Story Structure

Short story structure: Shaping successful stories

Writing short stories provides a stepping stone to conquering larger story forms. Short story structure is easier to see due to brevity. Learn how to structure stories, with examples by a master of the form:

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