books

Six Ways to Improve the First Fifteen Percent Of Your Novel

This post will dissect the Zero to Fifteen Percent of the First Act of the Three Act Structure. The first fifteen percent of your novel, I believe, is the most important. It encompasses the Hook and the Setup of the First Act. If you’re wondering what they all are, and how it is going to make your story a best-seller––read below.

The Three Act Structure, defined by Reedsy, is “It digs deep into the popular notion that a story must have a beginning, middle, and end, and goes even further, defining specific plot events that must take place at each stage.”

Reedsy.

I’m going to do a part-series on how you can apply the Three Act Structure to your story but more importantly, focusing in on the specific stages, to help you entice the reader to keep reading past chapter one.

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Tuesday Discussion

A while ago I started a discussion forum with fellow writers and readers every Tuesday.

I am going to resurrect this concept as I believe we all have similar interests and belief but sometimes we cannot find the space for it.

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Tuesday Discussion

Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

This has been a controversial debate since I begun to write. I have read many blogs and articles about the pro’s and con’s of self-publishing and traditional publishing.

Tuesday’s discussion, I hope, will be based around this controversial debate.

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My GOODREADS

I have recently signed up with GOODREADS. I saw the website appearing on every book review I looked at. I finally caved in and made an account. 

I have added my list to the side, if you’re on a computer, or below, if you’re a phone or tablet.

I have reviewed about a third of the books I have actually read. As you can see the list is short. One day, I will be up-to-date but for now you can just see the books I have reviewed so far.

If you have any recommendations, based on what I have read. Please comment, or if you want to discuss books, please do not hesitate to comment 🙂

Enjoy.

#DWTSmith

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Burimen Brothers

‘The Burimen Brothers’ is an on-going Fantasy story that I will be writing on my blog. It was going to be my first novel but I thought I would express it to my followers.

I hope you enjoy the first installment and follow the journey I will take you on. Each week I will release a segment. Enjoy!

 

I stood on the edge of the fiery lake. My village burned in the reflection, and underneath the dawn light. People screamed in agony and animals fled for higher ground. Mother urged me to leave before the chaos begun, she said the Wndith were after me.

Ashes drifted high above the fiery lake, smoke rose with it and I watched the villagers burn. On the opposite side of the lake, the morning dew moistened the short grass. It was a brisk morning but the villagers would disagree; they were underneath burning logs.

‘Hunter!’ a man yelled out, running towards me from the eastern side of the lake. I was ready to pounce. As he got closer I recognized him. It was the village Butcher, Clyd.

‘Leave now!’ He continued, ‘Go to Edenra over the mountains and find a young lady, Deanna.’

Before I had the chance to ask a question, an arrow flung through his neck. His body collapsed to the ground. I scanned the trees to find the bowman. I couldn’t see them and I didn’t want to hang around.

I fled for the cradling mountains. The mountain ridge kept our village secret for many years, hid me from the outside world but that time was up. I had been found.

DWTSmith. #amwritingfantasy

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Caged Bird

I speak but noone can hear

I flap but noone lets me out.

I want to fly,

free into the big blue thing,

sometimes it changes to dark.

that’s okay. I’d rather be

up high, away from this black prison.

Big things moving,

Help let me out I squawk

but no help.

Do I stay here till I die?

all I want to do is fly.

 

DWTSmith. #poetrymonth

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Cold. Freezing cold

It was quiet but not anymore,

school holidays filled the absence.

The whoosing of driving cars,

steam from the hot road.

 

A stretch of trees – dull colours

dragged through the raindrops.

Birds chirped across the clouded sky.

Cold. Freezing cold.

The winter sky hugged the hills,

yet the moon is hidden

and I could not relax.
DWTSmith. #poetrymonth

Footprint

My brother asked me, “what do I want to accomplish with writing?” The first thing that popped into my head was to leave a footprint. Not an environmental footprint but one I can call my own, show my own individuality and show my passion.

I learned from University, to create your literary footprint you must read a

diverse range of books to find your own voice. So I did. I read: teeth-clenching mysteries, predictable thrillers, philosophical fiction, dystopian science-fiction and heptalogy fantasy series (I had to google that, it’s a 7-book series); after all the page-flicking, I have found a voice I am comfortable to call my own.

I still read a wide range now. I found my genre I want to write in and now I read a diverse range of Fantasy writers.

My blog will also contain book reviews of all the books I have read, reading or hoping to read. To showcase, that I might have a bit more of an idea with writing than people tend to think.

For now I’ll let you ponder, as a writer or reader, on what kind of voice

you have in the literary world.

 

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