DISCLAIMER The author is an acquisition editor of fiction for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Writing conference students often ask what editors look for in a novel. The information contained in this book are the BASIC elements the author believes every good novel should include. This book is the supporting material for novel writing classes taught at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Write to Publish Conference, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference and in no way is meant to be a full-blown writing book. The intent of this book is to present the basic elements of writing a novel in UNDER 60 MINUTES. Estimated word count is 15,000. In other words, it is a SHORT book. (We keep saying this because some reviewers skim over the book's description and are surprised to find it is a SHORT book.) Content includes material from Kindle books: Plotting Simplified and Been There, "Scene" That! (both no longer available) BOOK DESCRIPTION Plotting Simplified We remember characters; we pitch plot. In Plotting Simplified you'll learn how to map your story using the "passage markers" that shape every story's journey. From introduction and motivation to your Lead's moment of maximum angst, you'll see how easy it is to develop a story line and keep your characters on the path to a compelling climax. Learn how to introduce the Great Disturbance, what 4 Questions you should ask of your plot, how to map-out your story, manage your key scenes, the 7 Keys to every good plot, whyWorry, Conflict and Disaster spells success for the writer, and how to introduce your Major Dramatic Question. Been There, "Scene" That! Making a scene is as easy as: ABCD. A good scene reveals information that moves the story forward (new goals, old secrets, hidden motives), shows conflict between characters (adds tension), deepens the character's development, and creates suspense (introduces a new wrinkle that leaves the reader hanging). Learn the three keys to scene summary, how to create memorable moments in your story, what 4 questions you should ask of each scene. Learn professional secrets and begin crafting great scenes in just five minutes. Dramatic Dialogue Dialogue can breathe life into any fiction or non-fiction story. In this class we cover: Scene & space - A scene is: Doing (Action) Thinking (Narrative) and Talking (Dialogue). Tools- A writer has a number of tools for story building: narration, action, description, and dialogue Stickiness - How dialogue sticks with us Tags - When to tag, when to skip tags & where to place tags Types - Direct, Reflective, Misdirected, Modulated, Descriptive, Breathless, & Compressed Tips - When to circle back, go silent, & add gestures Punctuation - Where to put those marks and quotes. Creating Compelling Characters Compelling characters are larger than life. They risk more, laugh often and love with passion. In this session you'll learn how to invent both likable and loathsome characters, winners and losers, heroes and villains. In this class you'll learn how to build motivation, focus flaws, and and explore the feelings or your characters. You'll see how conflict, crisis and consequences shape your characters. We'll show you how to find the right character for your story, motivate your hero and heroin, and how the "off-beat sidekick" can provide comic relief for your story. PITCHING YOUR NOVEL If you want to pitch your novel to Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas catch us at a writers conference or have your agent contact us.