Name: How to Use Scene Names and Your Story Outline to Evaluate Structure and Pacing @Fictionary
Uploaded: 2026-09-29T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: How to Use Scene Names and Your Story Outline to Evaluate Structure and Pacing

How to Use Scene Names and Your Story Outline to Evaluate Structure and Pacing

Fictionary 2026-09-29 | How to Use Scene Names and Your Story Outline to Evaluate Structure and Pacing

Interview with Romance Author Nikki Davenport

Fictionary 2025-10-18 | Haven't met Nikki Davenport yet? You're in for a treat.

Kristina Stanley will be interviewing Nikki about her Crown & Heart series structure, her series process, and humor in romance.

Nikki writes steamy, thoughtful Black-on-Black contemporary romance set in the island Kingdom of Lytua—royal romance, reimagined. Her Crown & Heart series serves banter with bite, ride-or-die friendships, and HEAs that leave you kicking your feet and cheering. She’s also a sensitivity reader and beta reader. Think Royal romance, reimagined—Wakanda-meets-Bridgerton vibes on a lush, sovereign Caribbean island.

AI for Authors: Navigating the New Creative Landscape

Fictionary 2025-10-18 | Join us for AI for Authors: Navigating the New Creative Landscape, a one-hour class designed to cut through the hype and show writers how to use AI effectively, ethically, and creatively. We’ll start with a reality check—why “instant bestseller” promises are scams—and show how you’re probably already using AI in your writing life.

You’ll learn practical prompt strategies, AI’s limitations, and explore the most useful tools for authors.

We’ll also cover the essential legal and ethical considerations around copyright and disclosure. You’ll walk away with strategies to balance AI with your own creativity—using technology to streamline the routine so you can focus on what only you can do: write authentic, compelling stories that connect with readers.

Karen Miller

This is the fifth book in Karen Hodges Miller’s series “You Can Do This!” designed to help authors better write, publish and market their books. Karen is CEO and publisher at Open Door Publications, a company that specializes in helping authors navigate the world of publishing in the 21st century. The company assists both published and first-time authors with the wide variety of skills and tasks needed to successfully write, publish, and market a book.

Karen herself has written over ten books, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as countless newspaper and magazine articles in her 30-plus-year career. Her books on publishing include How to Sell Your Book Today, Self-Publishing: You Can Do This! and Authorpreneur: Build the Business Behind the Book. Her memoir, Hibiscus Strong, was published in 2024 and has received a gold medal for memoir and biography from The Bookfest, a national book contest, and a silver medal from the Florida Authors and Publishers.

Karen has also written three paranormal romances under the name Lee K. Rogers and plans to publish a fourth in 2026.

Karen collects websites like most Southern women collect china (just read her memoir to understand that reference!) You can find out more about her at OpenDoorPublications.com, KarenHodgesMiller.com, at LeeKRogersauthor.com, and at HibiscusStrong.com

Heroines & Heros Journey with Julia Gandrud

Fictionary 2025-10-15 | Does your story feel like it doesn’t fit into the plot structure “everyone” tells you to follow? It could be that you are telling a Heroine’s Journey.

Many of us have learned the typical Hero’s Journey, popularized by Joseph Campbell.

A Heroine’s Journey is a different beast. It begins with an involuntary disconnect from her network, involves running into risk, and often employs disguise to engage with the problem from a different angle. This process creates a found family, and the heroine is successful through her found family and her ability to negotiate a compromise to help society and community thrive.

Julia will be using Gail Carriger’s fabulous book, The Heroine’s Journey, as the basis for the conversation about these two archetypes. We will look at two separate examples, the movie Ocean’s 11 and the Netflix show Wednesday (first season – don’t worry, no spoilers!) from popular culture to demonstrate how these plot types differ.

At the end of this session, you will have new ideas about how to use both Hero’s and Heroine’s Journeys to tell your stories.

A Little About Julia

Julia Gandrud is a certified Fictionary StoryCoach and CIEP-trained copyeditor, as well as a writer and educator. With an MFA in Film and an MA in Art Education, she brings expertise in both visual storytelling and sensory communication. Julia is dedicated to kind, strengths-based coaching that helps writers discover what makes their stories unique and compelling.

She specializes in memoir, literary fiction, cozy mystery, sapphic romance, and character-driven speculative/soft science fiction. She also integrates the Enneagram as a tool for deepening character motivation and narrative structure.

Learn more at www.juliagandrud.com.

FREE CLASS: Writing a Series: The First 5 Decisions

Fictionary 2025-09-25 | Readers love a good book series. If you can get them hooked with Book 1, they will keep coming back for more.

But writing a series is not easy and requires more artistic decisions upfront. If you don't make those decisions correctly in advance, you will end up with a lot more work down the line.

Thinking about taking the Fictionary Live! Series Foundations course starting September 25th? RSVP and check out the basics first and get sent a replay. The first 100 people can attend live.

Here is what Lisa will cover in this session:

The First Five Decisions: To spend your time efficiently and write a series readers love, you need to make five key decisions before you start writing.

Does Your Series Pass the Series Structure Test? Before you start writing, ensure your idea has the potential to hook readers from Book 1 all the way to the satisfying conclusion.

You can find the theory and an actionable process in Secrets to Writing a Series.

Join the Fictionary School for Writers for more classes like this. https://fictionary.circle.so/

How to Write an Effective Skeleton Blurb

Fictionary 2025-09-18 | The skeleton blurb is one of Fictionary's favourite tools. In fact, you'll often hear Kristina, CEO of Fictionary, saying," I don't understand how anyone can write a novel without a skeleton blurb."

In this session, Deborah Morton , Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor & Developmental Advisor, is going to share her take on the skeleton blurb. We all learn differently, so we've asked Deborah to share her explanation of a skeleton blurb with you.

Deborah will cover:

What is a skeleton blurb?
What a Skeleton Blurb is not.
How to use the Skeleton Blurb.
When to use a Skeleton Blurb.

Top 3 Tips for Writing a Romance

Fictionary 2025-09-12 | Join authors K. Stanley and L. O'Donnell for an exclusive event celebrating the release of their new book, Secrets to Writing a Romance. Linda and Kristina will reveal the top three secrets they discovered while researching the genre—secrets that will help you write a captivating story that readers won't be able to put down.

Book Description

Release Date: August 31, 2025.

Unlock the secrets to writing a bestselling romance novel. This book reveals the intricate structure specific to this genre, showing you the essential elements that make these stories captivating.

Balance reader expectations with your distinctive voice to create an irresistible story that meets romance conventions.

Go beyond the "meet-cute" and learn about the scenes readers expect in commercially successful romance novels. Portray character growth and perfect your story's pacing by writing scenes that build tension and demonstrate conflict. Drive your story forward by weaving in external and subplot story arcs.

We analyze six commercially successful romance novels with different subgenres and subplots. It's exciting to see that each novel follows the story arc pattern but is still a unique story. You’ll see the full breakdown of these books:

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Happy Place by Emily Henry
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

As with all the books in the Write Novels that Sell series, we give you the theory—the why behind our recommendations—and you use the actionable advice to outline, write, and edit novels.

The Five Story Arc Scenes in a Fantasy Novel

Fictionary 2025-09-09 | Are you writing a fantasy as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

The Story Arc Insight is one of the most popular features in StoryTeller and StoryCoach. In the last Story Arc event, we discussed the story arc for all commercial fiction. In this event, Linda will show you the five must-have scenes in a fantasy novel.

Writers love how the visuals help them see whether the pacing and structure of the story are hitting all the right beats.

Almost all commercial fiction matches the Story Arc structure and pace to such a degree that readers have come to expect it. Stories that don't follow a similar arc can feel off. For example, if your inciting incident doesn't happen until 30% of the way into your book, your reader will feel frustrated—and frustrated readers will stop reading.

Join Fictionary's Alexandria Yandt, who will teach you what the five story arc scenes in a fantasy novel must do.

Meet Edwina: Fictionarys Helpful AI Writing Instructor

Fictionary 2025-09-02 | Hold onto your keyboards because Fictionary is unleashing a powerhouse. We're absolutely bursting with excitement to introduce Edwina, Fictionary's new AI Writing Instructor, designed to transform your scenes from good to sensational.

What Makes Edwina an Absolute Must-Have?

Edwina isn't just another AI tool. She's your new secret weapon for writing unforgettable scenes.

Edwina's Insights: Forget generic feedback. Edwina automatically evaluates your scenes, provides feedback, and insightful suggestions for improvement.
Chat Your Way to Brilliance: Got a specific question about your scene? Use the chat function to ask Edwina your specific questions.

Built on Bestselling Expertise: This isn't just any AI; Edwina's knowledge base is powered by the proven principles from Secrets to Editing Success by K. Stanley and L. Cooke. This means you're getting insightful, reliable guidance.

Join the Fictionary School for Writers & Editors https://fictionary.circle.so

Kickstart Your Mystery Novel

Fictionary 2025-08-26 | Write Your Mystery Novel with Expert Guidance

Don't let your mystery novel become another "someday" project. Lisa Taylor, Fictionary's Mystery Expert, will reveal the five key scenes that are the foundation of every successful mystery.

Learn a structured approach and make sure your novel is strong.

How to Publish, Print and Prosper with Lulu

Fictionary 2025-08-12 | If you have questions about self-publishing, print-on-demand or direct sales, this session is for you!

Join Chelsea Bennett, Lulu's Education and Community Manager, as she walks you through how to successfully publish and sell your book with Lulu.

We'll go over Lulu's suite of tools and resources that help you create beautiful, high-quality books while growing your business and bank account. Tune in to learn what you need to know to successfully publish and prosper with Lulu.

In this session, we'll cover:

- What you need to know before you publish
- What sets Lulu apart from other platforms
- How to use Lulu’s publishing platform
- How to earn more revenue per sale and use your book to grow your business

Introducing the Fabulous Chelsea Bennett

Chelsea Bennett is the Education and Community Manager for Lulu.com and host of Lulu’s YouTube series, Lulu University and author of Get Published. Her areas of expertise include self-publishing, Print-on-Demand technology, building an author brand, direct sales and marketing. When not thinking about publishing, Chelsea can be found playing disc golf with her husband or having in-depth conversations about the universe with her pets, Batman and Bessie.

How to Structure a Scene

Fictionary 2025-08-07 | Unlock the Secrets of Powerful Scenes

Just like a novel, a scene needs a strong structural foundation to captivate readers. In this insightful session, you'll discover how understanding scene structure can transform your writing and elevate your storytelling.

Here's what you'll gain:

Write a Scene Skeleton Blurb: Learn how to distill your scene to its core essence, revealing its strengths and weaknesses. This crucial step allows you to identify what's working and what's not before you even start writing (or revising).

Craft Genre-Perfect Scenes: Discover how scene structure aligns with genre expectations, ensuring your scenes deliver the emotional impact readers crave. We'll analyze examples from successful novels, revealing the secrets to crafting scenes that resonate with your target audience.

Build Scenes That Captivate: Learn the essential story elements of a well-structured scene: Entry Hook, POV Goal, Scene Middle, Scene Climax, and Exit Hook. Understand how these elements work together to create a compelling narrative.

Identify What to Add or Cut: By visualizing your scene structure, you'll gain a clear understanding of what's missing and what's unnecessary. This streamlined approach will help you write more efficiently and effectively.

Don't miss this opportunity to:

Write stronger, more impactful scenes.
Gain a deeper understanding of scene structure.
Learn how to use scene structure to enhance your genre writing.
Receive practical tips and techniques you can apply immediately.

How to Use AI to Market Your Books

Fictionary 2025-07-31 | Join us for a session with Florin, founder of ManuscriptReport.com, a tool built specifically for indie authors and small publishers to take the pain out of book marketing. With a background in AI and natural language processing, Florin will walk us through how ManuscriptReport transforms a manuscript into a complete, ready-to-use marketing toolkit, while keeping your manuscript completely private.

In this session, Florin will demo the platform, explore the different types of reports it offers (including marketing kits, blog post series, social media content, and more), and explain how each section can be used to grow your book’s visibility and audience.

He’ll also show a real-life example.

Many of you are familiar with Look the Other Way through Fictionary Live! or the Fictionary StoryCoach Certification program. We thought it would be fun to show the results from that novel. The results will be attached to the replay, so don't forget to RSVP if you want a copy.

We’ll wrap with a Q&A, so bring your questions about book marketing, metadata, categories, AI, or anything in between.

Make Marketing Fun (Again): A Live Webinar with Alexa Bigwarfe

Fictionary 2025-07-29 | Does marketing make you cringe? You’re not alone — and Alexa is here to change that.

Book marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming, awkward, or like a total waste of time. In fact, with the right mindset and tools, it can even be fun (yes, really!).

Join author and marketing expert Alexa Bigwarfe for a one-hour, high-impact webinar designed to take the stress out of book marketing — and put the strategy back in.

What you'll learn:

✅ What book marketing really is — and what it isn’t
✅ Key strategies to build a smart, sustainable plan
✅ Where to focus your time and energy (and where not to)
✅ Common mistakes to avoid
✅ How to make marketing feel authentic, not salesy
✅ Practical ways to make marketing feel natural — maybe even enjoyable!

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refresh your approach, this session will give you the clarity, confidence, and ideas you need to market your book your way.

Let’s take the dread out of marketing — and maybe even have a little fun along the way.

Romance Novels and The Skeleton Blurb: What is Your Story About

Fictionary 2025-07-25 | Are you a romance writer losing your way in your manuscript? Discover the secret that will keep you focussed on writing a compelling story.

Transform your detailed plot into a crystal-clear, one-sentence "skeleton blurb" just for you. This powerful tool will instantly reveal your protagonist's driving desire, the emotional heart of your romance, and the critical stakes that will keep your story on track and your readers turning pages. Stay focused, deliver on your promise, and write a romance they won't forget.

Linda O'Donnell, Fictionary's romance expert and co-author of the upcoming book Secrets to Writing a Romance, will show you how to create your very own skeleton blurb.

Keywords & Categories: Getting Your Book Discovered on Amazon (With Kindlepreneur)

Fictionary 2025-07-18 | Getting ready to publish your novel? We're super excited to bring you an expert so you can become an expert keywords and categories on Amazon, helping you reach more readers and boost your book's visibility.

Hank Marcacci, Head of Product at Kindlepreneur, will share insider knowledge and actionable tactics to help you maximize your book's success on Amazon.

You'll learn:

The hidden power of keywords: Uncover the exact phrases your target readers are searching for and learn how to optimize your book listings for maximum discoverability.

Category selection mastery: Identify the most profitable niche categories for your book and avoid the common pitfalls that can sabotage your success.
Bestseller secrets revealed: Discover the proven strategies top authors use to climb the Amazon rankings and achieve bestseller status without breaking the bank.

Boosting your book's visibility: Gain invaluable insights into Amazon's algorithms and learn how to leverage them to get your book in front of the right audience.

Whether you're a first-time author or a seasoned publisher looking to take your sales to the next level, this webinar is packed with game-changing insights you won't find anywhere else.

Hank Marcacci

Head of Product at Kindlepreneur and Amazon bestselling author, is a leading expert in book marketing and Amazon optimization. With a background in data engineering and a passion for helping authors succeed, Hank has a deep understanding of Amazon's algorithms and the proven strategies authors use to boost visibility, connect with their ideal readers, and climb the bestseller charts. His actionable insights have helped countless authors achieve their publishing dreams, making him the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their book sales to the next level.

Writing a Book Series: Your First 5 Decisions

Fictionary 2025-07-17 | Readers love a good book series. If you can get them hooked with book 1, they will keep coming back for more.

But, writing a series is not easy and requires more artistic decisions upfront. If you don't get those decisions right in advance, you will end up with a lot more work down the line.

Thinking about taking the Fictionary Live! Story Foundations course? Then this event shows you the basics.

What you'll learn:

How to Plan Your Series Arc: For a successful series, strong individual stories need to fit within a larger narrative arc. Don't just write standalone novels strung together – plan the overall journey from the beginning.

You'll leave this session knowing the five critical decisions you must make. Then you can start writing.

Secrets to Writing a Series provides all the theory and actions you need to write a series.

The Magic System Story Arc in a Fantasy Novel

Fictionary 2025-07-15 | Got a fantasy novel brewing, complete with a fantastical magic system just waiting to burst forth?

What if I told you there's a hidden blueprint, a secret weapon for crafting magic that grips readers by the throat and doesn't let go? Enter the Fictionary Story Arc. If you're already a fan of its narrative alchemy, you're about to witness its true potential applied to the very fabric of your magical world.

Buckle up! Kristina Stanley is about to reveal the five critical scenes that will breathe undeniable life into your magic system. Your readers won't just read about magic, they'll feel it, hanging on every page to see how it shapes your protagonist's destiny.

Readers will turn the pages to discover how the magic system helps or hinders the protagonist. Write or edit a novel using the Fictionary Magic System Story Arc theory, and you'll love the control this gives you.

Don't have time to attend the event, you can find all the theory and actionable advice in her book Secrets to Writing a Fantasy.

What is a Scene in a Novel

Fictionary 2025-07-10 | Unlock the Secrets of Powerful Scenes

Just like a novel, a scene needs a strong structural foundation to captivate readers. In this insightful session, you'll discover how understanding scene structure can transform your writing and elevate your storytelling.

Here's what you'll gain:

Write a Scene Skeleton Blurb: Learn how to distill your scene to its core essence, revealing its strengths and weaknesses. This crucial step allows you to identify what's working and what's not before you even start writing (or revising).

Craft Genre-Perfect Scenes: Discover how scene structure aligns with genre expectations, ensuring your scenes deliver the emotional impact readers crave. We'll analyze examples from successful novels, revealing the secrets to crafting scenes that resonate with your target audience.

Build Scenes That Captivate: Learn the essential story elements of a well-structured scene: Entry Hook, POV Goal, Scene Middle, Scene Climax, and Exit Hook. Understand how these elements work together to create a compelling narrative.

Identify What to Add or Cut: By visualizing your scene structure, you'll gain a clear understanding of what's missing and what's unnecessary. This streamlined approach will help you write more efficiently and effectively.

Don't miss this opportunity to:

Write stronger, more impactful scenes.
Gain a deeper understanding of scene structure.
Learn how to use scene structure to enhance your genre writing.
Receive practical tips and techniques you can apply immediately.

Join the Fictionary School for Writers & Editors. It's FREE. https://fictionary.circle.so/

Kickstart Your Mystery Novel

Fictionary 2025-07-05 | Are you writing a mystery as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

Don't let your mystery novel become another "someday" project. Lisa Taylor, Fictionary's Mystery Expert, will reveal the five key scenes that are the foundation of every successful mystery.

Learn a structured approach and make sure your novel is strong

The Five Story Arc Scenes in a Fantasy Novel

Fictionary 2025-06-25 | Are you writing a fantasy as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

The Story Arc Insight is one of the most popular features in StoryTeller and StoryCoach. In the last Story Arc event, we discussed the story arc for all commercial fiction. In this event, Linda will show you the five must-have scenes in a fantasy novel.

Writers love how the visuals help them see whether the pacing and structure of the story are hitting all the right beats.

Almost all commercial fiction matches the Story Arc structure and pace to such a degree that readers have come to expect it. Stories that don't follow a similar arc can feel off. For example, if your inciting incident doesn't happen until 30% of the way into your book, your reader will feel frustrated—and frustrated readers will stop reading.

Join Fictionary's Linda O'Donnell, who will teach you what the five story arc scenes in a fantasy novel must do.

Find Your Story Arc Scenes

Fictionary 2025-06-13 | Ensure Your Story Structure is Strong

Are you starting a novel and want to create a solid foundation?

Have you written a draft and want to make sure it's structurally sound?

Feeling like your story is missing something? Lisa Taylor will guide you in discovering the five crucial story arc scenes already lurking within your manuscript. Even if they're buried, we'll help you extract and refine them, transforming your narrative into a gripping, unputdownable mystery. Strengthen your story's foundation and captivate your readers.

Lisa is a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor. She is currently co-authoring Secrets to Writing a Mystery with Kristina Stanley, CEO of Fictionary.

5 Essential Scenes in a Romance Novel

Fictionary 2025-06-09 | Write Your Romance Novel with Expert Guidance

Don't let your romance novel become another "someday" project. Linda O'Donnell , Fictionary's Romance Expert, will reveal the five key scenes that are the foundation of every successful romance.

Learn a structured approach and make sure your novel is strong

Get Your Book Noticed: Loglines That Sell

Fictionary 2025-06-03 | Get Your Book Noticed: Loglines That Sell

Designed primarily for fiction and creative nonfiction writers, this one-hour webinar will be a deep dive into finding, creating, and writing a professional logline for your book.

Loglines are not just nice things to have; they are an essential tool for query letters, pitches, and the marketing of a book. Loglines can—and do—make or break a writer’s ability to find an agent, editor, or lit manager and are the first line of defense that assures your query letter will actually get read.

This webinar demystifies the logline process and teaches you a practical process you can use for the future on any new stories you might have. By the end of the webinar you will understand how a logline is built, learn the logline machine, and work one-on-one with the instructor to create a functional logline for your story (or at least learn how to create one on your own). There will be lots of free swag and a live Q&A with the instructor, as well as one-on-one demos of writers working on their loglines live in class.

5 Scenes in Every Mystery Novel

Fictionary 2025-05-23 | Are you writing a mystery as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

Don't let your mystery novel become another "someday" project. Lisa Taylor, Fictionary's Mystery Expert, will reveal the five key scenes that are the foundation of every successful mystery.

Marketing and Promoting Books

Fictionary 2025-04-29 | Whether it’s delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all.

Some of you received an ARC copy of my book Secrets to Writing a Fantasy via BookFunnel. It was such a great experience, that I asked Damon Courtney to show us around BookFunnel and give us expert tips on how to market and promote our novels.

Watch a Live Copyedit

Fictionary 2025-04-25 | The journey to publication is a thrilling adventure, and we invite you to join us as we watch Kristina Stanley, CEO of Fictionary, navigate the process.

Remember Brandi Badgett 's captivating live story edit of the first scene in Kristina's upcoming novel The Golden Leash: Third Eye of the Pack (Book One)? If you missed it, catch the replay and experience the power of transformative story editing. youtu.be/ocvtTmk_h6c

In this video, witness the meticulous craft of a professional copyeditor. Pamela Hines will perform a live copyedit of that very same opening scene. See firsthand how she polishes and refines each sentence, ensuring clarity and precision.

You'll see the difference between a copyedit and a story edit by comparing these two editing sessions.

Book Cover Design Basics

Fictionary 2025-04-17 | Elaine Canyon will evaluate Kristina Stanley's book cover for her upcoming novel The Golden Leash: Third Eye of the Pack (Book One). You've seen Brandi Badgett perform a structural edit on the first scene. Now'll you get to see how Elaine influences what the final cover will show.

Why? Because indie authors come up against dozens of costs in their self-publishing journey, and cover design can be one of the biggest. Rightfully so, because readers DO judge books by their covers.

Indie authors come up against dozens of costs in their self-publishing journey, and cover design can be one of the biggest. Rightfully so, because readers DO judge books by their covers.

So how do you ensure your cover is not only grabbing readers but grabbing the right readers? Whether you hope to cut costs by designing your own cover, need help in picking a pre-made cover, or want to cut down on the number of revisions with your hired designer, this presentation will give you the foundational steps to create the right cover for your book.

About Elaine Canyon

Elaine Canyon writes closed-door romantasy comedies, because you shouldn't have to choose between a romantasy and a rom-com. She worked as a freelance graphic designer for seven years and now writes full-time, building bright fantasy worlds as the backdrop for her characters to fall in love.

Her debut novella, "Love, Ships & Sea Serpents," released in February 2024 and is free on all platforms.

When Elaine isn't writing, she loves to be in the mountains with her family.
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How to Use Location to describe a scene

Fictionary 2025-04-15 | Imagine trying to watch a movie where the actors are just...floating. No set, no background, just poof people in the void. That's what a scene without a location feels like. Your reader's brain is screaming, 'Where are we?!' and their eyeballs are desperately searching for a visual anchor.

Drop a scene into a real place, with details you can practically smell and touch? Suddenly, you're there. You know if you're in a bustling market, a spooky castle, or a cozy cafe because your brain finally gets to settle in and say, “Ah, yes. I know this place.”

Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and trust me, you totally should), is to create a list all of the locations in your novel.

But creating that list is time consuming, you say. Well, not anymore.

What Does a Structural Editor Do?

Fictionary 2025-04-07 | Ever wonder how an editor and writer work together?

Aaron and Ali will share their experience. Ali performed a Fictionary StoryCoach edit on Aaron's manuscript: Shattered Divinity. The novel is now published and off to a great start.

Ali is going to talk about what she does in a StoryCoach edit, and Aaron will tell you how he incorporated the feedback.

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at the StoryCoach editing process! Ali's going to walk us through exactly what goes into her editorial approach, revealing the specific techniques and insights she provides to authors.

Then, we'll switch gears and hear directly from Aaron. He'll share his personal experience of receiving that feedback, explaining how he meticulously analyzed Ali's suggestions and, most importantly, how he successfully implemented those changes into his manuscript.

This a real-world example of how a collaborative editing process can elevate a story from good to exceptional.

The spaces available for a StoryCoach edit are limited, so get yours booked today.
About the Aaron Yoder
Aaron is the author of The Shattered Divinity Series trilogy that delves into themes of power, redemption, and the struggle between past wounds and forgiveness. His books tend to have sharp dialogue, immersive worldbuilding, and emotionally charged character arcs, he crafts stories that balance intense action with deep personal conflict. His work is driven by complex relationships, high-stakes battles, and a commitment to making every moment—whether a quiet conversation or a climactic duel—feel earned and impactful.
Aaron’s love for storytelling began with R.A. Salvatore’s books and playing Dungeons & Dragons, which sparked his passion for crafting rich worlds and compelling characters.
Born, raised, and currently residing in Pennsylvania, he enjoys life with his wife and three kids. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, golfing, reading, playing sports with his family, cheering on his kids, or unwinding on a beach vacation.

About Ali Bumbarger
Ali's passion is to guide writers through the entire creative process, from conceptualization to final draft. Her personalized coaching style is tailored to each writer’s unique strengths and challenges, ensuring that they remain true to their vision while building powerful stories with strong structure and emotional resonance.

Her love for stories began as a nine-year old when I embarked on a journey with a wizard who lived in a cupboard under the stairs. As a child, you could often find her with a flashlight and book hiding under the covers, in order to avoid waking her sisters. She's always loved writing stories, and that passion grew into a desire to help other writers on their creative adventures.

She is a certified Fictionary Story Coach Editor and an Author Accelerator certified Book Coach. You will find her active in both communities.

Whats the Difference Between a Romance and a Mystery

Fictionary 2025-03-22 | Ever feel like your novel's got a bit of an identity crisis? Is it a heart-fluttering romance? A nail-biting mystery?

Sometimes genres just refuse to play nice. (Especially when you've got a sizzling romance and a twisty mystery vying for the spotlight.)

We'll discuss The Bodyguard by Katherine Center and Mean Streak by Sandra Brown to figure out which genre reigns supreme.
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown

Emory is locked in a cabin with a gorgeous man. She doesn't know if he's there to harm her or help her, but the sparks fly.
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center.

Hannah is a bodyguard, and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from a stalker. The attraction is immediate and it throws her off her game.

Join us for a super fun chat with the amazing Lisa Taylor , co-author of the upcoming Secrets to Writing a Mystery, and the equally awesome Linda O’Donnell , co-author of the soon-to-be-released Secrets to Writing a Romance.

They'll be online, ready to spill all the genre secrets and help you wrangle your own book's genre.

Savannah Gilbo and Harry Potters Story Arc

Fictionary 2025-03-07 | We're celebrating the upcoming release of the audio book The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Silvannah Gilbo.

Here is your chance to see the inside workings of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Savannah is an expert in story structure, my passion in life, so I'm thrilled she's coming to the community to talk about one the most commercially successful books ever.

Savannah one of the most popular Book Coaches out there and the host of one of our favorite podcasts: Fiction Writing Made Easy.

The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

J.K. Rowling's magical tale, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, has captivated millions of readers for decades, transporting them into a world where a young boy discovers he is not only a wizard but also the key to a larger, hidden world of magic. As Harry navigates the challenges of his new life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he uncovers secrets about his past and faces the ultimate test of courage and friendship. For writers, Rowling's work stands as an aspirational model of world-building and character development.

In her Analysis Guide, Savannah Gilbo meticulously dissects Rowling's captivating narrative. She breaks down each scene, revealing the intricacies of how Rowling weaves together themes of bravery, loyalty, and the hero's journey in a way that resonates deeply with readers of all ages. Gilbo highlights the essential elements that make Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone a masterwork of storytelling, providing invaluable insights for writers aiming to craft their own tales of adventure and self-discovery.

For aspiring authors and fans of the series alike, this guide offers a comprehensive look at the narrative structure and storytelling techniques that make Harry's first year at Hogwarts an unforgettable and enduring classic.

Author Strategies for Libraries and Bookstores

Fictionary 2025-03-04 | How to Publish Your Books Wide with Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is a writer who has been toiling in the fields since 1992, which is the same year he started working in the book industry as a bookseller. He's a podcaster at Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing, a professional speaker, a publishing consultant and Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital.com.

Mark is here to leverage his more than thirty years of book industry experience as a writer and bookseller to help you build your own strategy for getting your books into libraries and bookstores.

He'll be drawing upon material from An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores and his forthcoming title A Book in Hand.

Mark will be sharing:
- The similarities and differences between bookstores and libraries and how and why they acquire titles
- The different models for how libraries acquire physical and digital books
- The difference between the ONE COPY ONE USER and COST-PER-CHECKOUT models for eBooks at libraries
- -The significance of relationships, even in an online/digital/virtual environment
- Strategies for approaching bookstores and libraries as an author
- Benefits of your book being available in libraries.

Come and join the Fictionary School for Writers & Editors for access to more free events list this one. https://fictionary.circle.so/

Live Structural Edit of Scene

Fictionary 2025-02-25 | Putting your work out there for feedback can be nerve-wracking—I know because I’m about to do it myself. Vulnerability is a big part of the creative process, and I’ve always believed in embracing it. Now I want to invite you to share in my journey as I bring my new novel, Third Eye of the Pack (Publication Goal: Jan, 2026), to life.

This is a deeply personal story, and like many of you, I feel slightly terrified at the prospect of opening up my work-in-progress to public feedback. But I also believe in the incredible power of learning from one another and witnessing how a story transforms through the editing process.

That’s why I’ve hired Brandi Badgett , a certified StoryCoach Editor, to perform a structural edit on my novel. Together, we’re diving into the heart of the story, starting with the very first scene—the opening image.

In this live event, Brandi will perform a StoryCoach QuickStart Edit (a structural edit of one scene) on my opening scene, live in front of our community. You’ll see exactly what's done well and where improvements are needed. I’ve asked Brandi to be completely honest because I trust her to deliver feedback in the constructive and kind way she’s known for.

It’s going to be raw, real, and an amazing opportunity to see how the editing process works firsthand.

And this is just the beginning. Brandi and I will continue to share our editing process on this book in Fictionary Live! If you’re curious about how a structural edit unfolds or want to sharpen your storytelling skills, I’d love for you to join us on this journey as we host and record all the following sessions in Fictionary Live!

Let’s grow, learn, and celebrate the craft of storytelling together.

Join the Fictionary School for Writers & Editors. https://fictionary.circle.so/

Structure a Sensational Scene

Fictionary 2025-02-14 | Want to write scenes that truly captivate your readers?

Then you need to watch this video. Join Kristina Stanely, CEO of Fictionary, as she breaks down sensational scene structure, revealing the secrets to crafting powerful moments that will keep your audience hooked.

This presentation covers everything from outlining and deep scene structure to point of view, hooks, conflict, and tension.

She analyzes scenes from a variety of genres – romance, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, and mystery – showing you exactly what works and why.

You'll learn about the crucial "scene skeleton blurb" (POV, Goal, and Consequences) and discover a valuable course designed to help you write truly sensational scenes.

The presentation even features Fictionary software, demonstrating how to reverse outline stories to improve POV and create a more cohesive structure.

Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your writing.

Romance Tropes with Bestselling Author Kit Morgan

Fictionary 2025-02-07 | We all dream of being able to write book after book after book. Well, come along and meet Kit Morgan, who has done just that.

Kit is an expert on writing romance novels and is going to share her insights on tropes and how to use them effectively. The enthusiasm Kit exudes will make you fall in love with romance tropes.

She'll also talk about how the Fictionary software has helped her write her novels.

Who is Kit Morgan?

USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, is a versatile author of over 170 books and counting! Whether she's writing historical, contemporary, romantic suspense or time travel with a twist, her books deliver pure fun and romance! Kit's stories are whimsical, inspirational, sweet and clean stories that depict a strong sense of family and community.

Her characters will seem like old friends and readers have fallen in love with entire towns Kit has created and never tire of visiting them. When writing as Geralyn Beauchamp, her books are epic, adventurous, romantic sci-fi/fantasy at its best. The Matchmakers in Time Series, written under both pen names, are reader favorites. A perfect mash-up of both story worlds!

If you want to learn from an author who makes it happen, then Kit's event is one for you! I can't wait to interview her.

The Essential Elements of Writing Fantastical Fiction With Clark Rowenson

Fictionary 2025-01-23 | I'm super excited to host Clark R. Rowenson. Clark is the acclaimed author of The Magic System Blueprint: A Fiction Writer's Guide to Building Magic Systems.

When I read Clark's book, I knew I had to connect with him. The book is complementary to the Fictionary Live! Fantasy course and the book Secrets to Writing a Fantasy ((mybook.to/WritingAFantasy). Combine the power of story structure and a solid magic system, and you're on you way to a best seller.

Clark is an expert at magic systems and has an actionable process for creating these systems.

He'll talk about creativity, defining magic systems, and understanding how your fantastical elements fit into your world and story. As always, there will be time for questions.

More about Clark

Clark R. Rowenson is an award-winning author, blogger, and writing coach that studies magic-systems like others study oil-painting. The only things he loves more than writing are writing magic systems and helping people. If something in your magic system or story is broken, doesn’t feel right, or seems to be more difficult to do than it should be, Clark is here and he’s here to help.

While Clark is a corn-fed, born and raised Nebraskan, he currently lives in Southern California with his unbelievably supportive wife and ridiculously cute dog. You can visit him at crrowenson.com or his Youtube Channel (TheMagicEngineer) to witness, fuel, or join in his obsession.

This event is for you if:
You're writing a fantasy novel.
You struggle to develop a compelling and well-defined magic system.
You want to ensure your magic feels natural and enhances your story.

Fictionary - Creative Editing Software for Writers and Editors

Fictionary 2025-01-15 | Learn why it’s critical (and a lot more fun!) to start thinking about your book marketing, publishing business, and promotion tasks now—before you’ve finished your book. Some steps you can do beforehand are:

- position your book (for traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing)
- establish your author business
- find and engage early readers and published authors like you
- plan your blog and social media (AI can help a lot with this!)
- create your author brand
- to name a few!

Carla King is a trailblazing travel writer, memoirist, and publishing coach celebrated for her solo motorcycle adventures around the globe. She embraced self-publishing at the inception of technology tools with her Self-Publishing Boot Camp workshops and Author Friendly Podcast, and has authored five books on publishing and three memoirs. Find out more about her books and publishing programs at www.carlaking.com.

To find out more about the Alliance of Independent Authors, visit: allianceindependentauthors.org

You can join the Fictionary Community for free to attend events like this live: https://fictionary.circle.so/home

How to Structure Your Entire Book Series. Book 1 and Beyond

Fictionary 2025-01-13 | Readers love a good book series. If you can get them hooked with book 1, they will keep coming back for more.

But, writing a series is not easy and requires more artistic decisions upfront. If you don't get those decisions right in advance, you will end up with a lot more work down the line.

Here is what Kristina will cover in this session:

How to Plan Your Series Arc: For a successful series, strong individual stories need to fit within a larger narrative arc. Don't just write standalone novels strung together – plan the overall journey from the beginning.

How to Determine if You're Writing a Closed or Open Series: By making this decision upfront, you can tailor your writing approach and ensure your series delivers the kind of experience you want for your readers.

Does Your Series Pass the Series Structure Test? Before you start writing, ensure your idea has the potential to hook them from book one all the way to the satisfying conclusion

Kristina Stanley is the Founder of Fictionary and author of Secrets to Editing Success, Secrets to Outlining a Novel, and Secrets to Writing a Series.

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Write a Novel Readers Remember

From idea to final draft: Navigate your whole writing journey with powerful story structure software and live guidance from StoryCoach Instructors.

fictionary.co

Want to take a FREE trial of Fictionary’s StoryTeller software?

fictionary.co

Lets Get Motivate to Write a Novel

Fictionary 2025-01-08 | A very warm Happy New Year to all the Fictionary members!

I'm so happy to have you as part of our vibrant writing and editing community. At Fictionary, we're passionate about helping writers craft structurally sound novels.

Our core values are:
Story Structure: We believe in the power of a strong narrative foundation.
Kindness: We foster a supportive and encouraging environment for all writers.

I'm Kristina, CEO and Co-Founder of Fictionary. Let's kick off 2025 together!

Join our live kickoff session on January 7th.

Come meet me, ask questions, and I'll give you a personalized tour of the Fictionary world. Plus, we can all share our writing goals for the year.

The Fictionary Community is a place for serious writers to learn about story structure, connect with trained editors, and use the Fictionary software to outline and edit effectively.

In this session, you'll:
Tour the community: See how to connect with fellow writers, learn from experienced editors, and find the support you need to succeed.
Learn to outline, write, and edit your novel: Discover effective strategies for crafting your story from beginning to end using Fictionary's powerful tools.
Discover Fictionary Live!: Explore the 7 key courses in Fictionary Live! and learn about all the exciting plans we have in place for subscribers in 2025.

5 Mystery Writing Rules You Should Follow

Fictionary 2024-12-12 | Lisa is sharing the 5 rules every successful mystery novel follows.

Every mystery novel must include 5 key scenes:
1) An inciting incident: Where the crime is commited.
2) Plot Point 1: Where the protagonist accepst the goal to solve the mystery
3) Middle Point: The false victory or defeat
4) Plot Point 2: Where the story changes direction
5) Climax: The mystery is solved!

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Are you ready to write a mystery novel but don't know where to start? Fictionary can help.

Join hundreds of other mystery writers and learn how to outline, write, edit, and publish your novel.

Take a FREE Fictionary trial today, and see what all the hype is about: fictionary.co

10 Fantasy Novel Writing Essentials

Fictionary 2024-12-10 | Kristina is sharing the secret behind the 10 scenes that every successful fantasy novel has. Learn how to write a fantasy novel from the spark of an idea to a finished draft.

Secret 1: There are 5 required genre-dependent scenes.
Secret 2: There are 5 more required scenes that are...you guessed it... genre-dependent.

Want to start writing a fantasy novel but don't know where to start? We've got you. Fictionary has a course designed specifically for Fantasy authors. In 6 weeks, you’ll learn the core elements of fantasy storytelling—building rich worlds, creating compelling characters, and weaving in magical elements.
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Join the Fictionary community and take the first step toward writing your fantasy novel by signing up for a FREE trial of Fictionary’s software.

fictionary.co

Maximizing Your Ebook Promotions

Fictionary 2024-12-03 | Ebook promotions are a crucial piece of any author’s marketing puzzle.

In this session, we’ll explore how to effectively use ebook promotions to boost your visibility, reach new readers, and drive sales.

We’ll cover best practices for timing, pricing strategies, and choosing the right promotional platforms, while also showing you how these tactics can integrate into your broader marketing efforts.

Whether you’re a self-published author or a seasoned pro, this free, Fictionary event will equip you with the tools to make your ebook promotions a powerful driver of long-term success.

Emma Boyer, VP of Digital Operations at Written Word Media
Emma has been working in various capacities in the book publishing industry — from PR to marketing to consulting to serial fiction — for over 15 years.

She is very interested in the potential at the intersection of the tech and publishing worlds and is passionate about helping authors find audiences and audiences find books.

Emma holds an MA from Carnegie Mellon University and a BA from State University of New York at Geneseo. Emma oversees the incomparable Operations & Customer Service team at Written Word Media, and she loves to talk to authors. You’ve probably heard from her at some point in your inbox, at a conference, or on a phone call to talk about promos or content initiatives

5 Essential Scenes in a Romance Novel

Fictionary 2024-12-03 | Are you writing a romance as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

The Story Arc Insight is one of the most popular features in StoryTeller and StoryCoach. In the last Story Arc event, we discussed the story arc for all commercial fiction. In this event, Linda will show you the five must-have scenes in a romance novel.

Writers love how the visuals help them see whether the pacing and structure of the story are hitting all the right beats.

Almost all commercial fiction matches the Story Arc structure and pace to such a degree that readers have come to expect it. Stories that don't follow a similar arc can feel off. For example, if your inciting incident doesn't happen until 30% of the way into your book, your reader will feel frustrated—and frustrated readers will stop reading.

Join Fictionary Linda O'Donnell who will teach you what the five story arc scenes in a romance novel must do.

Author Interview with Vaseem Khan

Fictionary 2024-11-27 | Highlight: Learn the difference between a detective novel, a traditional mystery, and a psychological thriller.

I am thrilled have interviewed Vaseem Kahn.
Vaseem Khan is the author of the upcoming Quantum of Menace, the first in a series featuring Q from the James Bond franchise.

He is also the author of two award-winning crime series set in India, the Baby Ganesh Agency series set in modern Mumbai, and the Malabar House historical crime novels set in 1950s Bombay.

His first book, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020, and is translated into 17 languages.

The second in the series won the Shamus Award in the US. In 2018, he was awarded the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award for Literature. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House won the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger, the world’s premier award for historical crime fiction.

When he isn’t writing, he works at the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London where he helps manage the Dawes Centre for Future Crime. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. Vaseem co-hosts the popular crime fiction podcast, The Red Hot Chilli Writers. In 2023, Vaseem was elected the first non-white Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association (the CWA), the oldest and largest association of crime writers in the UK.

Beta Readers and Self-Publishing with Inkspired.

Fictionary 2024-11-19 | I’m excited to introduce you to Inkspired, a rapidly growing global community of authors, creators, and readers.

Among the many things the platform offers, Inkspired CEO, Galo. A Vargas, is coming to talk with you about BETA readers.

Learn about strategies to self-publish online, its benefits, growing an audience, and how to take advantage of BETA readers' networks to get feedback.

Bring your questions about BETA readers and how to make the most of them, and sign up for a free Inkspired account here.

Galo is the Founder and CEO of Inkspired, a social publishing platform for emerging writers, creators, and readers of book series, novels, serialized fiction, and webtoons.

How to Write a Romance Novel

Fictionary 2024-11-14 | Do you love romance? We do!

Linda O'Donnell will cover crafting characters (primary and secondary), using flashback and backstory, setting, and touch a bit on tropes.

She'll show you the best way to use the Fictionary Software to write a romance novel.

Linda is a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor. She loves to teach everything romance. She's also a certified copyeditor.

5 Scenes in Every Mystery Novel

Fictionary 2024-11-08 | Are you writing a mystery as your main plot or a subplot? This session is for you.

The Story Arc Insight is one of the most popular features in StoryTeller and StoryCoach. In the last Story Arc event, we discussed the story arc for all commercial fiction. In this event, Kristina will show you the five must-have scenes in a mystery novel.

Writers love how the visuals help them see whether the pacing and structure of the story are hitting all the right beats.

Almost all commercial fiction matches the Story Arc structure and pace to such a degree that readers have come to expect it. Stories that don't follow a similar arc can feel off. For example, if your inciting incident doesn't happen until 30% of the way into your book, your reader will feel frustrated—and frustrated readers will stop reading.

Join Fictionary Kristina Stanley who will teach you what the five story arc scenes in a mystery novel must do.

Q&A With Agents Helping Writers: Working with an Agent by Agents Helping Writers

Fictionary 2024-10-31 | Christina Strasbourg is coming to answer your questions about how to work with an agent. She'll share her insights on working with an agent, from essential tips to insider secrets.

Hosted by: Kristina Stanley, Fictionary CEO.

Christina Strasbourg, Founder and CEO of Agents Helping Writers

With over 15 years of experience in the field of creativity coaching, Christina has earned a reputation as a trusted mentor, guide, and catalyst for creative growth. Drawing on a diverse background in creative writing, adult education, and project management, Christina brings a unique blend of expertise and insight to her coaching practice.

Like her clients, Christina is also a writer. She understands the creative process because she lives it every day. She is represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.

Driven by a deep passion for creativity and a genuine desire to see others thrive, Christina works closely with writers to help them overcome creative blocks, tap into their innate talents, and unleash their inner genius. Through personalized sessions, Christina empowers individuals to embrace their creativity with confidence, clarity, and purpose. From teaching writing techniques to brainstorming plot twists, Christina is along for the journey with each of her clients to transform their manuscripts into publishable works that meet industry standards. She's as passionate about their manuscripts as she is her own.

How to Polish Your Prose in 6 Steps

Fictionary 2024-10-21 | In this webinar, ProWritingAid’s Director of Community, Hayley Milliman, will teach you how to craft sentences that engage your ideal reader.

As Director of Community at ProWritingAid, Hayley Milliman focuses on building engaging, helpful learning content for the millions of users who rely on ProWritingAid to make their writing clear and effective. Hayley has a robust writing portfolio and has written for dozens of publications on topics related to education, marketing strategy, history, entrepreneurship, and more.

Structure The Story Arc for Optimal Pacing

Fictionary 2024-10-14 | The Story Arc Insight is one of the most popular features in StoryTeller and StoryCoach.

Writers love how the visuals help them see whether the pacing and structure of the story is hitting all the right beats.

Almost all commercial fiction matches the Story Arc structure and pace to such a degree that readers have come to expect it. Stories that don't follow a similar arc can feel off. For example, if your inciting incident doesn't happen until 30% of the way into your book, then your reader will feel frustrated—and frustrated readers stop reading.

Join Fictionary Kristina Stanley who will teach you how to generate your own story arc and use it to evaluate your own manuscript. Learn how this feature can help you make sure your story really packs a punch.

StoryTeller:

Sign Up for your Free Trial: fictionary.co/products/storyteller