Just wanted to let you know though, I’ve already signed up for your newsletter but I’m still getting the lovely, but now annoying, modal window encouraging me to sign up for a newsletter I’ve already signed up for. This happens nny time I go to a new page or blog post. I think there are gremlins in your cookies.

Either way, it’s exciting to hear about your progress and hope for this, please keep us posted! Wishing you every success. L.

I have been following your blog for a few years and hope to complete my first novel this year. Actually, forget ‘hope’. I WILL finish my first novel this year. There, that’s better.
I am having a hard time deciding on the genre the story fits in, and I need to know this to get guidelines about length and which agents to pitch to. It’s a love story but it has crime and chases too. What do you think? I have an outline ready.

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In The Help, Missus Stein tells Eugenia she will read what Eugenia (Skeeter) writes about how the maids in Mississippi are treated. Without that call, Skeeter may not have gone through witht the effort or danger of writing the book. But, she decides to write the book despite the dangers to herself and the maids. = FPP.

So, when Missus Stein says that she will read what Eugenia writes, was that a FPP nudge? Or a pre-FPP hint?

Should there be a nudge or hint right before the FPP that tips the scale and gives the character a choice? (Though, we writers know that the character has no choice !

Thanks, again! Evonne

Quote: “In contrast, in Tom Clancy’s Hunt for Red October, Jack Ryan stands out to me as the main character. The story revolves around him and his hunt, but he isn’t the protagonist. Ramius is the one who’s acting and driving the plot, because his choice and his actions set the entire story in motion. If you took Jack Ryan out of the story, Ramius would still act as he does. If you took Ramius out of the story, Ryan has nothing to do. But Ryan plays a vital role in balancing Ramius plot. We care abut Ramius because we care about Ryan.”

So basically the answer to “Whose story is this? (MC)” and “Who’s the one driving the plot? (Protagonist)” can be different. In that case, whose POV should I use to structure my story? Do I write the plot points based on the MC or the protagonist?

Thanks!