Your novel’s bookends do the heavy lifting. In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we pair Step 16 (Writing the Opening Scene) and Step 17 (Writing the Closing Scene) to help you start with momentum and finish with meaning. You’ll learn what a scene is (and why something must change every time), how to centre your protagonist’s thoughts and feelings, and a simple timer method to draft three different openings and three different endings - fast. Then we “mirror test” your bookends so the final scene proves the belief shift you promise on page one.

You’ll learn:

• The four-beat scene engine: Want → Friction → Choice → Change

• How to draft rough, 5–10 page scene sketches using TK placeholders

• Three alternative ways to start (and end) the same story—by design

• The “rhyme, don’t repeat” rule for opening/closing scenes that land

Leave with a clear opening, a true ending, and a direction for everything in between.

Outlining doesn’t have to strangle your creativity—or leave you drowning in spreadsheets. In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we introduce The Inside Outline: a fast, 2–3 page method that pairs each major Scene (what happens) with its Point (why it matters to your protagonist). The result? A plot that moves and a character arc that means something.

You’ll hear how to build 10–15 Scene/Point pairs, link them with clean cause-and-effect (“because of that…”), and pressure-test the outline so stakes rise, tension builds, and the story delivers on genre promises. We’ll walk through examples—romance, and thriller—so you can hear exactly how to do it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Scene/Point pairing that keeps plot and emotion glued together

• How to use “because of that…” to create momentum (not coincidence)

• A quick 8-question stress test for your outline’s stakes, pacing, and arc

• Ways to turn your Inside Outline into scenes, revisions, and a query-ready synopsis

Leave with a living map you can actually write from: short, sharp, and tied to why your story matters.

Plotting doesn’t have to feel like wrangling an octopus into a cardigan. In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we turn to Pixar’s Story Spine - seven simple prompts that reveal your story’s engine: who we meet, what upends the status quo, how cause-and-effect escalates, where the climax hits, and what the change means. We unpack each beat (from “Once upon a time…” to “And ever since that day…”) and keep things focused with just two “Because of that…” moves to force clean causality. You’ll hear quick, recognisable examples and leave with a concise spine you can expand into scenes—without drowning in index cards.

You’ll learn:

• How to define your story’s “normal,” inciting incident, and rising consequences

• Why limiting yourself to two causal beats sharpens momentum

• How to aim your climax at your character’s internal shift

• How to land an emotionally clear resolution

How much time passes between Page 1 and “The End” - and where, exactly, do you begin and finish? In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we pair Step 12 (Story Timeline) and Step 13 (Opening & Closing) to shape your novel’s container and its proof of change. You’ll learn how to define your story present (the “now” of your narrative), pick a time span that supports tension, and design opening/closing scenes that mirror each other to reveal transformation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What “story present” is—and why tense and chronology aren’t the same thing

• How different time containers (day, season, year, decades) change pacing and stakes

• The “mirror technique” for opening/closing scenes that land emotionally

• Common pitfalls (timeline mush, flashback overload, soft starts) and quick fixes

• Mini exercises to name your container and draft before/after snapshots

Leave with a clear time frame, a purposeful opening, and a closing image that proves how your protagonist changes.

In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we'll delve into the intricacies of narrative voice and perspective, focusing on the importance of point of view (POV) and time stance in storytelling.

We'll discuss various narrative techniques, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical exercises to help writers refine their craft.

In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we'll discuss the importance of choosing the right protagonist for your story, emphasising the need for a single human centre that readers can connect with, the distinction between external wants and internal needs, and the significance of crafting tailored opposition to enhance conflict.

We'll also cover the role of point of view in storytelling and provides practical exercises for writers to refine their narratives.

In this episode, we'll delve into the intricacies of world building, establishing clear rules and consequences, and ensuring that characters and their motivations are relatable to readers.

Practical exercises are provided to help writers create immersive worlds that enhance their narratives without overwhelming them with unnecessary details.

We'll also highlight common pitfalls to avoid in world building, encouraging writers to focus on realism and character-driven storytelling.

In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we'll discuss the importance of identifying your ideal reader in the writing process, how understanding your audience can enhance the emotional connection of your story - and making it more impactful.

By focusing on a specific reader rather than trying to please everyone, writers can create stories that resonate deeply and fulfil the needs of their audience.

We'll also highlight the significance of envisioning the reader's experience and the potential impact of the book on their lives.

In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we'll delve into the critical step of choosing a genre in the story development process. We'll explain the importance of genre in guiding creative choices, setting reader expectations, and categorising stories effectively. We'll also cover major genres and their subgenres, the nuances of literary versus commercial fiction, and addresses common questions writers have about genre classification.

Remember that while genre selection is essential, it doesn't have to be rigid and can evolve as the story develops!

In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we'll discuss the significance of choosing a working title in the story development process.

A working title helps writers transition from vague ideas to a more concrete narrative, and the episode also includes practical exercises for generating strong titles that resonate with the story.