Draft & Structure
Make a Comparison Do Different Work on Its Second Appearance
A comparison can return later in a draft without repeating the same effect. To make the return useful, change the circumstances around it rather than merely…
A place to follow a sentence
Draft & Structure
Practical ways to find the thread of a draft, arrange its parts and help a reader follow along.
Draft & Structure
When a Character Quotes Another Speaker, Keep Both Voices Traceable
A character can tell a story while repeating someone else’s words. The reader then has to follow the present conversation and the quoted conversation inside…
Draft & Structure
Before Revising an Action Scene, Sketch Where Everyone Can Stand
An action scene can become difficult to follow even when each sentence sounds clear. A rough floor plan exposes movements that the prose may have…
Draft & Structure
Let a Character Notice the Wrong Detail on Purpose
A character’s attention can reveal a concern that the narration never names directly. One way to explore this is to let them focus on a small detail while…
Draft & Structure
A Placeholder Can Keep a First Draft Moving if You Can Find It Again
Use a distinctive placeholder for missing facts or scenes during drafting, then search for every marker before treating the piece as finished.
Draft & Structure
A Scene Can End on a Decision Before Its Consequence Arrives
Experiment with ending a fictional scene at the moment of choice, then compare how much explanation the next scene really needs.
Draft & Structure
A Useful Comparison Shares One Clear Feature
Build a comparison around one visible relationship and remove details that accidentally suggest qualities you do not mean to transfer.
Draft & Structure
A Parenthesis Can Lower Your Voice Without Losing the Sentence
Use a short parenthetical aside deliberately: test whether the main sentence still works and whether the interruption earns its place.