Home » How to Write a Novel | Mechanics of Writing, Revising, and Editing

Mechanics of Writing

How to Write a Novel | Mechanics of Writing, Revising, and Editing

This post is a compilation of posts on writing, revising, and editing fiction.

Mechanics of Writing

Plot and Structure

Most novels follow the classic three-act structure. Different writing instructors teach this in different ways. Here are a few:

Scenes also have structure:

Point of View

Point of view is one of the most common issues I see with first-time fiction writers: Understanding Point of View

If you don’t understand point of view, then I recommend reading Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.

Show, Don’t Tell

Show, don’t tell is an oft-quoted rule that isn’t always clearly defined:

If telling is a problem for you, then I recommend reading Understanding Show Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy.

Common Writing Questions

These articles were all inspired by questions I’ve been asked online or in person, or issues I’ve seen in manuscripts I’ve worked on or novels I’ve read.

Common Revision Questions

Common Editing Questions

Editing questions fall into two main areas: the big-picture “why” questions, and the more detailed “how do I …” questions:

How Do I …

These tend to be style questions. As such, there is no right or wrong answer. It will depend on the style guide you are using:

My favourite books on self-editing are:

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