Is Your Manuscript Structurally Sound and Reader Friendly? 

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Are all the scenes in your novel logically connected?

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  • A.
    The scenes are a little "all over the place" and really just follow my protagonist through their days.
  • B.
    To be honest, some scenes fit better with the plot than others! But I think MOST of them fit pretty well.
  • C.
    I have carefully crafted every scene so that they serve both the plot and the protagonist's arc of change.
• 2.
  Is there a clear cause-and-effect trajectory in your novel? 

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  • A.
    A what now? I have no idea what that means.
  • B.
    Mostly... but some events just happen because I need them to in order to move the plot forward!
  • C.
    My plot is like a line of dominos! Every event can be traced back the inciting incident.
• 3.
  Does your protagonist have a clear goal in each scene? 

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  • A.
    I'm not sure my protagonist has goal in each scene. Things just kind of happen to the protagonist and they react.
  • B.
    My protagonist has a big goal, but not necessarily a goal in every scene.
  • C.
    My protagonist has an over arching goal in the novel and mini goals in each scene.
• 4.
  Are your protagonist's thoughts and feelings present on each page? 

  • A.
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    The protagonist's thoughts and feelings come up a few times, but not a lot. They typically only react to BIG events.
  • B.
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    I don't dive into the protagonist's thoughts and feelings too much. I'm better with plot and adventure.
  • C.
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    My protagonist is thinking and feeling in reaction to every event, large or small. How else will the reader understand them?
• 5.
  Have you clearly outlined the major plot points in your novel? 

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  • A.
    I am a discovery writer! I never know what's going to happen in the story until it happens!
  • B.
    I know a few important plot points, but there are some major events in my book that still aren't at all clear to me.
  • C.
    I have plotted out every major event in my novel so I always know what direction I'm headed.
• 6.
  Does your protagonist have a clear arc of change?

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  • A.
    My protagonist doesn't change very much from the beginning of the novel to the end of the novel.
  • B.
    My protagonist changes in so many ways, but it's hard for me to articulate exactly how they change.
  • C.
    My protagonist has a clear arc of change that I can write in one succinct sentence.
• 7.
  What's the Big Point you're trying to make about the world or the human experience? 

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  • A.
    My novel could have a thousand different meanings! It's up to the reader to figure out what it means to them.
  • B.
    My novel doesn't have a Big Point. It's just supposed to be interesting and exciting.
  • C.
    My Big Point is clear to me, and I can write out in one succinct sentence.
• 8.
  Do you know what writing this novel means to you personally?

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  • A.
    This particular story has deep significance to me, and my life would not be fully realized if I didn't finish it.
  • B.
    I want to say I've written a novel!
  • C.
    I'm not sure. I just like the plot.
• 9.
  Do you know your genre?

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  • A.
    I'm so lost when it comes to genre... I couldn't even begin to guess what genre I'm writing.
  • B.
    I know the exact genre my novel fits into, and I'm familiar with the storytelling conventions of that genre.
  • C.
    This novel has elements of a lot of different genres, but I'm not sure how to figure out the "main" genre.
• 10.
  Who is your ideal reader?

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  • A.
    I think my ideal reader is someone just like me.
  • B.
    I've done a lot of research, and I know exactly who my ideal reader is and where they hang out in real life and online.
  • C.
    I have no idea.
• 11.
  How's your worldbuilding coming along? 

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  • A.
    I know my world inside and out from politics and religion to weather patterns and cultural norms!
  • B.
    I'm not great at world building. My novel feels a little like an "empty stage."
  • C.
    My novel is not fantasy or science fiction, so I don't need to worry about world building.
• 12.
  Does each scene have an important connection to your protagonist's arc of change?

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  • A.
    I'm still not certain what the protagonist's arc of change is... so probably not.
  • B.
    Yep, every scene moves my protagonist slowly along their arc of change!
  • C.
    No, there are many scenes that don't really connect back to that.
• 13.
  Do you know where the story starts and ends?

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  • A.
    I've played around with a lot of different beginnings and endings, and I'm just not sure which ones are best.
  • B.
    I'm solid on the beginning, but the ending is still elusive.
  • C.
    I'm solid on the ending, but I'm still not sure where to start.
  • D.
    I'm completely sure of both the beginning and ending, and they are perfect "book ends" for the protagonist's arc of change.
• 14.
  Are you crystal clear on your protagonist's backstory? 

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  • A.
    I don't think the protagonist's backstory really matters to my plot.
  • B.
    I know some things, but it's really hard to know what details matter.
  • C.
    I have filled out character bio sheets. I know lots of random stuff like their favorite color, their favorite food, their astrological sign...
  • D.
    I know tons of novel-specific backstory!
• 15.
  Have you identified the Major Dramatic Question of your novel? 

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  • A.
    The what?
  • B.
    Yes, it is very clear to me.
  • C.
    It feels like I might have several.
  • D.
    I can't find one in my novel!
• 16.
  Are you a natural born procrastinator? 

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  • A.
    Yes! Unless I have an imposed deadline, I can't stay motivated!
  • B.
    Sometimes. But I think can find the motivation to write this book.
  • C.
    I have a strict writing schedule that keeps me 100% on track.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Are You Pumped? It's Time to Get That Story Puzzle Organized!

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  Great job thinking up an epic premise, some cool characters, and declaring, "Now is the time to write my novel!"These are the necessary first steps to creating a book you can be proud of.BUT...Some foundation elements of your novel are a bit shaky at the moment...That probably just means you let the muse take the wheel. (Which is super fun, am I right?)But there's no need to panic! You're novel is NOT doomed to failure. Heck NO! It just means you've got some work to do to make it strong and reader friendly!Right now, you're manuscript just has a few pesky little holes in it and several annoying structural weak spots.These types of issues typically stem from difficulties with plotting, the protagonist's arc of change, getting the story fully on the page, and the overall cause-and-effect trajectory of events. Bleh, am I right?The good news?You're not alone. Most writers have these problems.The BEST news?These problems are 100% FIXABLE. And, look, these story elements are super hard to recognize because we've been told, over and over, that the pretty words are what matters most in a novel. Hint: They're NOT. It's actually the deep level structural work that drives the narrative and keeps readers invested and thirsty for more. The pretty words are just the whipped cream piled on top of the warm chocolate-drizzled brownie of your novel. On their own, they're just kind of meh.So what now?I'm super glad you asked!If you're ready to whip your manuscript into shape, private book coaching might be just the thing for you!Here's How Private Book Coaching Can Help...1. You'll finally understand story structure inside and out.Great stories don't just fall onto the page (or into your HEAD) fully formed and structurally solid. No way! They actually take a great deal of deep thought, finessing, and rethinking. And they need elements like the Setup, the Rising Action, the Inciting Incident, the Midpoint, the Falling Action, and the Finale. And these elements must be tied to the protagonist's arc of change. Yeesh!But why not just let the muse guide you and hope story structure magically appears?Simple: because having a solid story structure will help guarantee that your novel satisfies readers and attracts the attention of agents. And that's something you can't afford to leave to chance.Bonus: you'll (finally) be able to step back and see your novel with the keen eye of an agent or editor. Powerful, right? 2. You'll feel 100% confident (and excited) in the direction your novel is headed!Here's what I've learned from years of writing and book coaching: writer's block is most often caused by not being able to clearly see the next plot point in your novel (not by a failure to think of pretty sentences). And even when writers push through that kind of writer's block, the story that unfolds in their novel is often flawed because something just isn't working from structural standpoint.The Blueprint offers a simple solution to these common problems that works for both plotters and discovery writers!You'll be able to get clear on (and excited by) the major events in your novel while still leaving plenty of room for creativity. 3. You'll have an accountability partner, writing mentor, and story expert to guide you through the process and keep you motivated.Writing a book doesn't have to be a solitary and frustrating endeavor. Can you imagine having a writing mentor, story expert, and enthusiast cheerleader who knows (and loves) your story as much as you do? Can you imagine not having to worry about all of moving parts and just relaxing into the creative process?Can you imagine have gentle accountability to keep you 100% motivated?All of this and much more is possible with Book Coaching...Hold Up — Let Me Introduce MyselfHey there, and welcome — I’m Heather, Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, copyeditor, and storyteller with over a decade of experience teaching story structure. I love helping aspiring authors turn their brilliant ideas into brilliant manuscripts that readers rave about and agents request. I am 100% committed to diversity, and I primarily work with writers whose stories contribute to that goal. 🎉Ready to Improve Your Writing TODAY?1) Check out this quick video that answers the question "What is a Scene?"CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO2) Check out this article on Plot versus Story!The Vital Difference Between Plot and Story—and Why You Need Both3) Check out this article on Character Arc!7 Questions to Design a Better Arc of Change for Your ProtagonistReady to find out more about private coaching? Let's schedule a FREE book coaching discovery session!
• 2.
  Are You Jazzed? You're Story Puzzle is Coming Together Nicely!

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  Congratulations! You've got some important structural elements in place in your novel! Maybe you've got a strong character arc. Maybe the narrative drive is ROKCIN'! That's totally awesome, and you should be proud of your hard work!But... right now, you're manuscript still has a few pesky holes in it and several annoying structural weak spots.But don't panic! You're novel is NOT doomed to failure. Heck NO! It just means you've got a little work to do to make it strong and agent-ready!These types of issues typically stem from difficulties with plotting, the protagonist's arc of change, getting the story fully on the page, and the overall cause-and-effect trajectory of events. Bleh, am I right? BUT they are 100% FIXABLE if you're motivated and ready to take the next steps!So what ARE those steps?I'm super glad you asked!If you're ready to whip your manuscript into shape, private book coaching might be just the thing for you!Here's How Private Book Coaching Can Help...1. You'll finally understand story structure inside and out.Great stories don't just fall onto the page (or into your HEAD) fully formed and structurally solid. No way! They actually take a great deal of deep thought, finessing, and rethinking. And they need elements like the Setup, the Rising Action, the Inciting Incident, the Midpoint, the Falling Action, and the Finale. And these elements must be tied to the protagonist's arc of change. Yeesh!But why not just let the muse guide you and hope story structure magically appears?Simple: because having a solid story structure will help guarantee that your novel satisfies readers and attracts the attention of agents. And that's something you can't afford to leave to chance.Bonus: you'll (finally) be able to step back and see your novel with the keen eye of an agent or editor. Powerful, right? 2. You'll feel 100% confident (and excited) in the direction your novel is headed!Here's what I've learned from years of writing and book coaching: writer's block is most often caused by not being able to clearly see the next plot point in your novel (not by a failure to think of pretty sentences). And even when writers push through that kind of writer's block, the story that unfolds in their novel is often flawed because something just isn't working from structural standpoint.The Blueprint offers a simple solution to these common problems that works for both plotters and discovery writers!You'll be able to get clear on (and excited by) the major events in your novel while still leaving plenty of room for creativity. 3. You'll have an accountability partner, writing mentor, and story expert to guide you through the process and keep you motivated.Writing a book doesn't have to be a solitary and frustrating endeavor. Can you imagine having a writing mentor, story expert, and enthusiast cheerleader who knows (and loves) your story as much as you do? Can you imagine not having to worry about all of moving parts and just relaxing into the creative process?Can you imagine have gentle accountability to keep you 100% motivated?All of this and much more is possible with Book Coaching...Hold Up — Let Me Introduce MyselfHey there, and welcome — I’m Heather, Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, copyeditor, and storyteller with over a decade of experience teaching story structure. I love helping aspiring authors turn their brilliant ideas into brilliant manuscripts that readers rave about and agents request. I am 100% committed to diversity, and I primarily work with writers whose stories contribute to that goal. 🎉Ready to Improve Your Writing TODAY?1) Check out this quick video that answers the question "What is a Scene?"CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO2) Check out this article on Plot versus Story!The Vital Difference Between Plot and Story—and Why You Need Both3) Check out this article on Character Arc!7 Questions to Design a Better Arc of Change for Your ProtagonistReady to find out more about private coaching? Let's schedule a FREE book coaching discovery session!
• 3.
  Are You Totally Stoked?!? You're Off to an Epic Start!

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  Pat yourself on the back, Storyteller! You've done a great job of getting many of the most difficult story fundamentals in place. Your novel is off to a great start!Celebrate! Do a little dance! Buy yourself an iced mocha latte and flop down on your coach to watch some Stranger Things or Our Flag Means Death!But don't get too comfy on that coach... because you still need to make sure that your novel is 100% structurally sound. Why? Because sometimes we writers THINK everything in our story is on track even when there are actually several structural issues that have wormed their way in and are wreaking havoc.Yeesh! They can be insidious as termites munching away at your the foundation of your house!So what now?I'm super glad you asked!If you're ready to whip your manuscript into shape, private book coaching might be just the thing for you!Here's How Private Book Coaching Can Help...1. You'll finally understand story structure inside and out.Great stories don't just fall onto the page (or into your HEAD) fully formed and structurally solid. No way! They actually take a great deal of deep thought, finessing, and rethinking. And they need elements like the Setup, the Rising Action, the Inciting Incident, the Midpoint, the Falling Action, and the Finale. And these elements must be tied to the protagonist's arc of change. Yeesh!But why not just let the muse guide you and hope story structure magically appears?Simple: because having a solid story structure will help guarantee that your novel satisfies readers and attracts the attention of agents. And that's something you can't afford to leave to chance.Bonus: you'll (finally) be able to step back and see your novel with the keen eye of an agent or editor. Powerful, right? 2. You'll feel 100% confident (and excited) in the direction your novel is headed!Here's what I've learned from years of writing and book coaching: writer's block is most often caused by not being able to clearly see the next plot point in your novel (not by a failure to think of pretty sentences). And even when writers push through that kind of writer's block, the story that unfolds in their novel is often flawed because something just isn't working from structural standpoint.The Blueprint offers a simple solution to these common problems that works for both plotters and discovery writers!You'll be able to get clear on (and excited by) the major events in your novel while still leaving plenty of room for creativity. 3. You'll have an accountability partner, writing mentor, and story expert to guide you through the process and keep you motivated.Writing a book doesn't have to be a solitary and frustrating endeavor. Can you imagine having a writing mentor, story expert, and enthusiast cheerleader who knows (and loves) your story as much as you do? Can you imagine not having to worry about all of moving parts and just relaxing into the creative process?Can you imagine have gentle accountability to keep you 100% motivated?All of this and much more is possible with Book Coaching...Hold Up — Let Me Introduce MyselfHey there, and welcome — I’m Heather, Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, copyeditor, and storyteller with over a decade of experience teaching story structure. I love helping aspiring authors turn their brilliant ideas into brilliant manuscripts that readers rave about and agents request. I am 100% committed to diversity, and I primarily work with writers whose stories contribute to that goal. 🎉Ready to Improve Your Writing TODAY?1) Check out this quick video that answers the question "What is a Scene?"CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO2) Check out this article on Plot versus Story!The Vital Difference Between Plot and Story—and Why You Need Both3) Check out this article on Character Arc!7 Questions to Design a Better Arc of Change for Your ProtagonistReady to find out more about private coaching? Let's schedule a FREE book coaching discovery session!