On July 19, 2025, Kasie and Rex took the lead from another blogger and explored novel writing from an intent, purpose, and process perspective. Here are the show notes:

Theme for the day

Novel Toolkit

Agenda

• Quick catch-up
• What I found on the internet
• What I Wish I’d known
• Five elements of a novel

Segment 1 & 2

Whilst scrolling through the #writing community hashtag on X (formerly twitter) I found this post from MK Tod, author, on Ten Posts on the Craft of Writing. I figured we could Frankenstein two of these into a good discussion on some novel-writing basics. So we’re going to take on 7 key lessons with what one writer wishes she’d known before writing a novel and then 5 elements of a novel. Who doesn’t love a list?

Let’s jump right in. These are Teresa’s seven edited for length (link):

1. Story Structure: As a novelist, be aware of story structure—the need for increasing tension through your book until the climax near the end of your story. Turning points should come at about the 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% marks. 
2. Character Development: Get to know your primary characters well before you start. The better you know them, the better your first draft will be. Every character should have a flaw that makes him or her human.
3. Play to Your Strengths: Know what your strengths as a writer are and play to them. For example, if you like writing dialogue, write a lot of it.
4. Revision: Being able to revise your work is far more important than writing a good first draft. You will probably spend more time revising than you do on the first draft.
5. Writing Community: Become a part of a writing community. Find other writers who are both supportive of your work and who can help you improve as a writer.
6. Writing v. Marketing: Writing a good book is more important to start with than the decision whether to publish traditionally or as an indie author. Your balance between (writing and marketing) will depend on your goals as a writer, so know what you want to accomplish with your writing.
7. Keep Learning: You’re never done learning as a writer. Each book starts as a blank page and presents its own challenges.

Thanks to Teresa Hupp for that insight.

What about us? What do we wish we’d known?

Segment 3

From the same discovered site, comes this post on the five elements of the novel. So let’s unpack them and add our own spin. Thanks, MK Tod for the assist.

• Plot has five ingredients: Conflict, Dramatic Dominoes, HIgh Points, Climax, Resolution
• Opening: tells us the character’s beginning state, delivers a promise of excitement, introduces the conflict, theme and problem; establishes an atmosphere and place; includes a hook of some kind.

That’s just one of the five elements MK Tod introduces, so we’ll riff on that a bit and then move on to the second one.

Story is character: what are their core needs? What lie does the character believe? What episode from their past can they just not get over? What do they really want?

Dialogue reveals character: move the plot forward, provide information the character or reader doesn’t have, add to the tension of the scene, deliver subtext for deeper meaning, and serve the action of the scene.

Voice is crucial: it demonstrates socioeconomic status, background, education, history, biases, desires, agenda; have you been mindful about developing the character’s voice?

Setting is story: landscape, atmosphere, the challenges and benefits of the space they occupy; what are the limitations of place? What is allowed because of the location?

Segment 4

So, how do you do it? Plan first and then write? Write first and then shape? Hard to say. Sometimes the “write first” method can deliver great scenes, interesting characters, and plot ideas you want to pursue. Just maybe don’t go too far down the path without getting a map?