First Draft

S1 Bonus – The Forge

“The isolated imagination is easily corrupted by theory, but the writer inside his community seldom has such a problem.” – Flannery O’Connor

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S1E9 – Alpha Readers and Developmental Editors

“A problem that a character can walk away from is a book a reader can walk away from.” – Unknown

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S1E8 – Getting it Written

“If you want to be a writer that’s the hardest and most important lesson: Finish it. Then go back to fix it.” – Tad Williams

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S1E7 – Worldbuilding: Fantasy and Magic

If you don’t think there is magic in writing, you probably won’t write anything magical. – Terry Brooks

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S1E6 – Worldbuilding: The World Around You

There is no beauty without some strangeness. – Edgar Allan Poe

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S1E5 – Character Design: Support

When reading, we don’t fall in love with the characters’ appearances. We fall in love with their words, their thoughts, and their hearts. We fall in love with their souls. – Unknown

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S1E4 – Character Design: Primary

Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. – CS Lewis

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S1E3 – Story Structure

Pixar’s story model:
Once upon a time there was a ____
Every day, ____
Until one day, _____
Because of that, _____
Because of that, _____
Until finally,______

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S1E2 – Genre

If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it. – Beverly Cleary

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S1E1 – Plotting vs. Pantsing

Hey, quick question: how do I plot a book?
Write down everything that happens in the story, then in the second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along. – Neil Gaiman

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