How to Start a Novel: Eight Options, Plus Examples

How to Start a Novel: Eight Options, Plus Examples

How to Start a Novel: Eight Options, Plus Examples Writing the first scene of a novel is tricky. Perhaps you’ve been slowly developing an idea for weeks, months, or even years. You might have written pages of notes or created a full outline. And now you’ve opened up...
Do You Head-Hop? Getting Third Person Point of View Right

Do You Head-Hop? Getting Third Person Point of View Right

Do You Head-Hop? Getting Third Person Point of View Right This post was first published in July 2013 and last updated in October 2025. When you’re writing in the third person, it’s easy to end up head-hopping. This is when you move from one person’s...

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