Chapter 1. Key Elements of Genre Fiction 1
Literary Fiction versus Genre Fiction 2
- Literary Fiction 2
- Genre Fiction 2
Fiction Length 3
Key Elements 4
- Plot, Story, and
- Structure 4
- Setting 6
- Characters 7
- Point of View 11
- Prose 12
- Theme and
- Subject 14

Chapter 2. Choosing
your Genre 19
Action/Adventure 20
Christian 21
Fantasy 21
- Light Fantasy 21
- Arthurian Legend 22
- Heroic Fantasy 22
Gay/Lesbian 23
Historical 24
Horror 24
Mystery/Detective 25
- The Amateur
- Detective 26
- The Cozy 27
- The Police
- Procedural 27
- The Private
- Detective 28
- The Puzzle 29
Romance 29
- Contemporary 29
- Gothic 30
- Regency 30
- Other Subgenres 31
Science Fiction 31
- Apocalyptic/
Post-apocalyptic 32
- Cyberpunk 32
- First Contact 32
- Hard 33
- Military 33
- Soft/Sociological 34
- Space Opera 35
- Time Travel 35
Spy/Espionage 35
Thriller 36
- Medical Thriller 37
- Legal Thriller 37
- Technothriller 38
Western 38
Young Adult 39

Chapter 3. Backstory
to Description 43
Backstory 43
- Direct Methods 43
- Indirect Methods 50
- Backstory Length 51
Clichés 52
- Cliché Phrases 52
- Cliché Characters 54
- Cliché Situations 55
Description 56
- Blending
- Description 56
- Brand Names 57
- The Words to Use 57

Chapter 4. Figurative Language to Introspection, Insight,
& Perception 63
Figurative Language 63
- Painting Mental
- Pictures 63
- Substituting Words
- for Sounds 64
- Other Functions 65
Foreshadowing and Flash Forward 66
- Foreshadowing 66
- Flash Forward 67
Form and Structure 68
- Form 68
- Structure 69
Imagery 69
- Levels of Imagery 70
- Suggestions for
- Using Imagery 71
Information 71
Interlocking Episodes 71
Introspection, Insight,
and Perception 72
- Introspection 72
- Insight 73
- Perception 73

Chapter 5. Linking Episodes to Series Novels 77
Linking Episodes 77
Modifiers 78
- Adjectives 78
- Adverbs 79
- Valueless Modifiers 80
Narrative 81

Point of View 82
- First-person
- Point of View 82
- Third-person
- Point of View 83
- Multiple Points
- of View 86
- Second-person
- Point of View 86
Sentences 87
- Sentence
- Fragments 87
- Sentence Variety 87
Series Novels 88

Chapter 6. Setting to Special Scenes 91
Setting 91
- Time 92
- Place 92
- Experience 95
- Mood 95
Simultaneity 99
Special Scenes 100
- Action Scenes 100
- Crowd/Battle
- Scenes 102
- Death Scenes 105
- Love Scenes 105

Chapter 7. Style
and Tone to Verb Strength 111
Style and Tone 111
- Style 111
- Tone 112
Symbolism and
Allegory 112
- Symbolism 112
- Allegory 112
Telling versus
Showing 113
- Telling 113
- Showing 114
Time 115
Transitions 115
- Simple Transitions
- 116
- Jump-cut
- Transitions 117
- Chapter Breaks 119
Verb Strength 119
- Active versus
- Passive Voice 119
- Strong versus
- Weak Verbs 120

Chapter 8. Plot 123
Plot Structure 123
Parallel Plots and Subplots 125
- Parallel Plots 125
- Subplots 126
Crisis and
Challenge 127
- Crisis 127
- Challenge 127
Conflict and
Suspense 128
- Conflict 128
- Suspense 132
Coincidence 134
Withholding
Information 135
Story Focus 135
- Plot Driven
- Story 135
- Idea Driven
- Story 136
- Character Driven
- Story 136
Twenty Basic Plots 137
Plot Summary 146
Outlining 147

Chapter 9.
Structure 151
Title 152
- Categories 152
- Importance 153
Prologue 154
- Types of
- Prologues 155
- Prologue Test 157
Beginning 157
- Story Question 159
- Questions Readers
- Ask 159
- Components of the Beginning 161
- Wide and Narrow Beginnings 172
- Beginnings to
- Avoid 173
Middle 174
- Complications 175
- Crisis 177
- The Sagging
- Middle 178
End 181
- Climax 182
- Resolution 182
- Types of
- Endings 183
- Stated Goal versus
- True Goal 185
- Deus ex Machina 186
- Symbolic Event 187
Epilogue 188
Structure Chart 188

Chapter 10. Scene
and sequel 193
Scene 194
- Questions to
- Answer 194
- Cause and Effect 196
- Scene Stages 197
- Scene Length 200
Sequel 200
- Purposes of
- a Sequel 201
- Sequel Stages 203
- Sequel Length 208
Variation of Scene-- Sequel Structure 208
- Scene Structure Variation 208
- Sequel Structure Variation 209
Ways to Keep the
Reader Worried 209
- Scene Ways 209
- Sequel Ways 210
Pacing 210

Chapter 11. Characterization 213
Character
Classification 213
- Major Characters 214
- Minor Characters 218
- Major or Minor Characters 219
Character
Description 223
- Dominant
- Characteristics 223
- Tags 224
- Uniqueness 225
- Involvement 227
- Desires and
- Goals 228
- Compensation 228
- Self-image 229
Character
Development 229
- Methods of Creating
- Characters 230
- Character
- Change 230
Names 231
Personality
Components 233
Examples of Character Attributes 236
How to Bring in a Character 238
Character Chart 239

Chapter 12.
Dialogue 245
Conversation versus Dialogue 245
Direct and Indirect Dialogue 246
Uses of Dialogue 246
Types of Dialogue 249
- Directed
- Dialogue 249
- Interpolated
- Dialogue 250
- Misdirected
- Dialogue 250
- Modulated
- Dialogue 252
Dialogue
Techniques 253
Dialogue
Conventions 255
- Men Talking
- to Men 255
- Bits and Pieces
- versus Chunks 256
- Situational
- Dialogue 256
- Individuality 257
- Internal Dialogue 257
- Emphasis 257
- Sounds 257
- Speeches 258
- Cursing 259
Rules for Good
Dialogue 259
- Dialogue Tags 260
- Speech Tags 260
- Action Tags 261
- Creative Dialogue
- Tag Syndrome 261
- Excessive Direct Address 262
Overuse of
Modifiers 262
Dialect, Slang,
and Jargon 263
- Dialect 263
- Slang 264
- Jargon 264
- Slang and Jargon Websites 265

Punctuating
Dialogue 265
- Statements,
- Questions, and
- Exclamations 265
- New Speaker 266
- More than One Paragraph of
Dialogue 266
- Nested Quotation
- Marks 266

Chapter 13. Emotions 269
Characteristics
of Emotion 269
- Etiology of
- Emotions 269
- Mixed
- Emotions 270
- Range of
- Emotions 270
- Levels of
- Emotion 270
Emotions and
Body Language 271
Table of
Emotions 271
Examples of Emotions 276
- Descriptive
- Phrases 276
- Emotional
- Situations 277

Chapter 14.
Body Language 283
Types of Body
Language 284
- Facial
- Expressions 284
- Gestures 285
- Posture 286
- Spatial
- Relationships 287
Groups 288
Table of Body
Language 289
Examples of Body Language 293

Chapter 15. Additional Information 297
Copyright and
Plagiarism 297
- Copyright 297
- Plagiarism 299
Getting Ideas 300
- Sources for
- Ideas 301
- Record your
- Ideas 302
Manuscript 302
- Format 302
- Revision 304
Query Letter and Synopsis 309
- Query Letter 309
- Synopsis 312

Appendix.
Grammar Tips 319
Comma and
Semicolon Use 319
- Lists 319
- Nonessential
- and Essential
- Clauses 319
Commonly Confused
Words 320
Double
Negatives 329
Modifiers 329
- Dangling
- Modifiers 330
- Nearly, Almost,
- and Only 330
One Word or
Two? 331
Possessives 333
Pronouns 333
- Case 333
- Noun-pronoun
- Agreement 334
- Antecedent
- Agreement 334
Sentence
Structure 334
- Comma Splice 334
- Run-On (Fused) Sentences 335
Split Infinitives 335
Subject-Verb
Agreement 336
Verbals 338
- Participles 339
- Gerunds 339
- Infinitives 340
- When to Use
- Verbals 340
Whether or Not 341