Tag: FictionWriting

Chekhov’s Gun – Setting Up Important Plot Elements in Science Fiction and Fantasy

On By Kenneth W. MyersIn Fiction, Writing TipsLeave a comment

Every sci-fi and fantasy writer plants "guns," from cursed objects, prophecies, and hidden weaknesses. But too many loaded guns exhaust the reader and too few payoff satisfyingly. Drawing on Tolkien's mithril shirt and Ender's mind game, this post breaks down how to plant, camouflage, and fire your story's Chekhov's Guns for maximum payoff.

Mastering Story Structure: Connecting the Dots Across Your Narrative

On By Kenneth W. MyersIn Fiction2 Comments

Story structure matters because it creates a map for your readers to follow as they experience your story. Readers value purposeful storytelling over meandering detours. The way you can tell if your structure is working is to evaluate how each element of plot interacts with the other.