Stephen Cannell's fiction-writing advice

Cannell gives great lessons for any kind of writer, fiction or nonfiction. 

1. Just write! You can make it better later, but writing anything regularly is better than waiting for inspiration.

2. Write what the story that interests you. Write what you love! Test the story with smart advisors to be sure it's viable. Then start writing and don't stop until it's done. A great story written badly can always be improved. A dull story cannot.

3. Who are the people in your story going to be? Why do I care about them? Will anybody else? What is the journey my hero/heroine is on? What is his or her major flaw? These are just a few questions to ask before laying out a character arc. You want to have engaging characters that are not perfect... Who are the villains? Make sure they are fully rounded. A good antagonist will help to define the protagonist. Finding the motivation for the villain is extremely important. Make him or her a believable character.

4. Use the three-act structure.

In Act One the protagonist meets all of the characters in the play. We also find out what the main problem of the story is. Start at the most interesting point, where there is conflict and excitement.

The complication usually comes at the top of Act Two. The problem that we already set up in Act One, now has to become much more dangerous and difficult. A piece of the back-story has remained hidden until Act Two. At the end of Act Two the protagonist should be almost destroyed, and at the lowest point in the drama, either physically and/or emotionally. Here's a great trick: in Act Two, show the action from the antagonists viewpoint.

ACT THREE: The solution and resolution.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Every scene in a book or script should do two things.

FIRST: It should progress the story. The test is, if the scene is removed does it leave a hole in the plot.

SECOND: The scene should simultaneously advance the character relationships. Try to accomplish both of these goals in each scene.

5. Other important things to know:

• It is important to do thorough preparation and research. Be an "expert" in your subject matter.
• The challenge is not to write truth, but to write seductive BELIEVABILITY.
• Look for places to integrate eyeball-to-eyeball CONFLICT.
• Spend time on the characters so they have depth and readers are hooked on them.
• Take the reader into a unique and interesting world.
• Story compression: Write tightly. Use one scene where you wanted to use four.
• Tone requires CONSISTENCY from start to finish.
• Collective protagonists or antagonists are a hazard. Be careful not to split the reader's interest.
• The ticking clock, a time limit on the story, adds tension.
• Coincidence can be a good way to solve the story, but don't overdo it.
• Include three-act subplots for interest.
• Keep the momentum going. You need constant or repeating tension.
• You have to have a theme that is revealed in the conflict between protagonist and antagonist.
• The protagonist's flaw usually stems from something in the past that haunts him.
• Keep the protagonist acting boldly, not passively reacting.
• A "signature" line of dialogue is repeated throughout the story and takes on greater significance as the story expands.
• The attempt to achieve a difficult goal is crucial to the protagonist's development.
• Both the protagonist and the villain need an ally or sidekick to express their thoughts to.
• The protagonist has an epiphany, a moment of recognition at the end of Act One.
• The protagonist needs an intelligent plan to beat the villain and achieve the goal.
• An "antagonist in motion," one whose world has its own depth and purpose, creates suspense and excitement.
• The protagonist must have a final epiphany about the villain.
• The protagonist must go through hell, possibly more than once, and emerge victorious.
• The protagonist must have a personal epiphany, the shattering experience of seeing himself as He really is.
• Two common themes in good drama: personal identity and discovery, and learning when to fight and when to be tolerant.
• Don't let this excessive list of "Dos and Don'ts" make writing seem more complicated than it is. Remember: writing should be fun.