Step One
Genre
What is your story really about?
This is the key question that will define your story from the first sentence to the last word.
But the beauty of this question is that there is a language out there used by both writers and readers that help not only define this question, but creates the universe your book lives in.
And this language is your genre.
Why start here?
Your genre navigation points are your tent poles. They hold up your structure and create the boundaries in which you story lives.
No matter if you are plotting your first book or doing final edits of your tenth book, if something feels off, referring back to your genre navigation points will realign you.
but i already know my genre…
I know this sounds intuitive and redundant to go over these questions. If you write romance, it is likely you know what a romance reads like, looks like, feels like. But I am challenging you to look deeper into the nitty gritty of your genre.
Are you writing a modern workplace romance? Or a historic shifter romance? These two romances demand very different writing elements and reader expectations.
Think about doing a puzzle. The edge is the easiest to start with as it creates the boundaries for the rest of the rest of the pieces so you may see the full picture.
How to use genre as a tool to strengthen your story and find your readers.