Struggling with your manuscript despite reading every writing craft book? Developmental editor Lori Puma reveals what 70+ writing books left out.
Learn about Story Foundation, the Invisible Story, antagonist networks, and scene sequencing.
Perfect for first-time novelists facing common problems like lack of conflict, repetitive plots, or manuscripts that won't come together despite multiple revisions.
Includes tips on creating dynamic antagonists, building cause-and-effect chains, and troubleshooting story problems. Get Lori's free ebook "What Craft Books Left Out" at loripuma.com.
Keywords: writing craft, developmental editing, story structure, novel writing, antagonist development, scene structure, first novel, writing advice, manuscript revision, plot development.
00:00 - Introduction: Why traditional writing books might not be enough
01:00 - Meet Lori Puma: From editor to craft book detective
02:00 - Story Foundation: The missing piece for first-time novelists
03:00 - Symptoms of story foundation problems
05:00 - The Invisible Story: What happens off the page
07:00 - Common antagonist mistakes and how to fix them
09:00 - The Princess Bride example: Antagonists vs. antagonists
11:00 - Shaping sequences: Creating cause-and-effect chains
12:00 - How to get Lori's free ebook and connect
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