Hi, I’m Grant Ferguson. This site is about what I enjoy: sharing the best of what top authors already figured out, so you can master story structure and write a book readers will love.
The Chief Problem
What really breaks my heart is how many people start then abandon their writing dreams.
The creation of a full-length novel takes commitment, time, and effort. Even though research shows top writers typically begin with a story outline, many beginning writers, me included, thought they knew better. But as I discovered, most don’t.
After a quick start, I quickly felt overwhelmed, and if you’ve experienced that feeling, you’re in the right place to overcome the chief problem.
Rapid Novel Outline
I found the faster you outline, the quicker you can write and then edit the first draft.
After all, you can’t edit and improve an unwritten story. I agree with top authors, who believe an outline is the fastest path to creating a great story. Audiences are eager for novels that exceed their pre-established expectations.
However, readers want more great stories, not just more books.
Learn from the Best
Here’s a fraction of the purchased writing books I consulted, and this sample doesn’t include the bestselling novels studied to see how authors apply these techniques.
Learning about a skill is one aspect of writing, but as I soon discovered, know-how alone doesn’t automatically translate into an outline or a first draft.
Questions to Consider
You can find just about anything on the internet if you’re willing to search.
Even though you can find information for free…
- What’s your time worth?
- Is the information accurate?
- How will you apply what you learn?
Your answer to that last question influences your chances of success.
Convert Learning into Actionable Tasks
To share these top-writer practices, here’s what I did.
- I stopped thinking in terms of one skill or technique, and instead, thought about how those practices form a mosaic, and much like a trellis, support the creation of a beautiful display for our minds.
- Instead of overwhelming writers with multi-tasking, I broke down complex topics into actionable groups (e.g., genres, premise, characters, plots, themes, and scenes).
- Then, I layered the tasks associated with each group into prompt-driven worksheets, enabling you to learn while you write..
This approach speeds the creation of the crucial first draft.
The Trellis Method: A Unique Writing System
Here’s a quick look at the topics and workbooks.
On a Personal Note
I enjoy sharing my discoveries in free posts and bundling them for purchase at a fraction of their cost.
It’s my way of repaying all those who helped me during my lifetime. Many years ago, I vowed to discover and share the unwritten rules of success. Soon, my research proved they were really principles, not rules.
Today, Psalm 45:1 inspires me to continue fulfilling my vow.
“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
The Power of Stories
Fortunately for everyone, the future comes one choice at a time.
- Informed decisions foreshadow probable outcomes.
- Books have the power to influence choices made at life’s crossroads, and top-quality fiction entertains, informs, and inspires.
- Through stories, readers learn the likely results of their choices, and those informed decisions can transform lives and avoid negative consequences.
The story you write has the power to shape the lives of young and old.