The First Draft Pro Blog

We freaking love stories

You do too? Well, well, well. That smells like BFF potential.

An illustration of a maze, used in this context as a metaphor for the complex balance of internal conflict in your novel.

Internal conflict — the 5 types, and how to use them to drive your plot forward

Uncover the five pivotal internal conflicts: moral dilemmas, identity crises, religious or philosophical challenges, self-esteem issues, and intricate relationship dynamics.
An illustration of a path running through a wood.

How conflict drives your story forward

The role of conflict in advancing plot and character development.
An illustration of a forking path with mountains rising in the background.

The 3 types of conflict that your protagonist can encounter

Exploring internal, external, and relational conflicts in storytelling.
An illustration of two people in conversation.
Research
3 min read

How to research real people

Ethical and thorough approaches to researching real individuals for your novel.
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Research
3 min read

A short guide to choosing reliable research sources

Selecting credible and accurate sources for novel research.
An illustration of people watching a theatrical production.
Research
3 min read

How to research historical events

Methods for investigating and depicting historical occurrences authentically.
An illustration of books.
Research
3 min read

How to strike the right balance with research (and not get bogged down)

Avoiding research overload while maintaining accuracy.
An illustration of a historical landscape.
Research
3 min read

How to research historical settings

Techniques for accurately portraying historical backdrops.
An illustration of a writer climbing a ladder to get to the top of a pile of books.
Research
3 min read

How to organise your novel research

Efficiently categorizing and managing research materials.
An illustration of light bulbs.
Ideation
3 min read

A short guide to novel ideation & research

Strategies for brainstorming and researching novel ideas effectively.
An illustration of the view of a landscape through a train window.
Ideation
3 min read

Understanding premise

A breakdown of the foundational concept or idea behind a story.
An illustration of a library.
Ideation
3 min read

A guide to preparation & planning of a novel writing project

Structuring and organizing your novel project for success.