Writing a fiction book in the first person can create an intimate, engaging narrative that lets readers deeply connect with the protagonist's inner world. Here are some tips to help you effectively write in this point of view:

1. Establish a Distinct Voice

• Develop a unique voice for the narrator. Consider their age, background, personality, and how they perceive the world. This voice should reflect in their word choice, tone, and even the rhythm of their sentences.
• Example: A teenager's voice will differ from that of an elderly scholar.
  
  

2. Limit Knowledge to the Narrator’s Perspective

• The narrator can only know what they personally see, hear, think, or feel. Use this limitation to create suspense or misunderstandings.
• Avoid “head-hopping” or revealing details the narrator wouldn't realistically know.
  
  

3. Emphasize Subjective Experience

• Use the narrator’s thoughts, emotions, and biases to shape the story. Their perspective might not always be accurate, adding complexity and intrigue.
• Example: An unreliable narrator can keep readers guessing.
  
  

4. Engage with Internal Dialogue

• Share the narrator’s internal thoughts to make them more relatable. Use italics or a conversational tone for their inner monologue `but avoid overloading the narrative with too much introspection.
  
  

5. Balance Showing and Telling

• Use sensory details to immerse readers in the narrator’s world (showing) but balance it with direct reflections and opinions (telling), as first-person narratives naturally lend themselves to both.
  
  

6. Create Relatable Emotions

• Let readers see the narrator’s vulnerabilities, dreams, and fears. This creates a bond between the reader and the character.
  
  

7. Vary Sentence Structure

• Avoid repetitive sentence patterns like starting every sentence with “I.” Mix up sentence structures to keep the prose dynamic.
• Example: Instead of "I walked to the store. I saw a dog. I bought a drink," try, "The walk to the store was uneventful until a scruffy dog caught my eye. A few minutes later, I was sipping a cold drink, still thinking about that dog."
  
  

8. Stay Consistent with Tense

• Decide on past or present tense and stick with it. Shifting tenses can confuse readers unless there’s a clear reason (e.g., flashbacks).
  
  

9. Incorporate Supporting Characters Naturally

• Use dialogue and actions to introduce other characters. The narrator’s opinions of others can reveal both the supporting characters' traits and the narrator’s own biases.
  
  

10. Build a Strong Opening

• Start with an intriguing hook that draws readers into the narrator's mind and situation. This sets the tone for the rest of the book.
  
  

11. Address the Narrator’s Growth

• Ensure the narrator experiences personal growth or change throughout the story. Readers should feel they've been on a journey with the character.
  
  

12. Be Aware of Reader Fatigue

• Spending an entire novel in one character’s head can be intense. Break up introspection with action, dialogue, and vivid descriptions.
  ​
  

By keeping these tips in mind, your first-person narrative can feel immersive and authentic, helping readers form a lasting connection with your protagonist. 

The difference between active and passive voice lies in who performs the action in a sentence.
Active Voice

• The subject performs the action.
• The sentence structure follows: Subject → Verb → Object
• Example:
  • The manager (S) approved (V) the proposal (O). (The manager is doing the approving.)

Passive Voice

• The subject receives the action.
• The sentence structure follows: Object → Verb → Subject (optional)
• Example:
  • The proposal (O) was approved (V) by the manager (S). (The proposal is receiving the action, and the manager is optional.)

When to Use Active vs. Passive:

• Use Active Voice when clarity, impact, and directness matter (business writing, storytelling, instructions).
  
  
• Use Passive Voice when the action matters more than the doer (scientific reports, formal/legal writing, when the doer is unknown).

In filmmaking, the term "jeopardy shot" typically refers to a shot that emphasizes danger, tension, or high stakes within a scene. It’s often used to visually communicate that a character is in peril, or a situation is about to take a turn for the worse. 

In writing, the "jeopardy shot" concept translates to heightening stakes and tension in a scene that makes the reader feel the character’s danger, urgency, or emotional turmoil. 

Instead of using a camera, you achieve this with word choice, pacing, perspective, and sensory details. A "jeopardy shot" in writing is about immersing the reader in a moment of high stakes, making them feel the tension rather than just telling them it exists. 
​
Ways to Apply a "Jeopardy Shot" in Writing:

1. Close point of view and internal monologue
   • Zoom in on what the character is feeling—heart pounding, breath quickening, sweat dripping.
   • Show their internal conflict, doubts, or racing thoughts.
   • Example: She gripped the doorknob, her pulse thrumming in her ears. On the other side, silence. Too much silence.
     
     
2. Sentence structure and pacing
   • Use short, punchy sentences for urgency.
   • Slow down with detailed description to build suspense.
   • Example: A shadow moved. Then another. She wasn’t alone.
     
     
3. Foreshadowing and sensory detail
   • Describe sounds, textures, and smells that hint at danger before the character fully realizes it.
   • Example: The floorboards groaned beneath her. The air was thick, stale. Had someone been here… waiting?
     
     
4. Dramatic irony and perspective
   • Let the reader know something the character doesn’t, increasing tension.
   • Example: He stepped forward, unaware of the figure lurking behind the curtain.
     
     
5. Scene framing (literary "camera work")
   • Describe the setting in a way that makes the character feel small or threatened.
   • Use metaphors and similes to emphasize danger.
   • Example: The alley yawned before her, swallowing the last of the streetlights. Shadows stretched like grasping hands.

 

Ellipses can be a useful tool in fiction writing, but they should be used sparingly and deliberately to avoid overuse or confusion. Here’s a breakdown of when and how to use them effectively:

When to Use Ellipses in Fiction:

1. Trailing Off or Hesitation
   • Indicate a character’s trailing thoughts or uncertainty.
   • Example:
     "I thought I could trust him, but ... I don’t know anymore."
     
     
2. Unfinished Dialogue
   • Show that a character has been interrupted or cannot finish their sentence.
   • Example:
     "Wait, you don’t mean…" she started, but he cut her off.
     
     
3. Time Passing or a Pause
   • Suggest a significant pause in a conversation or a break in narrative flow.
   • Example:
     "Well ... I guess that’s it, then."

Rules for Using Ellipses:

1. Stick to Three Dots
   Always use three periods ( ... ) for an ellipsis, with a space before and after if it’s in the middle of a sentence.
   • Correct: "I just don’t know ... maybe it’s not meant to be."
   • Incorrect: "I just don’t know.....maybe it’s not meant to be."
     
     
2. Avoid Overuse
   Overusing ellipses can make your writing feel disjointed or overly dramatic. Use them only when the pause or uncertainty adds value to the scene or dialogue.
   
   
3. Punctuation with Ellipses
   • If an ellipsis ends a sentence, follow it with the proper punctuation:
     "I thought it was over...."
   • If in the middle of a sentence, continue without additional punctuation:
     "It wasn’t over ... not yet."

 

If you've ever written a story, watched a movie, or read a book and thought, this feels familiar, you've encountered a trope. Tropes are the building blocks of storytelling—recurring themes, plot devices, and character archetypes that writers use to create compelling narratives. However, while tropes can add familiarity and structure, they can also feel overused or cliché if not handled with care. So, how do you use tropes effectively without making your writing predictable? Let's dive in.
 
What Is a Writing Trope?
A trope is a typical pattern or convention in storytelling. It can be a character type (like the wise mentor), a plot device (like the love triangle), or even a setting (like the haunted house). Tropes help audiences quickly understand a story's tone, genre, or direction. Some well-known tropes include:

• The Chosen One – A protagonist destined for greatness (e.g., Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins).
• Enemies to Lovers – Characters start as rivals but develop romantic feelings (common in romance novels and rom-coms).
• The Mentor – A wise guide who helps the hero (e.g., Yoda, Dumbledore).
• The Damsel in Distress – A female character in need of rescue.
• The Redemption Arc – A character transforms from villain to hero (e.g., Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender).

How to Use Tropes Effectively

1. Subvert Expectations – Take a common trope and twist it. Instead of the classic "damsel in distress," create a female character who rescues herself or others.
2. Combine Tropes in New Ways – Mix and match tropes to create something fresh. What if an enemies-to-lovers romance took place in a haunted house setting?
3. Add Depth to Characters – Instead of relying on a one-dimensional archetype, make your characters complex. A "bad boy" love interest might also be a sensitive artist with anxiety.
4. Play with Genre – Tropes vary across genres. A detective story may use the hard-boiled detective, while a fantasy novel may feature the reluctant hero. Consider how you can tweak genre conventions.
5. Acknowledge Tropes with a Wink – Some stories use self-awareness to make tropes fun. TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Deadpool play with tropes by calling them out.

Tropes in Nonfiction 
While tropes are most associated with fiction, they can also be powerful tools in nonfiction writing. They help structure narratives, engage readers, and make complex ideas more accessible. Here's how tropes can enhance nonfiction:
1. The Underdog Story
This trope, used in biographies, memoirs, and business books, follows a person or company that overcomes great odds to succeed.

Example: Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight (Nike's founder), tells the story of how Nike rose from humble beginnings to become a global brand.

2. The Hero's Journey
Even in self-help or personal development books, authors use a journey framework to show transformation.

Example: Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces analyzes how myths follow a journey from struggle to victory.

3. The Mentor Figure
Many nonfiction books position the author (or a central figure) as a wise mentor who guides readers through a challenge.

Example: Tony Robbins in Awaken the Giant Within acts as a mentor figure, giving readers steps to self-empowerment.

4. The Call to Adventure
Motivational and self-help books often use it to push the reader to take action.

Example: The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss presents an alternative lifestyle and invites readers to rethink traditional work.

5. Enemies to Allies
This trope is used in leadership, psychology, and history books to show how rivalries or opposing viewpoints can be reconciled.

Example: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin explores how Abraham Lincoln brought together political opponents for a stronger government.

6. The Cautionary Tale
Used in investigative journalism, business, and history books to warn against mistakes or bad decisions.

Example: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou exposes Theranos's downfall as a lesson in ethics and deception in business.

7. The Fish Out of Water
This trope is used in memoirs or travel writing when someone enters an unfamiliar world and must adapt.

Example: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert follows her journey through three cultures in search of self-discovery.

Final Thoughts
Tropes are tools. The trick is to use them to enhance your story rather than make it predictable. Whether you're subverting, combining, or reinventing tropes, keeping your storytelling fresh and engaging is key.
 
So, go ahead and play with tropes, break the mold, and create something unforgettable!