When drawing a shape using the bezier curve tool, I would like to know how to create a corner node on the fly in the middle of the shape. For instance, let's say I draw a wide sweep curve... My next line is going to extend out from the end of that path to make a nice new curve that joins the old one. But what I want to know is how to make a sharp angle instead of extending the curve. I hope this makes sense.

In Photoshop you hold alt to do this, and in Illustrator you just click the last node you made, but I can't figure it out in Inkscape.

Hi substar,
Welcome to InkscapeForum!

To make the wide sweeping curves, you click and drag. So to make a corner node, you just click
Also, please note Help menu > Inkscape manual (needs internet connection), and > Tutorials (internet not needed), which are excellent for beginners and experienced users as well.

But what I want to know is how to make a sharp angle instead of extending the curve.

Shift-L and your next segment will be a straight line instead of the curve you had. Try it and you will see better than i can explain it here

in Illustrator you just click the last node you made, but I can't figure it out in Inkscape.

obviously it's better in Inkscape with shift-L, because you don't have to go back...

You can learn more about using modifiers and keyboard shortcuts while drawing with the pen tool in the manual:

• Inkscape » Paths » Creating Paths: The Bezier (Pen) Tool
  (Scroll down to "Other useful things to know while using the Bezier Tool:")

This is the line you need:

To set the two control points of a node separately (and force the node to be a corner point), first set the control point for the end point of the previous Bezier curve, then without releasing the mouse button hold down the Shift key while setting the control point for the next Bezier curve.

That's what I needed, prkos. Thanks!