Story-fixing Your Novel––Part III
Posted on January 4, 2017 1 Comment
Interlude. Scene and sequel. Taking a break. Hit the pause button. You know, that thing in-between scenes, right after a scene, the character processes, takes stock of what’s just happened, and decides what they’ll do next. Even an action novel or cozy mystery needs to have an interlude. Click to Tweet #amwriting #story-fixing
What is the Measure––Part I
Posted on January 3, 2017 1 Comment
If you’ve been reading, you know that I’ve been struggling with my writing. This has been going on a long time, but has been coming to a head after a prolonged season of disappointments and rejections. It has caused me to question certain things. #whatsyourmeasure #takingstock
Sometimes, you have to take stock of yourself and change directions if what you’re doing isn’t working for you. Click to Tweet I haven’t come to that point yet, because it’s hard to do. I know, because I’ve had to do it before––many times. I’ve been out of college 40 years, and I’ve changed career paths probably 10 times in those years. Maybe more, I don’t really know.
12–28–2016 Blog Post
Posted on December 29, 2016 1 Comment
I don’t know what else to call this. It’s a day late, which is kind of the story of my life. I’ve dreamt of being late to work, late to school, late to church––for many years. I also feel I’ve been “late” to life, although I was a preemie. I should have been born in September, but apparently, I couldn’t wait, and entered the world in August. #blogpost #lateinlife But ever since, my life feels “late.”
Disappointments and Expectations—Part III
Posted on December 21, 2016 3 Comments
What’s this little guy feeling?
This whole fall season has been frustrating and disappointing to me, in many ways. All professionally, not personally. I have the greatest husband in all the world and we’ve married 29 years. But my writing is going nowhere. My question: how long do I persist in pursuing something that may never happen? How much money do I throw into it? I’ve already put in thousands of dollars and years––with virtually no return on my investment.
Story-fixing Your Novel––Part II
Posted on December 14, 2016 Leave a Comment
What makes a story? Is it the plot? Is it the characters? Is it both? Yes and no. You can have the best plot in all the world, but if no one cares about your characters living the plot, then the story doesn’t succeed. The U.S. Declaration of Independence talks about as our main goal…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Steven James, in his book Troubleshooting Your Novel, says “Stories are not about happily ever after. They’re about the pursuit of happiness.” Story-fixing your plot so that it is the by-product of the pursuit, not its precursor makes for better reading. Click to Tweet #amwriting #story-fixing
Story-fixing Your Novel––Part I
Posted on December 7, 2016 Leave a Comment
You’ve written your novel and proofread it for grammar and usage. We’re starting a new series based on Troubleshooting Your Novel. In it, pantser extraordinaire Steven James will show us what questions to ask ourselves to analyze and fix some of the problems our novels have. Asking yourself the right questions when story-fixing your novel will make revisions go smoother. Click to Tweet #amwriting #story-fixing Read More
Creating Suspense––Part IX
Posted on November 30, 2016 Leave a Comment
Suspense is in itself, now a genre, but suspense techniques can be used in whatever genre you write in. Suspense helps to create page turners, and as an author, that’s the goal.
There’s a lot to creating suspense, and we’ve just scratched the surface here, but hopefully you have enough techniques to help you write and revise your manuscript to include these different types of suspense. Remember that a mystery is a whodunit, suspense is “What will happen next?” Using that as your guide, you can write amazingly taut scenes, moving the story along, and create an outstanding book that people will want to read.
Tension, when drawn out, delays the payoff and creates the kind of pressure that will keep your reader turning pages. Click to Tweet #amwriting #creatingsuspense
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted on November 23, 2016 Leave a Comment
This week is Thanksgiving in the U.S. We pause to think about what we are thankful for. I am learning to give thanks in the midst of disappointment and change.
Have a blessed week. We’ll wrap up our Creating Suspense series next week.
Creating Suspense––Part VIII
Posted on November 16, 2016 Leave a Comment
When creating suspense, you want to draw it out. Milk every part of it. We’re going to be looking at how to draw out that tension in the next two weeks. Every scene should be chock full of some sort of tension that drives the story along. Click to Tweet #amwriting #creatingsuspense
Creating Suspense––Part VII
Posted on November 9, 2016 1 Comment
Cliffhangers became popular in the silent film era and remain popular today. Literary serials of the 1800s were probably the genesis of cliffhangers. Writers like Charles Dickens had to keep readers wanting more so they’d buy the next issue of the magazine or newspaper the story was published in. Cliffhangers keep readers and moviegoers in suspense. Click to Tweet #amwriting #creatingsuspense
Donna L.H. Smith 