By:
Kathryn Craft
Many
of us, when first drafting a story, see it as if a film is unreeling in our
minds. The words we apply to the page are our way of translating what we see
and hear for the reader. This is a great place to start, and can, in the right
authorial hands, result in a wild ride for the reader. Readers love a wild
ride! But once the ride comes to a stop, the experience is often all but
forgotten. We authors wish the memory of our work could linger so our efforts
won’t be forgotten.
Rather than tinker with wording alone on your next several passes, here are some questions you can ask yourself about your story that can deepen its impact.
1. What is this story really about?
The
essence of my novel The Far End of Happy is expressed in its
logline : “Three women must make impossible choices and reveal shameful secrets
while awaiting word about a loved one’s suicide standoff.” But delving into
what a story is really about requires looking at the big picture. Is your book
about 'seeking truth', 'unconditional love', or (like mine) 'hope'? For my
protagonist, Ronnie, hope depends on the ability to dream of a brighter future.
Reassess each scene to see how it can support or counter this premise. The
cohesion this creates will help your story resonate longer.
2. How does your cast of characters suggest your story’s potential energy?
2. How does your cast of characters suggest your story’s potential energy?
. . .
Read the full
article HERE!
~*~
If
you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they
are again:
- Hanks of Hair and Gobbets of Flesh http://ow.ly/OdZgC Daily Writing Tips
- Blood-Red Pencil: How Layers Can Deepen Your Story’s Impact http://ow.ly/OdZyZ
- Epic Female Protagonists Written by Women http://ow.ly/Oe1bx
- How to Plan Your Blogged Book - Elizabeth Spann Craig http://ow.ly/Oe1l5
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing about the Military | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/Oe1we
- Fiction
University: Trying to
Selling Novels Outside the Mainstream http://ow.ly/Oe2tJ - Your #1 Responsibility as a Writer http://ow.ly/Oe44X "Don't Sugarcoat the Truth"
- Writer Unboxed » Writing about Historical Icons: Who Owns the Past? http://ow.ly/Oe4z6
- HOW To Finish Your Damn Book | CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD http://ow.ly/Oe4UQ
- 14 Ways to Crash Your Book Launch – Authors, DO NOT Try This at Home by Kimberley Grabas — The Book Designer http://ow.ly/Oe8AC
Meerkat and Periscope: How Businesses Are Using Live MobileBroadcasting Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/Oe8RS- How to Promote and Still Have Time to Write a Book - Training Authors for Success http://ow.ly/Oe9e9
- Beta Readers: Facts, Grammar, Plot, Character and More — Fiction Notes http://ow.ly/Oe9Lk
No comments:
Post a Comment