The final 1/4 of a story carefully builds in tension with several "above-the-line" scenes that culminate at the Climax with an ultimate emotional release.Each culminating ending scene builds in energy to the next scene. Thanks to the earlier Crisis (at around the 3/4 mark of the story), the protagonist becomes more and more conscious of her flaws and strengths and of the world around her. No longer bogged down by fear or pity, she shows through dramatic action the release of pent-up feelings, of …
Hero’s Journey: Protagonist vs Writer
I'm on the edge of my seat. Will she or won't she?I left her last time right after she had written the Crisis. Euphoric for having faced every one of her own demons in order to send her protagonist to death -- metaphorically speaking, of course. Still, she wrote it and survived. An embarrassing mass of slop? Likely. All that matters now is getting the scenes written. Before we hang up last time, I gently coax her to face what is coming. She hears my words but does turn around and thus has no …
Mock Plot Consultation
Radio Show today, Tuesday, May 18th at 11AM PSTFor the first hour, I plan to do a "mock" 1 hour plot consultation with our host and friend-- Kim McMillon on one of her children's books she's preparing for publication.Second hour, Teresa LeYung Ryan helps Kim identify the core issues of her story and link her name to mission statements for publicity and marketing purposes.In case you'd like to see who you'll be listening to, here are the three of us several years ago at BEA in NYC:Stop by for a …
Happy Birthday Blockbuster Plots
Blockbuster Plots Pure & Simple (BBP) turns six years old today!Never I will forget the many times I limped from my writing cave, whining that I need more time, the book isn't good enough, I'm not good enough. Over and over again, my very supportive, finger-pointing husband banished me back to my cave to finish.BBP had many editors, one of whom is the famed Melanie Rigney and one-time editor of Writers Digest. Even so, the first printing was filled with typos. I didn't even see them. The …
Beginnings and Endings
Beginnings hook readers. Endings create fans.The other night when talking about readers with a writer friend, she interrupted to comment that she did not believe many writers consider their ultimate readers when writing a story. She went on to say that most writers she knows spend most of their time perfecting the beginning and usually peter out at the end. The next day I received an email from a mighty disappointed agent friend who had just finished a 400 page manuscript she was SO hopeful for …
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