Today is my turn to blog about a new picture book: Out of the Way! Out of the Way! by Uma Krishnaswami and illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy.Uma's story set off a series of questions in my own mind in regards to plot. Plot is what I do and the fact I have not yet answered the questions and thus not found my angle for my blog post gives me pause. My apologies. The opportunity to explore plot based on her picture book compels me to explore the possibilities. That necessitates that Uma and I …
Writer’s Courage
Over the past six or so years of providing plot consultations to writers, I rarely have had a cancelation. When one happens, the occurrence tends to give me pause. When it happens twice with the same writer, I can't help but speculate why. Always, my imagination settles on one degree or another of writer's fear.Years ago, I heard Maya Angelou say that a character trait most important in life is courage. This is so true for both the protagonist of a story and for the writer, too. Having worked …
Plot Trick: Showing Character Emotion, Not Telling
A plot trick to connect readers to your stories? Rather than tell how a character feels, the trick is to find unique ways to show in scene the character's emotional reaction to the dramatic action. This weekend at my first ever Writers Plot Retreat, I had a glimpse into why this trick of writing your characters showing authentic emotions is a tough one to master.In preparation for the retreat, I created an intricate Plot Planner based on our time frame and the number of plot consultations per …
Energetic Markers in Universal Story
In preparing for my first ever Writers Plot Retreat in the redwoods on Thursday through Sunday (don't expect another post for a few days), I marvel again at how consistent the Energetic Markers arrive in the Universal Story for romance novels, to screenplays, to mysteries, young adult, memoirs, middle grade and yes, even picture books.For instance: The Cay by Theodore Taylor.Like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee where the plotline dealing with Boo breaks off after the End of the Beginning and …
You Promised to Write Your Story Today
Dear Linda,I don't know if you really promised me but I have down today is the day you planned earlier in the week to devote to your book.Before you tick off all reasons hanging out needing to to be done first, take a deep breath.Close your eyes.Enter into the belief that today is for your plot, your story, yourself (so long as the time spent on yourself is good for your story, too).It's like giving yourself your own special day with a focus on devoting yourself to your writing.Sounds pretty …
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