Living in the present moment is difficult for most people. Only while daydreaming or night dreaming, through mediation, under hypnosis, or while in the zone of writing or some other passion and with practice, can we stay mindful or conscious of the present moment for a sustained period of time. Usually our minds are darting into the future, whether the next 10 minutes or 10 years from now, or into the past, what just happened or what happened long ago. Reading is a mindful activity. When the …
Word Count for Scenes
(NOTE: I know I said I'd address more about theme, but received the following question. Will continue theme discussion next time.)Question:I've been working through my scene tracker and planned 20 chapters, each with 3 scenes or a total of 60 scenes. I divided plot into the first 1/4 or 5 chapters, the next 1/2 15 chapters, and the final 1/4 or 5 chapters.Last evening as I was writing I realized each scene would have to be about 1,000 words to get to 60,000 and right now they are only about 600. …
Plot Your Story’s Theme
The Thematic Significance of your story is the thread that holds your story together. The more clearly you can define your thematic significance statement, the tighter your story. Once you have identified your Thematic Significance statement, your scene choices and word choices throughout your story will follow theme. The theme then serves as your compass, determining what fits and what doesn't.Writers generally begin a new project writing in their strength:Dramatic ActionCharacter Emotional …
Theme and Plot
I just finished reading The Geography of Bliss; One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. Yes, it's a non-fiction book but because it borders on a memoir thus makes an interesting study for a compulsive plot consultant such as myself.Selected as One of the Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post Book World, The Geography of Bliss is called a travelogue by the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, travel tales by Publishers Weekly (in a starred review). However, most …
How Much Plot is Too Much Plot?
Question: I know the entire story. I'm just not sure how much to tell.Answer:Tell only the parts that show more about: 1) the character emotional development -- this info should come in stages, revealing deeper and deeper layers, the deeper and deeper the reader reads2) the theme -- as the plot advances, the thematic significance of the story deepens3) the dramatic action -- action becomes dramatic when filled with conflict, tension, suspense, and / or curiosity -- the sense of threat is both …
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