People read stories and go to the movies 70% for the character. We love to peek into other people's lives, even if the other people are mere characters in a book or movie.This last writer's story was filled with dramatic action, which made for an exciting story. I found myself anxious to hear what happened next, and what happened after that. The writer masterfully provided more and more compelling action, and did so seamlessly through consistent cause and effect. The Dramatic Action plot line …
How Personal Themes Affect Your Writing
Mary Cronk Farrell posted a question on the last entry I made:Thank you for sharing your wisdom on theme and giving a story depth. I have just finished the first draft of my mystery novel and am beginning to revise using your plot planner scene tracker. I have no idea what my theme is. Can you give me some ideas about how to tease it out? The characters are working out some conflicts besides the mystery, so I know there is some kind of theme about relationships. But what?Thank …
Giving a Story Depth
Most writers have a preference for one plot line over another. Some are Character-driven writers. Others are Action-driven writers. Some have strengths in both. Not many are Thematic-driven. The deeper meaning of a story comes up out of the story itself over time. Thus, the Thematic Significance plot line is generally saved for the last or is either ignored or overlooked all together. The more aware a writer is about their own personal themes, the more attuned the writer will be in the search …
Yet Another Case of Waxing on For Too Long in the Beginning
The Universal Story Form is made up of three parts: the Beginning, the Middle, the End. Simple, right? Right.The Beginning makes up of 1/4 of the entire page, scene, or word count.The Middle makes up 1/2 of the page count.The End makes up 1/4 of the page countSimple, right? Well, it should be, but sometimes it's not, and for a very simple reason.Often writers go on for too long in the Introductory mode at the Beginning. This is normal. Writers warm up at the Beginning. They get to know their …
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Character Development Plot versus Dramatic Action Plot
The writer tells me scene by scene her children's picture book story. As I create her own individual Plot Planner, it becomes obvious how each scene flows one into the next in flawless cause and effect. The tension rises in each scene greater than the scene before. She reads me a couple of short scenes. Her writing is lyrical and her voice unique. I listen intently, becoming more and more immersed in her story. Convinced of the merit to her story, I wonder aloud about her next step -- has she …
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