I’ve heard editors and agents comment on book proposals. “Wow me.” Or, “I’m looking for something dynamic. Fantastic.” As a hungry writer, such words can be paralyzing. Editors and agents are asking for filet mignon when I’m approaching with my supersized McDonalds meal – hot from the grill and fry vat. I think, hope, pray, believe it’ll be a satisfying meal. But, no, turns out the requirement is filet. High concept. I’ve heard that too. Have you? “We’re looking for high concept ideas.” I’m not even sure what that means from house to house, agent to agent. Definitions and tastes vary from agent to agent, editor to editor. One agent loves literary. To him, a high concept, wow-me-fantastic story will have a literary tone. Another agent loves the high concept […]
Read the RestArchive | October, 2010
Too Stupid to Live? Building Act 1 with believeable motivations!
Yesterday we talked about incorporating the first couple beats of your story into the first Act, and especially the first scene. Today, we’re going to continue the conversation by show how we might use Why/Why Nots to help move our character forward in his journey toward Act 2. ACT 1 Review: Life Inciting Incident The Big Debate (Romantic) Quest You’ve already established your character’s home world and had them meet in a way that helps the reader to feel sympathy for your characters. You’ve also shown that they have an interest/need for something more, namely, a romance. Finally, you’ve hinted at the stakes of the story, and perhaps even woven that in with the Why Not (or obstacles) between your characters. E.g., having your character say, “The […]
Read the RestPutting it all together: Adding the Romance beats to your first chapter
For the last two weeks on the blog, I’ve been going through the 10 beats of a romance that we discussed last February so as to refresh our minds before we start putting the elements together. This week, we’re going to dive into taking those beats and combining them with our story structure so that we can actually build our novel. Just to sum up, we’re going to be working with the first three beats as we start putting together Act 1. Beat 1: Boy Meets Girl: In this component, there is an event, goal or circumstance that occurs to bring our hero and heroine together—Usually this happens in the first chapter, but it definitely needs to happen by Chapter 3. Some examples that you thought up […]
Read the RestYour Now Story
“What’s the story of your heart?” Haven’t we all heard that question? Or overheard another author say, “I’m writing the story of my heart.” I believe in those lingering stories. The one waiting to be written. The idea not yet honed or ripened. Perhaps a story ahead of it’s time. But I don’t really have a “story of my heart.” I have a cool idea tucked away. An end-times epic not in line with the theology of the Left Behind books so I’m not sure mainstream publishing would be interested. But, I’m not aching to write it. At least not now. Because the story of my heart is the one I’m writing. And the story of your heart should be the one you are writing. If it’s not, ditch it. […]
Read the Rest
