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Avoiding the Rory Gilmore Syndrome

By on December 22, 2011 in Author Mistakes, Heroine, Heroines, Protagonists: The Basics, Rachel Hauck

I love the TV show Gilmore Girls. The writers created such a fantastic story world with Stars Hollow and powered it all with quirky, fast-talking, beautiful Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. But the writers fell into a characterization hole, IMHO, when Rory became too-perfect-to-live. Too good to be true. Every man and his brother, every girl and her sister loved Rory. All who met her believed she hung the moon, stars and visited the Sombrero galaxy while stirring brownie mix for pale-skinned orphans. She was smart. She was beautiful. She was quick and engaging, a repartee’s repartee. She was kind and giving, her mother’s best friend. The girl next door, the one to take home to mom, and dad. She couldn’t golf or run fast, but who cared? What an endearing […]

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Back Story vs Character History

By on December 1, 2011 in Author Mistakes, Backstory, Editing Basics

Ding, ding!. Referee: “Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the first ever bout between Back Story and Character History.” Wahhaaaaa. Cheeerrrs! Ref: “In this corner, from the New York City, weighing a hefty five hundred and eighty-two pounds, wearing black shorts, is the champion of all novel prose, Baaaaack Storrrryyyyyy!” Waahhhha, crowd cheering. “And in this corner, from Miami Beach, weighing a sleek one hundred and seventy-eight pounds, wearing blue shorts, is the challenger, Chhhaaaarrracter Hhhiiiistorrrryyy.” Wahhhhha, other half of the crowd cheering. Ref: “All right you twos, I want a clean fight. No hitting below the belt, no tripping, spitting, holding or biting. Touch gloves, go to your mutual corners and when the bell rings, come out fighting.” Ding! Character History leaps to the center of the ring as Back […]

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The Construction of Chapter 8 – Kenzie’s scene. Don’t Rush the Drama!

By on November 29, 2011 in Chapter 8, Editing Basics, How do I write the Character Change Journey?, How to write a Romance, How to write a Suspense, Limelight – Sample Novel, Susan May Warren, Suspense, Writing

   One of the struggles I see with many writers – and even myself – is the rush to the climatic parts of the story.  They see the drama of the big pieces and want to get there immediately to wow the reader. However, the problem is when we don’t give the drama resonance – when we don’t show the progression of emotions leading up to it, and the significance of the drama, we miss out on the punch. I always advise clients to take their time, to feel the nuances of the scene and allow the reader to, also.  However, sometimes it can feel like eating an elephant.  You have so far to go, and today you’reworking on a toenail. (okay, yuck.  Maybe I should find another analogy).  What […]

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Act 2: Jumping back into the suspense!

By on November 15, 2011 in Chapter 7, How to WordPaint, How to write a Suspense, Limelight – Sample Novel, Managing the Muddle (keeping your story moving!), Story Crafting, Susan May Warren, Suspense, Want to see a book in Action? Read the Blog-a-Book Series, Writing, Writing Life, Writing your Suspense Chapters

Yesterday, I addressed Scene Flow, and how in a romance scene, you might decide to develop it a bit more, making it longer.  In a suspense, sometimes it’s nice to develop that before you jumpstart the action again. Today, we’re going to jump back into the suspense, drawing that element forward.   Just to make sure I’m on the right track, I want to go back to my synopsis.  It’s still my roadmap, even though I’ve been taking a few day trips… Luke wants his sister, who is a giant MacKenzie Grace fan to meet her, and the dinner out at the roadhouse seemed to go without a hitch…maybe no one will recognize her.  But what Luke doesn’t know is that someone has recognized Kenzie – the reporter from the […]

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