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How do you build strong motivation for your character? Chapter 3: The Start of the Noble Quest

By on October 3, 2011 in Editing Basics, How to write a Suspense, Limelight – Sample Novel, Push Pull, Suspense, Want to see a book in Action? Read the Blog-a-Book Series, What is the Noble Cause?, Writing your Suspense Chapters

How do you structure your novel?  How many words in a scene, or pages in a chapter? I get that question a lot, because the truth is there is no “rule” and  the answer seems to vary with author. Here’s my formula, and why. I write many different length books for different genres:  Contemporary Romance, Long Historical, Short Romantic Suspense, Novellas… but they all have the same story structure.  (Or, if you follow MBT teaching the same LINDYHOP.  Life, Inciting Incident, Noble Quest, Disappointments, Help!, Overhaul, Perfect Ending).  This means, on average, the First Act (LIN) is 15% of the story, and the Third Act (HOP) is 15-20% of the story.  Poor D, or the Second Act takes up 60-70% of the story. Which is why, of course, you want […]

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Ten Common Author Mistakes #7

By on September 29, 2011 in Author Mistakes, Editing Basics, Rachel Hauck

Zap-Pow! Then What Happened? Tension is king. Never miss an opportunity for a good argument! Definition: Most of us hate conflict and confrontation. Even in our books. But tension is king! Donald Maass suggest tension on every page. Better yet, on every line. Tension doesn’t mean argument. Tension means “things aren’t going well.” For example: A conflict arises for your heroine. She gets pulled over for speeding. Instead of the officer letting her off, she gets a ticket. This upsets her. While she’s getting a ticket, her mother calls to say Uncle Ned is coming Sunday and our girl is expected at the house for dinner. She blows up. Why is Mama always so bossy?  Our heroine will do what she wants for Sunday dinner. She might have plans already. Ever […]

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Ten Common Author Mistakes #6

By on September 22, 2011 in Author Mistakes, Editing Basics, Rachel Hauck

Cry Me A River Telling emotion rather than showing. Definition: Showing verses telling applies primarily to emotion. It’s the authors job to show the reader what the characters are doing and feeling. Even what the character is thinking through the action on the page. Telling means the author is describing the emotion and reaction in the prose. Struggling to show verses tell might mean the author doesn’t know what the characters want in the scene or the scene goal. Showing “pictures” the emotion, pictures the action. Most authors do this well. He slammed the door shut as he left the room. She gunned the gas as she headed for home. We get they are angry. But where we get a bit lost is in showing the emotion of the scene. […]

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How to Write a Suspense: Chapter 2 Checklist

By on September 20, 2011 in Editing Basics, Suspense, Writing your Suspense Chapters

Yesterday, we talked about the considerations that go into crafting Chapter 2 of your novel.  To see an application of these considerations, read Kenzie’s scene: Chapter 2.Scene 2.Kenzie with SMW Comments Here’s a checklist for you as you craft your chapter: Chapter 2 is The Great Debate. Have I anchored my reader into the scene with enough storyworld/facts? Have I recapped what happened so far, to remind the reader of the danger? What are the choices before your character? What will each choice cost them? What is at stake for the POV character?  (IOW: what will happen if they don’t act?) Why should they act? Why shouldn’t they? What is the best choice, and what is their motivation behind choosing that? (IOW:  hint at their backstory just enough to establish […]

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