Would you like a trick to keep the momentum going between chapters? One of my biggest frustrations in writing a novel is that I can’t write it all in one sitting. Seriously. I’ve tried. I once wrote a novel in 10 days. But even then, I had to sleep, eat…maybe have a conversation with the other people in the house. Still, it was the closest thing to being able to simply step into the story and download it from my brain. I love being able to write a novel in a concentrated amount of time because the storyline is never far from me and while it’s exhausting, the story always seems to emerge with fewer jolts in the plot. However, like most authors, I have a busy schedule filled with […]
Read the RestTag Archives | Act 2
Act 2: Putting all the threads together
We’re building a suspense book live here at MBT, and today we’re onto Act 2, pressing our heroine in to what I call the “fun and games” of the story. As I talked about yesterday, I’m going to address the following elements as I build her scene. First, we are going to start chapter 4 in Kenzie’s POV since we just ended Chapter 3 with Luke. I don’t always have to alternate, but it’s a nice rhythm. We’ll begin with a ReAction scene and since it’s a suspense, I’ll keep the momentum going by segueing into an Action scene. My ReAction scene elements are: Response – Now that she’s seen the “vacation home,” she has to have a reaction to it. We might thread this in with her inner journey […]
Read the RestSetting up Act 2 of your Suspense Novel
It’s time to set up Act 2 of your Suspense novel, and I’m going to show you how by moving onto Act 2 of Limelight, our MBT Romantic Suspense novel today. In Act 1, we’ve set up the foundation for the suspense – the players, what’s at stake, where the game will be played (the Cherokee forest). I’ve also set up sympathy, competence and greatest fears – those things that we’ll start manipulating in Act 2. As I begin chapter 4, and the start of the Second Act, I need to balance a number of threads and ignite the story to keep it flowing into what I call the Fun and Games of Act 2. Suspense Thread: First, I need to keep the suspense thread running by bringing the threat […]
Read the RestAct 2: Uncovering the Secrets
Don’t you love uncovering a secret? Unlocking the truth, and seeing the light? So does your reader! And that’s the final key to a powerful Act 2. A powerful ACT 2 includes the growing relationship between the Hero and Heroine, the Unexpected Twists and Turns, dropping of Truth Tidbits and finally the uncovering Secrets. The secrets of the suspense plot are uncovered through the Act 2 scenes. You want each decision, each action to reveal more of the plot and cause the villain or element to up the stakes, to make it harder, to increase the pressure, to add more tension. Here’s a trick: Often when I plot, I start with the Antagonist, and his goals. I ask: What does the villain want? What choices does he have? […]
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