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Extreme Book Makeover: Help! Why would someone pick up my story?

By on February 10, 2014 in 1. Discover your story, 2. Create Your Story, Crafting a Strong Premise, Extreme Book Makeover, How do I create a Storyquestion and Stakes for my story?, How do I Pitch my Book?, Susan May Warren

Make your reader care with the Story Question!

Why should someone pick up your story and read it – all the way to the end? We talked the last two weeks about having Story Stakes – or a reason your character should care about your story by giving your character something to lose. Last week we dissected the difference between High Concept and Low Concept stories (and how tell the difference), noting that High Concept stories are driven by high public & personal stakes, whereas Low Concept stories are fueled by the characters’ inner journeys, or the private stakes.

This week, we’re going to add another potent ingredient to the mix…the fuel for the inner journey of your character, the Story Question.

The Story Question is that question your character is asking as the book opens, ignited by the inciting incident and lingering in their mind throughout the second Act of the story. All the tidbits of truth your character discovers along the way contribute to the answer they discover at the Aha! Moment of the story, or the epiphany.

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TEE’s What and Why: Story Question

By on November 14, 2012 in Beth Vogt, Editing Basics

I’m trying something new for the next few posts: I’ll define a My Book Therapy term (the What) and then explain the importance of the term (the Why). Simple enough, wouldn’t you say? Let’s begin. What:  Story Question (Those of you who participated in the Monday night Bleacher chat that I taught will understand the motivation for this article!) The Story Question asks “what if?” It also asks a question of the heart or mind – the great “what if?” Why:  As I said during the Bleacher chat, if you hang around me long enough, and you’re working on a novel, I will ask you what your Story Question is. Why? The Story Question drives your entire novel. Consequently, the Story Question should be woven through every scene, every chapter of […]

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my book therapy, how to write a novel

Conversations: The Four Pillars of a Best-Seller

By on January 30, 2012 in Crafting a Strong Premise, Heroes, Heroines, How do I create a Storyquestion and Stakes for my story?, How do I write the Character Change Journey?, How to create a Spiritual Thread, Protagonists: The Basics, Story Crafting, The Hero's Journey Simplified, Truth or Dare: Conversations with an aspiring novelist, What is the Black Moment and how do I create it?, What is the Noble Cause?

I was drinking an extra tall vanilla latte, blinking back the sand in my eyes as Sally came in.  A glorious Monday morning, the sun winking off the frosty waves of Lake Superior, the sky a triumphant eggshell blue, the snow glistening under all that grandeur like diamonds. Good thing, too, because I’d stayed up late watching both Casablanca and Pearl Harbor to prepare for our conversation this morning. I knew, after meeting with Sally for three weeks, she took our conversations seriously and wanted to be on my game. She sat down and pulled off her knitted mittens.  “I started a notebook from last week, like you suggested.”  She pulled out a hardbound journal with a leather cover and handed it to me.  I opened it and to my […]

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Quick Skills Class: Discover your Story Question to give your story power

By on January 17, 2012 in Crafting a Strong Premise, How do I create a Storyquestion and Stakes for my story?, Quick Skills, Story Crafting

Are you finished with your book but can’t quickly articulate what it’s about?  You know it’s a great story, but it falls flat as you struggle to find the right words?  Maybe you need to hone your Storyquestion.  The Story Question is the conscious, or subconscious question that drives your character – and reader – through the book.  It’s the truth they are seeking to find.  Or it could be the truth they will accidentally discover.  Whatever it is, it’s personal, and something that readers themselves want answers to. Every book, movie, short story – and non-fiction book, for that matter, has a question, however subtle.  And, it’s the stories that ask riveting questions through the circumstances of their characters that linger with us.  Consider Of Mice and Men. A haunting […]

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