Tag Archives | The What and Why of Writing

The What and Why of Writing: Story Irony

By on September 4, 2014 in Beth Vogt, How do I Pitch my Book?

Susie May Warren, the founder of My Book Therapy (MBT) hosted the first online MBT Pitch and Promotion seminar on August 23. The seminar was an opportunity to connect with writers and help them polish their story pitches. Coaches and attendees talked about elements that help us craft a strong pitch, including characters and stakes.

Attendees were also told to look for the Story Irony as a potential component to construct a strong pitch. Writers also talk about Dramatic Irony, so I’m clarifying the difference between Story Irony and Dramatic Irony and then explaining how you use Story Irony when you’re crafting a pitch

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The What and Why of Writing: Essence

By on March 6, 2014 in Beth Vogt, Heroes, Heroines, Protagonists: The Basics, Story Crafting

At the beginning of a novel, a character starts out in his identity – who he thinks he is. By the end of the story, if you’ve developed the story correctly, he ends up in his essence – who he really is.

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The What and Why of Writing: Villains

By on October 8, 2013 in 1. Discover your story, 2. Create Your Story, a. Character Creation, How to create Villains and Antagonists

So often when we think of a novel’s main characters, we zero in on the hero and heroine. That is all well and good, after all, what is a romance without a hero and heroine?  And every story, no matter what genre, needs a protagonist – a good guy or gal, someone the reader is rooting for. But in your zeal to craft a compelling hero and/or heroine, don’t forget to ask yourself: Who is the villain of this story? What: A villain is the antagonist of your story. When you think villain, don’t just think danger, think threat. Or opposition.   A villain can be a person. Hans Gruber, the lead terrorist in Die Hard, goes down in my book as the archetype villain.   A twist on the […]

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The What and Why of Writing: Stakes

By on September 17, 2013 in 2. Create Your Story, The What and Why of Writing

Why should anyone care about the story you’re writing? Before you launch into an explanation of how your stoic hero is also tenderhearted and how your heroine helps heal his wounded heart, step back for a moment. Yes, compelling characters are vital to a good novel, but you also need to consider the big picture and ask the question: What’s at stake? What: There are three different types of stakes: public, private and personal. Public stakes are what we care about as a culture: an alien invasion of our planet (Independence Day) or some sort of global attack on humanity. The movie Sahara has public stakes because an unknown toxin threatens the world’s entire water supply. Personal stakes hurt the heart of your main character. Think about it: How often […]

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