I just finished book 2 of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. Excuse me while I go pick up book 3 and spend the day ignoring my to-do list. This series is a lesson in how to create fabulous tension. Not only is the story premise powerful, but every chapter has that “can’t put down” quality. Why? TENSION on every page (as the Master Donald Maas would say!) But what is tension. Recently, I read approximately 1,768,639 contest entries. Okay, not quite that many, but it felt like it. And very few really wove real tension into their story. Obstacles and Activity are not Tension. Tension is a combination of a Sympathetic Character + Stakes + Goals + Obstacles + Fear of Failure. If any of these are missing, we don’t […]
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Conversations: What is Scene Tension?
“Happy Mother’s Day, Sally,” I said, while holding a plate of basil mashed potatoes and beef medallions. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on that broccoli salad – the house specialty – and eyed it as another patron of the Sunday Brunch dived in. Sally looked up as she spooned smoked salmon onto her plate. “Hello.” She glanced behind me, and I saw one of her children, the six year old, heading into the buffet line. “How’s the writing going?” “Good,” she said as she reached around me, handing him a plate. “Don’t spill.” She stepped out of line. “I don’t know if we can meet tomorrow. I have a school field trip.” “No problem, I said, we’re just going to talk about Scene Structure.” She made a face. […]
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April’s Writer’s Challenge Winner!
Congratulations to Tari Faris who won the April writer’s Challenge with her Passionate Proposal! Below is the her entry: A Proposal Worth Waiting For. Don’t miss your opportunity to win 49 points just for ENTERING the challenge, or 210 points for winning. Each month we randomly select one of the contributors to win a FREE BOOK from the MBT Store. You can find the May Writer’s Challenge on your Locker Room Page. A Proposal Worth Waiting For Whoever said that red was the new blond had never watch the man they loved walk in the room with Barbie on his arm. Hannah glared in the mirror and yanked out one bobby-pin after another until her hair resembled a circus clown. She dug her fingers into the mass and massaged […]
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Showers of Creativity Part Two: Trust Your Creativity
If you have read the Bible, perhaps you have read the verse that tells us God has given to each of us a measure of faith. Some people confuse faith and trust. We all have at least a tiny bit of faith. Trust, however, must be earned. For you to trust anyone, they must first show themselves trustworthy. That holds true with your own creativity as well. You have to step out in your gifts and experience a successful outcome in order for you to trust those strengths. Trusting in your gifts is essential to your success, so you know what I’m going to say. Time to step out. Scary proposition? Let me help. Here are a few things I’ve learned about using my faith to step out to live […]
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