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Ask the Doc: How do I decide what scenes to put in the book?

By on April 5, 2012 in Rachel Hauck, Research

Have you heard “let the action unfold on stage” while studying the craft of writing? If not, you have now.  On stage means “on the page.” As you write your story and plot your scenes a critical choice you face is deciding what must happen on stage, and what can happen “behind the scenes.” I’m going to quote one of my favorite books, “Love Begins with Elle.”  When I chose my on stage scenes, I always asked: What is important for the reader to invest in? No enough on stage action, and the readers don’t care. Too much, and I’ve bogged down the story with every little detail. The major scenes are easy. Like when the heroine meets the hero, when the heroine is proposed to, when the heroine realizes she’s […]

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Brainstorming Strategies: #1 Layers

By on April 3, 2012 in Brainstorming Strategies and Tips, Editing Basics, How do I write Tension?

Every story has a basic story line or plot that is central to the book. Without it, there would be no story. But to create a deeper story you need to add layers. What are layers? Layers are the different pieces or story threads that run along side your plot to make it more interesting. Often these layers are added by subplot or other POV characters besides the hero and heroine. For example, in the movie White Christmas there are several layers, here are a few: *The two sisters agreed that they won’t let a man come between them Deepening Layer:  The youngest pretends that Danny Kaye is her sweetheart so that her sister will feel free to fall in love. Deepening Layer: It works so well that when the […]

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Quick Skills: Ways to get your Story Summary onto the page

By on April 3, 2012 in Delivering Convincing Proposals, How do I write a Synopsis?, Quick Skills, Story Crafting, Susan May Warren, The Hero's Journey Simplified

I know that people panic about writing a synopsis.  The fact is, there are many different synopsis styles and deliveries.  There is no one right way – but there are few principles. Let’s start with Delivery: You can write the synopsis a couple different ways. First, you can tell it is if you are the narrator – telling yourself the story. e.g. This story is about Maggie, a former Red Cross nurse who lives in World War 2 New York City.  More than anything she wants to get over the grief of losing her fiancé during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but her life seemed to stop the day she got the news and she doesn’t know how to start it again.  Until, one day, she runs – literally – […]

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Conversations: Writing the Synopsis

By on April 2, 2012 in Story Crafting, Susan May Warren, Truth or Dare: Conversations with an aspiring novelist

“I’m stuck.”  Sally said as I hung my purse on the chair and shucked off my jacket. Outside, the last remnants of a late-season snow clung to the ground. I’d had to dig out my Uggs for a trip to town for our weekly chat. “Good,” I said. “What do you mean, good?  I thought you were rooting for me!” “I am. But let me guess – you’re in chapter six or seven and the thrill of the first act has worn off, and now you’re slogging through the middle, wondering what to do next.” She narrowed her eyes at me.  “How do you know that?” “I’ve written thirty-five books.  I know what happens around chapter seven.”  I smiled at her and sipped my coffee.  A raspberry white chocolate indulgence. […]

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