So, here we are.
Another year draws to a close. Time to reflect.
Have we done all we set out to do this year?
We can use this time to beat ourselves up about not accomplishing as much as we’d wanted to, I suppose. But, what good is that going to do?
Not one of us knows what the next day will bring.
So, let’s encourage one another to
go further,
climb higher,
rise above.
Happy New Year!!!
I recently read that Jerry Jenkin’s LEFT BEHIND was his 125th book. I can’t imagine writing that many books in the first place, but beyond that, it is astounding to me that he was able to keep at it until he hit
the big time,
pay dirt,
his big break.
Wow.
Then, I ask myself if I have what it takes to keep going in the face of
adversity,
competition,
sheer exhaustion.
Have you wondered the same thing?
Or, do you just get up every day and say good morning to God and your computer (in that order) and then fill your day with what you long to do more than anything else?
If so, you may be doing what I do. Taking it day by day. Moving ahead step by step until one day you realize that you’ve actually written a book!!!
Because you are
dedicated,
addicted,
and totally devoted.
Because you can’t imagine
not writing,
not creating,
not doing anything else with your life.
People often find it hard to pick a book to read. If they have already read and enjoyed one book in a series, they are often likely to purchase the second. This is especially true if they like the characters and enjoy the writing style of the author.
Authors who write a successful first novel with promises to continue their characters, already have a readership that will come back for more. In fact, if they keep their writing fresh, they are likely to come back again and again.
Publishers love books that promise a sequel. If a book sells well, then it follows to reason that the sequel is going to sell just as well.
So what makes a successful series?
Characters. One—preferably more—that the reader can root for.
Study the successful ones, such as Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Long of the Rings, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and see how they do it.
I have enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket—smart and humorous—as well as a number of Amish books in series by Beverly Lewis.
Go to the bookstore and find the section where you want your book to be some day. Research a popular series and ask yourself what makes them good. Then develop your own character you know readers will want to follow.
While you’re writing the first book for your series, keep in mind things you want to save for your second book, and so on.
So, what are the key elements in writing a series that will keep readers interested in reading book after book?
*Believable, engaging characters.
*A fascinating world or universe.
*Great writing!
*A plot that has definite direction…not just stretching the story out so you can get another book published.
Reward your audience for sticking with you by giving them new and fresh content—not just more of the same.
And, at the end of the book, or movie, the consumer should feel satisfied and, as my grandfather used to say,
left wanting even more.
I remember going to my first movie with my Uncle Bill—and crying when it was over.
There was no escaping it because “THE END” was written in huge letters on the screen.
The world is full of more sophisticated movie-goers nowadays. No longer are those words written in books or on the silver screen.
So, how does one know the story is over? When the screen goes dark? When there are no more pages to turn?
Well, readers and movie-goers aren’t the only ones that have gotten more sophisticated over the years. Writers have, too.
First of all, we now understand that the ending is a crucial part of the story. It makes that all-important final impression on the consumer.
It provides an emotional sense of closure.
It can:
~provide a summary.
~wrap things up.
~bring the reader full circle.
It should:
~be satisfying.
There is nothing worse, in my estimation, than spending several days reading a book or several hours watching a movie only to end up dissatisfied with the ending.
Who wants to pay good money for a theatre ticket or paperback and walk away feeling gypped, cheated, underestimated, or devalued?
So does that mean that the guy should always get the girl…the fortune hunter must always hit oil…the prodigal should always return?
Yes…and…no.
Given the circumstances of the story, it should end in such a way that we see growth in the main character and it makes sense that it ends the way it does.
For instance, he may not find the pot of gold, but he learns that money doesn’t buy happiness and is content with what he has.
He might not get the girl, but finds someone that is better for him in the long run.
Do we need to see that he settles down in Oklahoma, has a half- dozen kids, and retires to play pickleball the rest of his days??? No. In fact, please don’t nail down every detail. Respect the intelligence of your reader by letting them make some conclusions for themselves.
So, this discussion brings us to question whether this really has to be THE END at all…
Perhaps this is just BOOK ONE in a series.
Maybe this movie will supply enough interesting material for a sequel.
Let’s explore the possibilities…NEXT WEEK.
The Sequel follows after a Scene. (note last week’s post)
It has three parts: Reaction, Dilemma, and Decision.
A Scene ends on a Disaster. To my liking, that term is a little strong. However, it does need to end with a cliffhanger…a setback…an emotionally-charged sentence, or paragraph, which entices the reader to turn the page and READ MORE.
However, if we write scene after scene, starting with new goals and new setbacks, our readers are left with their heads swimming and nothing resolved.
We must provide a little down time in order to let our readers recover.
Thus, follows the reaction, the first of the three parts of the SEQUEL:
Reaction: This is the emotional follow-through to a Disaster. Your POV character is shown reacting…hurting… weeping. 
Dilemma: This is a situation with no good options. Readers worry and wonder what will happen next while you let your POV character work through the choices and sort things out. Finally, he considers what he feels to be the best option.
Decision: This is the act of making a choice among several options. Your POV character becomes proactive again.
So make your character’s decision one your reader can respect. One that has a chance of working out. With a new goal, now the reader is compelled to turn the page, yet again.
You’ve gone from Scene to Sequel and back to the Goal for a new Scene.
A Scene leads naturally to a Sequel, which leads naturally to a new Scene, and so on until you end the cycle by giving your POV character the Ultimate Victory!
THE END
Your book will consist of chapters.
Those chapters will break down into one or more scenes.
Each scene should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Something significant to the story should happen within each scene to move it forward. When the scene is finished, the reader should feel a sense of completion.
Within each scene, the characters should be actively doing something that makes the story feel as though it is happening in the here and now. (Yes, even if the story is set in the 1800’s, it should feel like it is happening now.)
Once the character reaches his objective, the scene ends.
Each scene should have three parts: Goal, Conflict, and Disaster.
Goal means simply what the POV character wants at the beginning of the scene.
Conflict is the series of obstacles the POV character faces on the way to reach his Goal.
A Disaster is a failure to let the POV character reach his Goal. If you end the scene with a victory, the reader is not compelled to turn the page. Make something happen so that the reader will want to see what happens next.
But a chapter is not just a series of scenes. It is built out of alternating scenes and sequels.
Next week: The Sequel
In a writing workshop I recently attended, the presenter took us “back to the basics.”
If you’ve been writing for awhile, periodically it’s a good thing to revisit the essential elements of story.
The terms “protagonist” and “antagonist” are about as basic as it gets.
Let’s look at their definitions and what those two elements have to do with a well-written story.
The protagonist is the hero of the story—the central character whose journey we follow throughout the book. He’s the “good guy”. The one we cheer on. The one who experiences set-back after set-back, but emerges victorious at the end.
The antagonist, is the villain. His role is to block the hero’s progress toward his goal at every turn.
The cruel step-mother.
The demanding boss.
The rival for the hand of the princess.
Whoever they are, it’s essential that they do their part by providing those set-backs or road blocks to the hero on his journey.
It is this struggle to overcome that moves your story along to a satisfying ending.
Note: The inciting incident, another basic, was discussed in a previous post, entitled “Creatures of Habit.” You can read it under ARCHIVED POSTS.
I don’t know what to write about.
I don’t know the correct way to write.
My friends might not like it.
It could be a flop.
I don’t have the time.
Last year, I read a book called, Excuses, excuses: Living the Excuse Free Life. It is a religious book, but I think there are some things the author, Peter Lopez, Jr.,, said that might be applied to the discipline of writing.
“He that is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.” Benjamin Franklin
Excuses somehow make us feel good about not being as great as we can be—about living up to our full potential!
But, guess what? Excuses are lies, by definition: An excuse is a lie that you give to explain why you have done something or have not done something that you should have done.
Excuses: Why We Can’t
The Excuse of Family: “I would, but my son has a…, my wife wants me to…, my parents…”
The Excuse of Yourself: “I’m just not motivated…knowledgeable…creative…rested…”
The Excuse of other People: Fellow writers or potential readers cast doubt or fear. Fear and doubt are the reasons most people don’t achieve their dreams.
The Excuse of the Past: Failures and insecurities keep your past in front of you, not behind you, where they should be.
The Excuse of ‘I Can’t’: “I’m too young… I’m too old… I just don’t have what it takes.”
While excuses are lies, reasons are truth: a fact, situation, or intention that explains why something happened, why someone did or did not do something, or why something is true.
Reasons: Why We Can:
1) It is ok to say “no,” if it is the truth.
“I don’t have the time.”
“I’m too busy.”
“I don’t have the money to do that right now.”
“It’s too far away.”
“I don’t feel like it.”
“No, thank you.”
2) If you set goals that are specific, make sense, are attainable, are relevant, and are time-bound, you will be able to achieve your writing goals.
3) Consider getting a mentor.
4) Use a weekly planner.
5) Make both long term and daily goals. Set priorities.
Remember: Don’t use excuses. They are lies. They are damaging and they poison your future.
Make yourself a NO EXCUSE card. Put it in your wallet or purse. Pull it out and read it every time you feel you are starting to use excuses!!!
“I loved your book. I was up all night reading. I just couldn’t put it down!”
Comments like those are music to this author’s ears.
From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful that The Choice: Will’s Last Testament is getting such wonderful comments and reviews.
Such a warm reception gives me the energy to forge ahead and begin writing book #3!
It’s curious, isn’t it, what things give a human being the confidence to press on toward accomplishment?
A friend of mine is running a half-marathon in a few weeks. It’s something that she has never done before. It’s the challenge from another friend that pushes her to train each day.
I know someone who is trying to break an internet record for the most podcast interviews done in a certain length of time. It’s a lofty goal involving weeks of podcasts!
When teaching my daughter to drive a stick-shift, I remember finally resorting to popping a Goldfish cracker into her mouth each time she didn’t grind the gears!
So, the goal must be set.
But, there must be something that keeps the person moving toward that goal—a reward of some kind—that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow:
A record broken,
A pat-on-the-back,
A person’s name in lights,
Winning a contest,
Great five-star reviews.
So, dear writer, don’t bail on your dreams. Maybe, like me, all you really need is a little encouragement because
YOU CAN DO IT!!! I KNOW YOU CAN!!!
Christian Writers of the West recently held our Rattler Writing Contest. One of the categories was Speculative Fiction. In that it is a less-understood genre, I explored a little. Here is what I found:
Pure fiction, tells stories in hypothetical situations, whereas speculative fiction tells stories that take place in hypothetical story-worlds different from our own.
Speculative fiction is a fiction genre speculating about worlds that are unlike the real world. It generally overlaps one or more of these: science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.
Speculative fiction encompasses works that don’t fit neatly into the separate genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy.
Stories such as Stranger in a Strange Land. The Twilight Zone.
When you come across a story that both is and isn’t science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror, that’s speculative fiction.
David Bowlin of ShadowKeep Magazine states, “Speculative fiction is a world that writers create, where anything can happen. It is a place beyond reality, a place that could have been, or might have been, if only the rules of the universe were altered just a bit. Speculative fiction goes beyond the horror of everyday life and takes the reader (and writer) into a world of magic, fantasy, science.”
brenda poulos 