Tag: story problems

Categories
Romancing Your Story

When Romance Writers Read and Create

In my opinion, anyone who says they don’t have time to read might as well say they don’t have time to breathe. Reading is as necessary to my well-being as food, water, and sleep are. It can be argued that writers must be readers. Most romance writers are also romance readers.

I also think it’s necessary to read outside of the genre you write in. I’m not saying that if you write sweet or Christian or inspirational romance, that you should read erotica or gay romance. But I am saying that if you write historical romance, maybe pick up a romantic suspense. If you write Amish, try a romantic comedy. You’ll be surprised at how the conventions of the other genre will inspire and inform your own writing.

For instance, I was working on a sweet, contemporary romance but was stuck on a plot point. I was using the secret baby trope, which I know lots of readers hate, so I needed a really, really compelling reason for the heroine to keep this pregnancy and baby from the father.

I story mapped. I brainstormed with my critique group. I tried free associating ideas. Finally, I gave up. I told my subconscious to work on it and I picked up a thriller to read. A couple of hours later, I put the book down and I knew exactly why the heroine didn’t tell the father. She couldn’t tell him. Telling him would ruin his life, and she would never do that. Something in the thriller—a turning point in the story—jogged my subconscious which had been laboring feverishly while my conscious mind had been otherwise occupied. Steven King calls this the “boys in the basement,” at work. My girls in the basement, once I set them loose on the problem, came up with the solution while I read about spies running around Rome, trying to stop a terrorist plot to kill the Pope.

Reading in another genre also helps keep you open to new ways to twist a phrase or expression. Some genres have specific vocabularies and reading unfamiliar idioms will help your brain follow new pathways and make new connections. That all helps keep your writing fresh and unexpected.

If you normally read hard copy books, try an ebook, or an audio book. Something about shaking up your normal routine also shakes up your creativity. Speaking of creativity, let’s touch on the importance of filling up that creative well. Reading outside your usual genre is part of that. But also take time for other creative endeavors. Get outside into nature. Visit museums and art galleries. Even if you live in a rural area, far from a museum, many offer virtual tours online. With the Internet at our fingertips, we can learn Scottish history as easily as we can examine the Sistine Chapel up close and personal.

If there’s a popular romance author that you’ve never gotten around to reading (because, let’s face it: so many books, so little time), seek out a title by that writer and move it to the top of your To-Be-Read stack.

Be purposeful in your reading, yes. But also read for the sheer pleasure of it. Read because you must. Read because without stories, your brain would shrivel up and crumble to dust. Read to make your own stories stronger and better.

Carrie Padgett lives in Central California, close to Yosemite, but far from Hollywood, the beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge. She believes in faith, families, fun, and happily ever after. She writes contemporary fiction with romance. Carrie and her Stud Muffin live in Central California with their cat and dog and within driving distance of their six grandchildren.

You can find her online at:

Twitter: CarriePadgett

Instagram: carpadwriter

Facebook: WriterCarriePadgett

Amazon Author Page: Carrie Padgett

Categories
The Picky Pen

Editing the Plot

Okay. Most of you (myself included) admit it’s challenging and exciting to plan the next book. It must be simple, right? Think of an idea. Create characters and compelling scenes. Write a few hundred pages. And you’re done. Right?

Wrong. Not. That. Simple.

You’ve got to think of a plot that works. A plot that includes a beginning, middle, and end. You may not think plotting a book is part of editing, but it is, my friend. What I’m going to say next is vital to the life and breath of your story. If we don’t analyze how our story flows at the macro level we won’t have a solid story to edit at the micro level.

What? There’s a structure to tying it all together? I’m afraid so. A story isn’t Friday Mish Mash. (Although some writers have successfully pulled off a great mish mash story . . . that’s another conversation for another day.)

  • Beginning. Introduce your characters, bring in a conflict or desire between your main character and an antagonist (can be an animate or inanimate object), and set up how the main character is going to achieve their goal.
  • Middle. Continue story with riveting twists and turns for the character to achieve the solution to the problem or desire. You can even introduce subplot, which is often more exciting than the main plot.
  • End. Begin to wrap up the solution to the problem, but not before your character is forced to choose between good and evil in order to obtain their goal. This is the most exciting part in your story because you’ll hook your readers even more and keep them reading late into the night. (A very good thing!) Your conclusion should be satisfying and solve the problem your character faced in the beginning of the story.

Remember. Readers who have a reason to care about the characters you’ve created will be hooked from beginning to end.

Here’s an example of my own WWII story:

Beginning
Clara must babysit her little sister while their mother goes shopping. In addition to babysitting, Clara has to put up the tomatoes (goal). Little sister Bevy proceeds to wreck Clara’s work (problem). Clara tries to work with Bevy to no avail (aggravated problem.)

Middle
Clara is frustrated that Bevy is squashing all of the tomatoes and reacts angrily toward Bevy. Bevy runs outside (climax).

End
While cleaning up the tomato mess, Clara sees Beverly running toward the tractor where their dad is harvesting crops (unexpected climax that causes reader to care). Clara realizes the importance of her attitude toward Bevy (resolution to the problem).

The instructions might sound simple. But it takes practice to grasp the concept of beginning, middle, and end structure and then to execute it. Grasping the concepts are also determined by editing the plot to make sure it sings like a canary rather than a crow. Then. It. Will. Be. Simple.

Join in the discussion!

What part of the novel do you struggle with and what resources help you conquer the struggle part(s)?

Tisha Martin writes historical fiction and nonfiction but also edits and proofreads for beginning and best-selling writers, professional editing agencies, and publishing houses. She has a BA in Professional Writing, an MS in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, affordable continuing education for editors. Active in American Christian Fiction Writers and The PEN, she appreciates the writing and editing communities. As Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for editors, she enjoys travel marketing and updating PENCON’s Facebook Page. Connect with Tisha on her website www.tishamartin.com and engage in the conversation.

 

Categories
Talking Character

The Power of a Single Detail

In her book The Resolution for Women, Priscilla Shirer tells a story about a tassel. She was in the process of remodeling her writing office, and had not yet made basic decisions on color palette. Then a friend gave her a beautiful tassel. It was a gorgeous, multi-colored piece that came at a bargain price. Priscilla was tempted to keep it, until she realized the tassel would end up dictating all the décor decisions in her new office.

So, despite how much she loved that little tassel, she took it back.

Her point was that sometimes we allow a single detail—like a comment about our talents or character—to become a focal point in our lives, and then find ourselves changing our outlook or behaviors to match it.

Don’t let the wrong details define you. Or your characters.

What struck me as I read her warning was how often I fall into that trap when I am writing. It goes like this…

I am in the middle of a scene and the words are flowing. I run across the need for a bit of description. I grab the first idea that pops into my head and keep writing, trying to keep up with the muse before she gallops completely out of reach. Then, a scene or two later, I bump into that insignificant little detail, which now conflicts with some other detail, requires explanation, or forces the plot to go in a direction I hadn’t planned on.

Instead of thinking, huh, making him nearsighted adds complications I’d rather not deal with. What other unusual feature could I give him instead? I find myself going through all sorts of contortions to make his nearsightedness work.

Not exactly the most intentional of writing methods.

In fact, at my next critique session someone challenges a decision that I realize links back to that little detail, and I find myself forced to either defend a series of decisions that appear to lead the story astray or go back and fix the real problem—the random detail that created the mess.

It’s all about the [appropriate] details

When decorating a room, you sometimes select a single unique piece to become the focal point, but you want that focal point to be a lovely painting not the ugly chair you inherited from Great-aunt Bertha. Likewise, selecting just the right detail can set a character apart in a memorable way. For example, hobbits live in houses with round doors. Triangular doors or trapdoors would not be nearly as appropriate.

So remember to consider your details carefully. Ask why that detail is fitting, and if you’re not sure, take a moment to consider whether there might be a more apt choice.

The trick here is not to stifle your creativity, but to stop and analyze your thinking afterwards, to ensure all those pesky details are taking the story where you want it to go.

[bctt tweet=”Choose your tassels wisely. Details matter. #writetip”]

tassels

For more on the balance of rational and creative thoughts, check out this post from Kristen Lamb.