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Visibility Generating
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Writing and Marketing Information
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| November 19, 2014 / Newsletter 111914
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We have lots of writers among us, so I'll be including writing articles as well as inbound marketing information in the newsletters.
Today, I have a great writing article from a Writers on the Move member.
Getting Unstuck When Writing a Novel
by Suzanne Lieurance
As a writing coach, I see it all the time.
Someone decides to write a novel.
They get off to a brilliant start.
Then – about 4 or 5 chapters in – they get stuck.
They don’t know what to write next.
They try to figure out what to do, but most of the time they don’t, so they give up.
They put the manuscript away and start on something new.
Sound familiar?
If it does, then dig out your half-finished novel and take a look at it with the following elements in mind.
Chances are, one or more of these elements is lacking, or not fully
developed, in your story and that’s why you’re having trouble moving
forward.
Elements of a Novel
1. Compelling and Distinctive Characters
Readers need to care about your characters, right from the start.
Otherwise, they have no reason to continue reading past the first few
pages.
Readers won’t like or love all of your characters, of course. In fact,
they’ll probably hate your protagonist. But, the point is, they need to
have strong positive or negative feelings about these characters. They
should not feel indifferent about them.
What have you done in your first few chapters to make readers care about your characters?
2. A Compelling Overall Story Problem for the Main Character
Quite often I see writers run into trouble midway through their novels
because they haven’t created a BIG enough overall story problem for
their main character. When that happens, it’s often difficult to keep
readers’ interest. There just isn’t enough at stake for the main
character, so readers don’t care whether or not he solves the big
problem.
What is the overall problem your main character (your protagonist) is
trying to solve? How much is at stake - what will happen if he
doesn’t solve this problem?
3. Rising Action – Dramatic Tension
Once there is plenty at stake for the main character, the next step is
to create LOTS of conflict, so it isn’t easy for the character to solve
this problem. Things should get worse and worse – this creates rising
action.
When your story has plenty of conflict or rising action, readers will
worry and wonder if the main character will ever be able to solve, or at
least resolve, the big problem. They’ll keep reading to find out!
How do things keep getting worse and worse for your main character?
4. Believable and Effective Turning Points
Turning points are those places in your story where things change. They
take a different direction, usually because some choice has to be made
or there is some sort of dilemma for the main character. An effective
turning point means once a choice has been made, or a specific action
has been taken, there is no going back for the character(s).
Do you have several turning points in your story? What are they?
5. Vivid Sensory Details
Details make your story come alive for readers, so they feel as if
they’re experiencing the story along with the characters and not simply
reading about what these characters are doing and what is happening to
them.
Appeals to all 5 senses (taste, touch, sound, sight, smell) should be
seamlessly woven into the action and dialogue of the story.
Do you have appeals to several senses in each chapter? Could you create more sensory details to enliven your story?
6. Engaging and Cohesive Subplots
Subplots are stories within the main story. But they relate to the main
story. When used effectively, they can create additional rising action
and conflict related to the overall story problem.
What are the subplots in your story? Can you create an additional subplot to create more rising action?
7. An Effective Climax
This is the most exciting part of your story. It’s when your main
character must do something or make some decision that will cause him to
solve or resolve the overall story problem. But it can’t be easy for
him.
What is the most exciting point of your story? What is decision or dilemma your main character must face at this point?
8. A Satisfying Resolution
The climax of your story leads to the resolution, where everything is
tied together or resolved. Usually, readers get some idea of what life
will be like for the main character, now that he has solved or resolved
the overall story problem.
It’s a good idea to consider how your story will end even BEFORE you
start writing the story. This doesn’t mean your ending (and even other
things in the story) won’t change by the time you write the ending. But
if you know how you want the story to end, it will be easier to keep
writing because you know where you’re going.
How did you tie up all the loose ends to complete your story? What is different for your main character(s) now?
Use these elements as a checklist when writing a novel and you'll be
less likely to get stuck and never finish writing your novel.
Try it!
About the Author:
Suzanne Lieurance is an author, freelance writer, certified professional life coach and writing coach, speaker and workshop presenter. She has written over two dozen published books and hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines, and other publications.
Visit Suzanne's site at: Write a Novel Start to Finish
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Karen Cioffi, Freelance Writer
For Businesses and Individuals
karencioffi [at] ymail [dot] com
I'm an affiliate for some of the products I recommend. I only tell you about products I've checked out.
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