If Thursday were my /
lover, I’d embrace her stars /
with my empty eyes.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
THREE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR PLOT JUICIER
by BRUCE HALE
http://www.brucehalewritingtips.com/
Plots are like Christmas turkeys — we’re always looking for ways to fatten them up. Juicier plots feel more complex, more satisfying. They keep readers up late turning the pages, and keep editors asking for more.
How do you make sure your book’s plot is a juicy one? Here are three quick tips to help.
1. UP THE “UH-OH” FACTOR
Throw roadblocks into your character’s path. Disappoint him or her. Frequently. Give your hero bad luck.
(Bad luck is bending over to pick a four-leaf clover and being infected by poison ivy.)
Yes, I know – your main character is a version of yourself. Few people would knowingly put themselves in jeopardy, but you’ve got to cold-bloodedly throw your surrogate into the soup — even more than you think you do.
Always be asking, “How can I make it worse?”
The more danger, the better. It can be physical, emotional, or spiritual danger, or a threat to life and limb. By piling on troubles, you hook readers into wanting to find out how the hero gets out of it. I call it the “UH-OH factor.” They read it and go, “uh-oh, she’s really gonna get it now.”
2. RAISE THE STAKES
You see this in movies all the time. A regular schmo is trying to solve some small problem in his life – like a romantic breakup – and then he stumbles into an even bigger problem. Or something happens to make it even more urgent that he solve his small problem (like his ex decides to get married and he has to win her back before the wedding).
In movies, the stakes often become “the end of the world as we know it.” No need to go that far, unless your story warrants it. But you can always up the ante in smaller ways.
For example, in my book, FAREWELL, MY LUNCHBAG, Chet Gecko is hired by his friendly cafeteria lady to discover why her food is going missing. But then, while Chet’s on stakeout, the real crook frames him for the thefts. Chet then has an even stronger reason for solving the case: clearing his name.
3. MAKE HIM FACE HIS FLAW
If you want to make it even harder for your hero to solve the story’s central problem, give them a flaw and put them in a situation where they have to overcome it.
(Warning: This technique can be over-used, but if done with finesse, it adds another layer of richness to the story.)
For example, if your hero is afraid of the dark, let her come up against this fear a few times and get off fairly easy — not investigating that dark alleyway, or enlisting a friend with a flashlight to help her. But at the climax, when it’s do-or-die time, stick her in a cave as black as midnight. She must overcome her fear in order to find the missing kid/treasure/whatever.
Simple enough? Absolutely. But employing any of these tips can add a juiciness to your story that makes a reader want to dig it with gusto.
___________
Bruce Hale
About Bruce…
Bruce Hale began his career as a writer while living in Tokyo, and continued it when he moved to Hawaii in 1983. Before entering the world of children’s books, he worked as a magazine editor, surveyor, corporate lackey, gardener, actor, and deejay.
Bruce has written and illustrated over 25 books for kids. His Underwhere series includes Prince of Underwhere and Pirates of Underwhere. His Chet Gecko Mysteries series includes: The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse, The Big Nap, The Malted Falcon, Hiss Me Deadly, and others. More at http://www.brucehale.com/
Filed under Writing Tip Wednesday
If Wednesday were my /
lover, I’d carry her dew /
on my lips as hope.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
[Editor’s note: this is from the “you can’t make this up” department. Not so much a joke, though certainly a bit of a humorous caper. Who knows, could even be the basis for a story. I don’t know if you would call this a stroke of genius, or simply a breast stroke.]
A woman who received permission to skinny dip in a man’s backyard pool sufficiently amused him while her male companion burglarized the premises, police reported.
The 54-year-old victim said the couple, who lived nearby, approached his home about 3 p.m. Saturday in Crossville.
While a nude female swimmer in his Camelot subdivision home’s backyard pool had him distracted, the woman’s accomplice was inside the victim’s home stealing his personal property. Both made a clean getaway. The incident took place last Saturday on Canterbury Lane around 3 p.m. at the home of a 54-year-old man who told police that a couple who live nearby approached his home when the woman suddenly told her husband to go back and retrieve her cigarettes, according to Ptl. Camden Davis’ report. – See more at: http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x1696737631/Nude-swimmer-distracts-home-burglary-victim#sthash.mL3Qxm2N.dpuf
Filed under Monday morning writing joke
A neighborhood child asked to pose for a photo before going to his first day of first grade, decided to “Jaws” the camera as his mother, in vain, attempted to capture his good side. But, wait, maybe she did.
by DAVID E. BOOKER
Molar, molar
will destroy ya.
Eat your toys
I will annoy ya.
Molar, molar
I’m your boy, yo
Cast you about
to and fro, yo.
Molar, molar
where’d you go? Oh
I ate a fat crow
and now you know, oh
little’s bros a go
for eattin’ so slow, oh.
Molar, molar
will destroy ya.
Filed under Photo Finish Friday, poetry by author
If Tuesday were my /
lover, I’d breathe deep its scents, /
imbibing moments.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
Save it for the angels.
By DAVID E. BOOKER
Don’t get slowed down by the idea, notion, goal, belief that what you write has to be perfect. Perfection is an illusion and a way to subjectively enthrall yourself to a writer’s block from which you will never be free. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be working to improve your writing talent and skills. It just means that you can expend a nearly infinite amount of time and energy getting your story, poem, essay, novel, article perfect and never be there.
Here are three things to remember if you feel you have to have it perfect before you go on.
1) No matter how perfect your writing is, you may still face rejection. For example, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was turned down 121 times. In other words, perfect does not guarantee publication.
2) Study long, study wrong. Many years ago when my father was teaching me to play cribbage, if I took too long to decide which card to play next, he would say, “Study long, study wrong.” While this may have reflected some of his impatience with my timidity, it is also a good piece of advice to keep in mind. Often it is the after getting something on paper that you can adjust it to make it better, not before.
3) Resistance is futile. It is true that, as Mark Twain said, the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug. Yet, it is also true that rewriting is writing, too, and the resistance you put up into not moving forward because you don’t have the right word or words will often times lead more toward futility than fruition. Better to start with the lightning bug and work you up to the right flash than do nothing and continue to curse the darkness of having written nothing.
None of this is meant to say your first draft should be the one your rush to publication. Very, very few writers have that level of mastery. But if you don’t get it done, you will never get it better.
Filed under Writing Tip Wednesday
Life is like a box of words….
Filed under cartoon by author, CarToonsday
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours?
Gloria
_____
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria
[Editor’s note: Which note would you prefer to receive?]
Filed under Monday morning writing joke
If Monday were my /
lover, I’d caress its clouds /
and dabble in light.
[Writer’s note: This is the first in a series of haiku involving the days of week. It may work out; it may only work out somewhat; it may not work out at all. Only way to find out and read them as they appear and decide.]
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
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