all write - fiction advice_ august 2014
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2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:August2014
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SUNDA Y , 2 4 A UGUST 2 0 1 4
HowtoMakeReadersCareAboutYourStory
Itsanageoldquestion.Howdoyoumakeyourreaderscareaboutyourstory?
Itstheultimategoalforwriters,tomaketheirreaderscareenoughaboutthestoryandcharacters,becausethatiswhatmakesthemreadyourbookandcontinuereadingrightuntiltheend.
Thereisntastraightforwardanswerforthisonesimplybecausethereissomuchinvolvedintheprocessandlotsforawritertoconsider.
Itsnotreallyaboutthestory,perse,becausethestorycanbeaboutanything,andsoitbecomesasecondarything,butitshowthewriterusesthecharacterswithinthestorythatmakesuscareaboutwhathappensandthereforeitmakesuscareabouttheoverallstory.Wewantthecharacterstoreachtheirgoal,wewantthemtowintheday,wewantthemtosucceed,andthatsbecausewecareaboutwhathappenstothem.
Howdowecare?
Firstly,youshouldwritethestoryforthereader,notyourself.Thisisvitallyimportant.Itisnotyourstory.SomanywritersstillwritewiththeattitudeofwhyshouldIcareaboutwhatthereadersthink?
Theyshouldcare,becausethestorybelongstoyourmaincharacter,andultimately,toyourreader.Ifyouwritewithoutthereaderinmind,youwillfailtoengagethemandyourstorywillfail.Youarewritingforthem.
Sowhatelsecanwritersdotomakereaderscare?
A LL WR IT E F I C T IONADVICE
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Soyou'veembarkedonyourfictionwritingjourney.
It'soneofthehardestthingstodocreateawhole,believableworldforotherpeopletoenjoy,especiallyifyou'renewtowriting.It'salsooneoftheloneliestjobs,especiallywhenthereisnohelporadviceorsupport...sorightheretherewillbehandyarticles,examplesandsimplestepbystepguidestohelpmakethecreativeprocessthatmucheasier.
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Thisnewdeliciouslydarkanthologyisoutnow,witharangeofstunningfemalewriterstoscareanddelightinequalmeasure.Iamprivilegedtohaveeightshortstories/poemspublishedinthisbook,soifyoulikeyourdamesalittledarkand
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A L L WR I T E F I C T I ON ADV I C EA D V I C E O N C R E A T I V E WR I T I NG
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Writersneedtocreatesomethingknownasimmediacy,rightfromtheopeningchapter,inordertopersuadethereadertoinvestemotionallywiththestory,sojumpingstraightintoalifechangingmomentforthemaincharacter,orcreatingaterribledilemmatointroducethebasisofthestoryalwaysworkswell.
Immediacyiswhatconnectsthestoryandcharacterstothereader.Inotherwords,readerswantamaincharactertheycansympathisewith,feelemotiontowardsordinarypeoplewhoarethrustintoextraordinarysituations.Theyarenotspecialtheyarejustlikeyouandme.
Butthedifferenceliesinthejourneytheytake,theoverallstory,andwhathappenstothem.Andtoachievethatwehaveconflict.Allwritersshouldunderstandthefundamentalprincipleofconflictandhowitworks.
Characters+conflict=tensionanddrama.
Withoutconflict,thereisnotensionordramaoraction.Thatmeansthereisnostorytotell.Andreaderslovedrama.
Conflictcreatesallsortsoftensionsandatmosphere,itcreatesdramaticsituationsandthatmeansthereaderwillwanttoknowwhathappenstothemaincharacter,soconflictintheformofanantagonistandplentyofdilemmashelptodrawemotionfromyourreader,itmakesthemsympathiseandempathisewiththecharactersstruggles.Theybecomeemotionallyattachedtoyourcharacters.Andthatmeanstheycare.
Theotherthingtoconsideris:whatisatstakeforthemaincharacter?Whatwilltheylose?Howwoulditaffectthemandthestory?Willtheprotagonistlosesomeonetheylove?Willtheyloseafortune?Willtheylosetheirhouse?Theirjob?
Thehigherthestakes,themorechanceyourreaderwillcareaboutwhathappensandtheseissueswilllurethereaderintothestorybecausetheywillreadontoseewhathappens.Theyhavetoknowwhathappens.
dangerous,thisisthebookforyou.
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WISE WORDS . . .
Writingislikebeingmarriedyouhavetoworkhardatmaintaininghappinessandequilibrium,butinvariablyonealwaysendsupinthedoghouse.
A BOUT ME
AJHUMPAGE
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I'vebeenwritingforover25yearsandstartedoutinthe
publishingindustry.I'vepublishedarticles,studyguides,poems,flashfiction,shortstoriesandanovel.IalsoworkfulltimesoI'mALWAYSworking.
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Howwillyourcharactersovercomesuchhighstakes?Willtheycompromise,willtheysacrificesomething,willtheydosomethingmomentous?Willtheychangeasaperson?
Thinkaboutitweallhavesomethingtolose.Soshouldyourcharacters.Andthatswhatmakesuscarebecausethecharacters,too,careaboutwhathappens.
Anotherimportantthingthatmakesthereadercareaboutthestoryisthecharactersyoucreate.Theyhavetobelikeable,almostreal,people.Asalreadymentioned,theyshouldbepeoplewecanconnectwithbecausetheyareordinarytheyhavefaultsandflaws,andtheymakemistakes,justlikeus,buttheyhavebeenforcedintoasituationandhowtheytackleitandovercomeitbecomestheirsandourstory.
Aherodoesnthavetobeheroictomakethereaderlikethem.Theyarehuman,andthatmakesthemvulnerable.Suchvulnerabilitiesmakeusconnecttothecharacter.Whatthosevulnerabilitiesareisdowntoyouasawriter.
Onethingtoremember:charactersshouldneverbeperfect,becausepeopleinreallifearenot.Thereisnosuchthingasperfect.
Lastly,relatablethemeshelpmakethereadercare,too.Andthatsbecausereadersfacethesamethingsinreallife.Wecanrelatetoloveorhate.Wecanrelatetoforgiveness,orlackofit.Wecanrelatetodeathandlife.Wecanrelatetopainandloss.Wecanrelatetojusticeandretribution.Allthesethemeshavetouchedthelivesofprettymucheveryoneinsomewayoranother,sothethemesinyournovelwillhelpthereaderconnecttothestory.
Withalltheseaspectsinplace,youshouldhavenoproblemismakingthereaderwillcareaboutyourcharactersstory.
Tosummarise:
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Thestoryisforthereader,notthewriter.Createimmediacyconnectwiththereader.Createconflict=tensionanddrama.Makesuretherearehighstakesforyourmaincharacter.Createbelievable,likeablecharacters,peoplewecanrelateto,peoplewhoarenotperfect,butpeoplewhohavetheirownvulnerabilities.Relatablethemeshelpyourreaderconnectwiththestory.
Inessence,whyshouldthereadercareaboutyourstory?Becausetheyretheoneswhowillreadinandenjoyitandcomebackformore,timeaftertime.
Nextweek:Howmanycharactersinastoryistoomany?
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SA T URDA Y , 1 6 A UGUST 2 0 1 4
WhatMakesaBadWriter?
Weveallbeenbadwritersatsomepoint.Beingabadwriterisallpartoftheritualofbecomingagoodwriter.Everyonestartsoutabadwriterandbecomesagoodwriterovertime.(Goodwriterswillalsoknowthatgoodwritingisntformedinstantlyittakesyearsofpractice).
Buthowcanyoutellabadwriterfromagoodone?Howdoyouknowifyouareabadwriter?
Themaindifferencewithgoodwritersandbadwritersisthatgoodwritersarealwayslearning,alwaysdevelopingandarealwaysopentofeedback.Goodwritersknowtheirlimitationsandtheirskilllevels,andtheyrealwaysstrivingtobecomebetterthebesttheycanbe.
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Badwriters,however,areadifferentbeastaltogether.
Badwritershavenorealgraspoftheirlimitations,theypresumetoknoweverythingthereistoknowaboutwriting,withouttheexperiencetobackitup.ButeveniftheyhavethreeselfpublishedbooksonAmazon,itdoesntmakethemanexpertonfictionwriting.Itjustmeanstheyhavealongwaytogo,becausebeingagoodwritercantakeyears,evendecadestoachieve.
Onlybadwritersassumetheyhaveasuperiorlevelofwritingexcellence.Goodwritersneverassumeit,theyearnit.
Also,badwritersdontunderstandtheconceptofconstantlyeditingandrewritingandtheneedtopolishto(almost)perfection,somethingthatsrequiredbeforeitentersthepublicdomain.Mostsimplydonthavethepatienceforsuchthings.
Goodwriters,ontheotherhand,willreadthroughandedittheirworkseveraltimestoeliminateerrorsandplotflawsandtheywillhavethepatiencetodosountiltheworkistrulyready,untiltheyhaveaqualitypieceofwork.
Badwritersdontneedtogothroughallthis,theyrealreadyexcellent.
Thisisturnleadstothearrogancefactor.Thereisnothingmoreunbecominginfictionwritingthatawriterwhoisarrogantandhasanattitudetogowithit.Moreoftenthannot,thosewhoarehaughtyandoverconfidentaresimplynotasgoodastheythink.Andmoreoftenthannot,thisnotionisprovenwithwhattheyactuallywrite,simplybecausetheiregohasovershadowedanyexistingrawtalent.
Goodwritersknowthatperfectionisnotattainable,butthenextbestthingis,sotheyalwaystrytoachievethis.Atthesametimetheywillacknowledgethatnooneisperfect.Thatswhytheyarealwayslearning,becausewritingisaconstantlyevolvingprocess.Theyknowthattobebetterwriters,theyhavetolearnandevolve.Thatshowweallbecomenotjustgoodwriters,butgreatwriters.
WhatMakesaBadWriter?
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Abadwriter,however,willdismisstheneedtolearn.Theyalreadyknowallthereistoknow.Theydontrealisethattobeabetterwritertheyhavetolearn.
Haveyoueverreceivednegativefeedbackthatmadeyougetangryanddefensive?Theansweristhatweallhave.
Whatwewriteandhowwewriteitwontbelikedbyeveryone.Goodwritersacceptandunderstandthisconcept.Butbadwritersdontunderstandthisatall.Negativefeedbackismetwithevenmorenegativityandsometimesthesewriterswillbecomeinvolvedinonlineargumentswithotherwritersorengageinemailswiththosewhomayhaveofferedthenegativefeedback.Itsextremelyunprofessional.
Thisleadstothatotherbignegativeforwritersthedreadedrejection.Goodwritersacceptthattheyarenotperfectandthatrejectionsareapartofthewritingprocess.Theywillalsotakeonboardthefeedbackandcommentsinaconstructivewayandtheywillexaminewheretheycanimprovetheirworkanddeveloptheirwritingskillaccordingly.
Badwriterswont.Theywontseerejectionasanopportunitytoimprove.Theywontseethepositiveinit.Theywillthinkitsapersonalattackonthemandarejectionoftheirgenius.Theywillbecomeangryanddefensive,evenpetulant,andthatarrogancewilljustgrow.
Ifyoucannotcopewithrejectionorcriticismofyourwriting,thenunfortunatelythatmakesyouabadwriter.
Anotherthingisthatbadwritersdontunderstandtheconceptofprofessionalism.
Andthatbringsmetothesubjectofsubmittingworktoagentsandpublishers.Thegoodwritersamongstuswillpayvitalattentiontotheguidelinesofthepublishinghouseortheagentsrequirements,becauseguidelinesarethereforareason.
Abadwriterwillignoretheseguidelines.ThenobodycantellmewhatIshouldandshouldntdoattitude
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wontwashwithpotentialpublishers.Ifyoucantbebotheredtofollowinstructions,thendontbotherbeingawriter.
Lastly,thenewphenomenonofshamelessselfpromotionhasbecomeanuisance.Thepesterpowerofselfpublishedwritersisntendearing,itsannoying.Andthelookatmeandmyfantasticnovelconstantpromotiononeveryavailablemediumwontwinreaders.
Goodwriterspromote,buttheyalsoengagewithpotentialreaders,theyaskquestions,theyanswerquestions,theyhaveopendiscussionsabouttheirwriting,theyusethelikesofTwitterorFacebook,Goodreadsorwritingforumstonetworkandsocialiseandgenerateinterestinaproductiveway.
Whattheydontdoisselfishlyspamthehelloutofeveryone.Andthatspreciselywhatabadwriterwilldo.Badwritersarenotbotheredaboutnetworkingorsocialisingorengagingindiscussionsabouttheirwritingorindeedanyconstructivefeedback.Theyjustwantthesales.
Ultimately,abadwriterisonethatdoesntlistenandthereforeneverlearns.So,areyouoneofthem?
Nextweek:Howtomakeyourreaderscareaboutyourstory.
POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, AUGUST16, 20144COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST
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SA T URDA Y , 9 A UGUST 2 0 1 4
SelfpublishorTraditional?
Therehasbeenalotofdebaterecentlyaboutwhetheranauthorshouldgodownthetraditionalpublishingrouteorwhethertoselfpublishthroughthelikesof
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AmazonorCreateSpace.
Whatevertheauthordecides,thesetwoprospectsofferdifferentprosandcons.Thereisacertainelementofthequalityofwritingandprestigewithtraditionallypublishedbooksthatisnotyetpresentwithselfpublishedbooks,somanyauthorsstillpursuetraditionalpublishing,despitethelureofbecomingselfpublished.
TraditionalPublishing
Despitewhatthenaysayersmightthink,traditionalpublishingisstillverystronganditisstillimportanttowriters.
Findinganagentisusuallythestartingblockformostwriterswishingtolookforthetraditionalpublishedpath.Otherssubmittheirworktopublishersdirect,whetherlargepublishinghousesorsmallindiepublishers.
Itcanbealong,drawnoutprocesstogetonthatpublishingladder,soanywriterwhowantstopursuetraditionalpublishingmustbepatient,determinedandshouldgrowaverythickskin.
Pros
Traditionalpublishingoffersprestigeandacertainamountofquality.
Thereisawiderdistributionofsaleablebooksandthereforeanexpectationofmoreexposureorpublicity
Manypublishersofferanadvancetheamountvariesdependingonhowwelltheythinkyourbookwillsell.Theyeditthebook,polishitandprovidethecoverartworkforit.Theauthormaybeexpectedtoparticipateinafewmarketingdrives,muchofthemarketingisprovidedbythepublisherbecausetheyhavetheadvertisingpower.Itcouldhelpyoutobecomeawellknownauthor.
Cons
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ItsextremelyhardtobreakintoIttakesanythingbetween12monthsto18monthsfortheworktobepublished.Theyhavealotofpoweroverthewayyourbookshouldbepresented,especiallywithcoverdesign.Theymaymakesomechangestoyourwork,includingchangingthetitle.Ifyouhaveanagent,youhavetopayAgentsfees.Youmayendupwithfewerroyaltiesthanyouexpected.Manyfirsttimeauthorsmakeverylittlemoney.Publishersrarelymakemoneyonfirsttimeauthors,andsoonlyproduceshortprintrunsbecauseofthecostofmakingandprintingthebooks.
SelfPublishing
Selfpublishingcanmakeanauthorofanyone.Andthatisnotnecessarilyagoodthing.
Thisplatformallowsanyonetowritesomethingandpublishit,regardlessofexperienceorknowledge.Formanywriterswhohavestrugglesforyears,itisveryalluring,becausefinallytheyhavesomethingtangible,theycanpublishtheirworkandcallthemselvesanauthor.
Thedrawback,ofcourse,isthattheemphasisisonthewordeveryone.Andunfortunately,noteveryauthorcanactuallywritetoastandardthatwouldbeconsideredacceptableinthetraditionalsense.Thequality,atpresent,isextremelydirebecauseauthorsjusthaventtakenthetimetolearnaboutcreativewritingandallthatitentails.
Writersmusthaveadetailedknowledgeofthecrafthowtostructuresentences,howtodeliverdialogueproperly,howtousethecorrectgrammarandsyntax,howtobalancenarrativeanddescriptionwithdialogue,howtoweavesubplotsandthemes,howtomanageaplotfromstarttofinish,howtocharacterise.Andthosearejustthebasics.Mostselfpublishedauthorsdont
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understandmorecomplexconceptssuchasforeshadowing,symbolism,metaphor,layering,flashback,correctexposition,tensesandPOV.
Mostimportantlytheyhaventlearnedhowtoevenedittheirownbooktoapublishablestandard.Anyselfrespectingauthorwhoissupposedtobegoodatwritingshouldbecapableofthis.
Thisiswhyover80%ofselfpublishedbooksarewrittensobadlybypeoplewhodontknowhowtowriteanddontunderstandthebasics.
Pros
Selfpublishingmeansthatanyonecandoit.Becauseitisdigital,therearenocostsinvolvedintheactualpublishingofanebook.Authorshavecompletecontrolofthecreativeprocess.Authorscontrolwhatpricetocharge.Authorscandecidewhatcoverarttheywouldlike.Publicationisalmostinstant.Itmakesiteasyforauthorstogobackandapplychangestotheirbooks.Itofferslargerroyaltyrates(butonlyifthebookssellinthefirstplace).
Cons
Becauseanyonecanselfpublish,thepotentialtofloodthemarketwithpoorlywrittenrubbishincreasesandtherebydamagesthereputationofpublishingingeneral.
Thenumbersofselfpublishedauthorsisincreasingdaily,meaningtheselfpublishingmarketisalreadysaturated.
Anyartworkorprofessionaleditingcomesatacost,providedbycoverartistsandeditors.
Notalleditorsareexperiencedinediting,and
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becausetheywantyourmoney,theywillnotnecessarilytellyouthatyourbookisrubbish.
Fewauthorsmakealivingfromit.Thereturnsareminimal.
Authorshavetodoalltheirownmarketingandpublicity.Itrequiresaconstantpushandtakesupalotofanauthorstime.
Itsextremelyhardtogetbooksintobookstores,andevenifyoudid,dontexpectwonderfulsales.
Aswithmostthingsinlife,thereareprosandcons.Whetheranauthorwantstogodowntheselfpublishingrouteorthetraditionalroute,eachoneshouldbejudgedonitsownmerits,butitisworthrememberingthatA)peopledonotturnintowritersovernightandB)noteveryonecanwrite.
Ifyouaredeterminedtoselfpublish,thenmakesurethatyouhavewrittensomethingofsubstantialquality,thatyouunderstandthefundamentalbasicsofcreativewriting,youvespentafewyearsatthecraftandhaveabasicgraspofthecomplexitiesinvolvedincreatinganovel.
Ifyoudont,youllbeoneofthecountlessauthorschurningoutunreadablegarbage.
Ifyouwanttogofortraditionalpublishing,thenmakesureyouvewrittenthebest,welledited,polishedpieceoffictionpossible,otherwiseyoumayfindthegoingverylongandarduous.
Nextweek:Whatmakesabadwriter?POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, AUGUST09, 20143COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST
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Subplots
Ivetouchedonthesubjectofplotsinthepast,butlotsofpeoplehaveemailedaskingtoknowmoreaboutthem,sohereseverythingyouneedtoknowaboutthem:
Whatarethey?
Thefirstthingtoknowisthattheyrenottheenemy.Thesubplotisasecondaryplot(thinkofitasaminiplot)tothemainstory,anadditionalstorystrandthatalsorunsparalleltothemainstory,orisinterwovenwiththenarrative.
Subplotsmustalwaysconnectandrelatetothemainstory.Theyplayasupportingroletothemainstory.Itsnousehavingasubplotaboutcharactersthatonlybrieflyappearinyournovel,becausetheywonthavebeeninthenovellongenoughforthereadertocareaboutthem.Thesameistrueifyouhaveasubplotaboutsomethingthathasabsolutelynothingwhatevertodowiththestory.Itwontmakesensetothereader,anditwontmakesensetothestoryasawhole.
Whydotheyhappen?
Subplotshappenbecauseofthemainstory,notbecauseitmightbeagoodideatoaddinsomethingthatistotallyunrelated,oryouneedtofillthestorywithextraunwantedpadding.Theyshouldariselogicallyandorganicallyfromthemainstory,sotrynottoforcethemotherwiseyoullendupwithsomethingthatiscontrived.
Sometimestheyemergenaturallyduringwriting,whichcouldbeanythingfromthesituationsthecharactersgetinto,thebackstory,thecharacters,aflashbackoreventhetheme(s).
Sometimesweknowbeforewestartthenovelthattheremaybeoneortwosubplots,wemayhavesomeideaswhattheyare.
Whatstheirpurpose?
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Subplotshavemanyfunctions.Primarilytheyaretheretomaintainthereadersinterestandtoalsomovethestoryforwardbyrevealingeithernewcharactersornewinformationwhichispertinenttothestory.
Theymaybeusedtoaddadditionalobstaclesandproblemsforthemaincharacterthesubplotsgenerallyinvolvesextrastufftheprotagonisthastoseetoandyetstillbeabletoreachhisorhergoalbytheendofthenovel.
Theyalsohelpwithcharacterisation,allowingthereadertoseethemaincharacterinadifferentway,withrelationshipsandsituationsetc.
Anotherthingtoconsiderwithsubplotsisthattheylayerandhelpbringnumerouselementstogether,collectivelywovenintothefabricofthemainstory.Theyenrichanovelwithcontextandcomplexity.
Doingthiswillmeanthatthereaderwillthenbecamepartofthedeepeningstorythroughbecausetheyareprivytonewparallelstorylines,whereasyourmaincharactermaynot.Thiscanaddsuspenseandtension.
Anotherreasonwritersusesubplotsistoallowthereaderabreakfromthemainthrustofthestory,sotheycanbreatheandreflectonwhatshappenedsofarbeforereturningbacktothemainthread.
DoIhavetohaveone?
No,youdonthaveto.Therearenorulesthatsayyouneedone,butitjusthelpsthestoryoverallifyoudohaveoneortwo.Theydoenrichthestory.
HowmanycanIhave?
Somestorieshavejustonesubplotothershavetwoorthree.Cleverandcomplexnovelsmayhaveuptofivesubplots.Again,therearenorules,justcommonsense.
Writersmustrealisethatthemoresubplotstheyincorporate,however,themorecomplexthewholestorygetsandthemoreheadachesitwillcausetryingtokeepthemfromwildlyunravellingintoabigmess.
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Onetothreesubplotsismorethanadequate.
WhatSubplotsshouldneverdo
Theyshouldneverbeforced,neverthrowsomethingintothestorybecauseyouthinkthestoryneedsit.TheyshouldneveroverwhelmortakeoverfromthemainstoryTheyshouldneverleadawayfromthemainplotandbecomelostinaseaofcomplexityTheyshouldneverincludestuffthathasnothingtodowiththemainstoryTheyshouldneverbeaboutperipheralorwalkoncharactersthatmakenoimpactonthestoryarc.Theyshouldneverbestandalonestoriestheyhavetohaveaconnectiontothemainstory.Theyshouldneverbeusedaspaddingtofillyourstoryout.Iftheydonthavepurpose,dontusethem.
Remembertoresolveallsubplots
Themostimportantthingyouneedtodowithanysubplotistoresolveitbytheendofthenovel,otherwiseyouwillleaveyourreaderwonderingwhathappenedtothequestionsthatthesubplotposedbybeingthereinthefirstplace.
Thereisnothingworsethanfollowingasubplotandnotknowingwhathappensattheend!
Makesurethatyoutieupthoselooseends.
Tosummarise:
Subplotsmustconnecttothemainstory.Subplotsmusthappenforareasonandmakesensetogetherwiththemainstory.Subplotsshouldmovethestoryforward.Theyshouldenrich,supportanddeepentheoverallstory.
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Subplotsshouldrevealinformationaboutthemainstory,thesituationorcharacters,whichreadersshouldbecomeprivy.Subplotsshouldkeepyourreaderinterested.Subplotsmustalwaysberesolved.Thereshouldideallybenomorethan23subplots
Somepeopleviewsubplotsasdifficult,othersseethemasachore,whenthey'reneitherofthesethings.Asubplotaddstotheenjoymentofthestory,thereadercanbecomeimmersedinallthedifferentthreadsyoucreate,theywillappreciatethereismoretothestorythatfirstmeetstheeye.
They'renottheenemy.Instead,usesubplotstoyouradvantage.
Nextweek:Selfpublishortraditional?POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATTUESDAY, AUGUST05, 2014
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