Tip 3

OK, this is where it gets hard. You’ve captured their attention, and the mood is right. Your Characters are slamming it, and now you have to start putting it all together; putting it together like a 1000 to 5000 word mini story. How do you put three to four or more paragraphs together from a 120,000 word novel? Sit it aside and go fishing? Yes, that’s what I’m talking about. NOT… you put forth your best effort and get-er’-dun. First of all, don’t get caught up in a lot of words. Keep it as tight as you can. My example:

Wordy

Bryan walked to the barn upset thinking about what he had just saw on the kitchen floor, so he went back into the house to talk to June about his grandmother’s silver platter being used to feed the dog.

Tight

Bryan was upset and confronts June about using his grandmother’s silver platter as a dogs bowl.

Remember, create a scene that will set the mood (Action, Adventure, Romance, etc…). And then, introduce your main Characters (Typically two) using motivation, conflict, and a great ending (resolution). You may want to write your first paragraph introducing the first major character of your book. This should flow to the scene, and then the second character, and on to the resolution. I hope this isn’t sounding like Blah, blah, blah to you. I suggest you look at the first and last chapter of your book, and take notes of the characters reasonings for their actions. My example above may help. What is the reason for Bryan confronting June, (Motivation)? Why did June use his grandmother’s silver platter to feed the dog, (Her motivation, and hidden conflict)? What did Bryan do to set things in motion, (Conflict)? What will happen in the end, (Resolution)? It’s not as easy as writing a book, but it’s only as hard as we make it. Practice a couple of times and see how it turns out. Let’s bring it all together; you may be surprised at how well you do.

Until next time

J. Lew