As evidenced by yesterday’s post, withholding information from your reader can have unintended consequences. By not being specific about the situation, I upset some folks who care a lot about me. Fact is, my husband and I have decided to downsize in the near future. We’ll try to move to an affordable place in the Eugene-Springfield area. It’s hard, getting my mind around it, though. I’ve lived here for 22 years. The accumulated stuff in the garage is enough to give me pause. I love my neighbors, my garden, my little summer Writer’s BBQs. Ah, well.
Don’t worry: I am going to see it as an opportunity to experience what God has for us next rather than say we are doomed. We may be doomed , but why not enjoy it?
Writing Tip for Today: The concept is called the Rate of Revelation. As a writer you must control when you give your reader information and when you withhold it. If you tell too soon, tension sags and readers won’t stick with you. But if you withhold too long, too much, you upset your reader. Readers are willing to wait for revelations, but making them wait too long is a bad idea. Look over your work and note the places you withhold and the places where you disclose important information. Are you positive these points are in the correct places? If not, a storyboard or outline can help you note the natural withholding or disclosing spots in the story.