Let’s focus on strong writing. What does this mean? In the big picture, strong writing moves the story forward, creating more and more tension and rising action. No doubt you’ve heard these expressions, but do you know how to implement them?
Writing Tip for Today:
Move the story forward: Strong writing makes every word push the story closer to answering the story question. In other words, you can’t make your fiction about “one darned thing after another.” While a skillful writer makes each scene appear effortless or random, it’s all part of a calculated thrust toward the character’s goal. Trim all happenings that aren’t a part of the plot or subplot(s).
Tension: Externally, tension results from being at cross-purposes with other people, nature, aliens or oneself. Internal tension might be shown by a character who is conflicted (wants something but doesn’t want it) but the external and internal should be balanced. Too much internal tension traps the reader in a character’s mind. Too much external tension can create a shallowness.
Rising Action: Your tension-o-meter should not yo-yo. If you put the most tension (or exciting) scenes at the beginning, every scene after them will be anti-climactic. Let your tension start low and build up like a pressure cooker.
Next up: Strong Writing Makes Every Word Count
This Sunday, June 20th, I’ll be chatting at The Writer’s Chatroom http://writerschatroom.com/ at 7PM EST. Come join the discussion and ask me questions.
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Also I invite you to check out a guest post I did for the blog Daily Signs of Hope
http://dailysignsofhope.com/ called “Uncle Julio and the Tongues of Fire.” Warning: Christian content. Thanks to all my readers for your support.