"I Don't Think Now is the Best Time"

Alright, so I have a lot to work out with the novella I am currently plotting, and eventually my blogs will revolve around how I incorporate what I have learned with what I am struggling with. However, I simply cannot abandon the task of informing my numerous readers (indeed, if you scroll down, you will see that my ratings are just scoring up the charts) what I have read! Therefore, I understand that it is not the time or place to go astray.

That being said, it's the five basic modes of fictional discourse time.

1. Dialogue
2. Action
3. Description
4. Thought
5. Exposition

....I'd go more into this but it's really self-explanatory....basically just try to include all of these when writing something. If you're stuck, try expanding one of these modes and see where it takes you.

• How to Write a Good Scene

Basically you just make your characters as rich as you can, and I don't mean this in the literal sense...well I do, but only the ironic sense of literal. Enrich your characters by giving them depth, as was discussed in a previous post. By providing the necessary information to the audience, the plot can easily be moved forward. Focus on giving the readers "more matter, and less art." Focus on the actions, not the thoughts. Again, it all comes down to the art of writing. Skip as much as possible. Here is the key thing that I have learned: get into the scene as late as possible and get out as soon as you can. I was so surprised when I read this, for I was always one who suffered under the tedious labor of writing entrances and exits. You can only imagine my joy when I read that skipping was skillful. I tell you, these books only increase your passion. 

• The Importance of the First Fifty Pages

This is crucial. I cannot begin to state how vital it is that your beginning is captivating, for that is what the publishers read. If they cannot get through the first fifty pages, they chuck it, regardless of how impressive the rest of your novel may be. Personally, I've never written anything over fifteen pages, so this is quite daunting to me. Don't worry. There is hope. Here are tips to make your beginning what it needs to be. 

*Consider opening your story with a prologue in order to keep your readers wondering. 

*Open with a line from an engaging character then continue with that character's development.

*My personal favorite: write what happened with the characters two weeks before the readers are introduced to them. This allows you to meet them and know them very well. I know that I will do this for many of my characters. 

• The Big Bang

This is basically referring to the major scene in the story. It's important, and if your story doesn't have one, then you can be certain yours will not excel. However, the scene is insignificant if you do not have a scene to counter it, meaning that if your scene left a negative impact, then you must write a scene that has positive results. During "the big bang," let the reader know all that the character is experiencing. They have been waiting for this moment the entire story, so don't cut them short. Allow them to share the senses of feel, smell, taste, sound, etc. They should be able to absorb everything the character does. Most importantly, overwrite these scenes. Just continue to write and write, your hands burning with the passion that all writers feel when they are experiencing the true beauty of connecting to the story. Editing can come later. For now, just write.

Alright, that's all I have for now. I will be sure to share more exciting tips tomorrow! For now, thanks for reading.