Author: christine colorado

I enjoy writing cozy mysteries and historical fiction romance. A member in good standing of the Hamilton Mountain Writer's Guild, I find inspiration for my stories when traveling. Whether dog-sledding in Algonquin Park or Fly fishing in Scotland my adventures can lead a reader anywhere.

Plotting and Basic Writing Rules

Published on by christine colorado4 Comments
Open note book, pens and clip board
Photo by Natasha Fernandez on Pexels.com

CONFLICT IS THE KEY TO HOLDING A READER’S ATTENTION, without it there is no story.

  • Never make it easy, there must be a risk factor, something important at stake in order to create tension.
  • Conflict must escalate, don’t let up on the main character. There must be complications that grow progressively worse until the climax and resolution.
  • Hit the ground running and don’t look back. Your opening should give the reader a feel for the type of story it will be and introduce a conflict. It will likely change as the story progresses but the change will be logical, a result of the actions of the characters.
  • A ticking clock never hurts. Give the main character time pressure and the stakes will automatically rise, creating tension.
  • Don’t ever pull back. Put your characters to the test. Let the best and the worst come out of them, but always make sure the motivations are clear.
  • Motivations must be in keeping with the characters. Make them clear up front and consistent.

SOME WRITING RULES TO FOLLOW

DO NOT WAIT UPON THE MUSE

GET RID OF PERFECTIONIST BLOCK

DON`T FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR WORDS

COME TO CLASS

READ YOUR WORK OUT LOUD

ATTEND READINGS OR BOOK SIGNINGS

WRITE, WRITE, WRITE !!!

(This post was originally published on our old web platform.)

— Christine

I hope you found this post helpful. Have tips or ideas you’d like to share, please leave a comment. Or if you want to pass on the love, share this post. Thank you.

Plotting

Published on by christine colorado3 Comments

THE KEY TO PLOTTING IS CHANGE…

In the course of a page or a scene, characters do things, learn things and have things done to them.

While interesting in themselves, they also:

  1. Alter ( improve or worsen) the status of a character or the relationship between characters.
  2. Raise new questions about the possible developments or outcomes and foreshadow coming events.

The stream of action keeps pounding ahead.

Each scene is built around what can be called Story Points and Bold Strokes

Bold Strokes is an event, decision or discovery that changes how things were. Continue reading “Plotting” →