BUILDING A BELIEVABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS( CONT’ D)
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Does this scene move from cause to effect? If not, why not? Can I tweak the story to show the natural flow of events rather than stop after they’ ve happened to explain why they did? Does context dictate that I reverse the order to effect to cause? Rendering the story this way will force readers to ask,“ Why?” Do I want them to do so at this moment in the book? Would lack of clarity about the character’ s intention help readers engage with the story at this point? If it won’ t, how can I recast it? What will I do to ensure that each ball rolls naturally away from the one that just hit it, both in action sequences and in dialogue?
If you enjoyed this post, I highly recommend Steven James’ book Troubleshooting Your Novel.
STEVEN JAMES is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.
Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’ s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he“ sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a“ master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises,“ the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”
Steven’ s groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his story crafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America’ s premier training event for suspense writers.
WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016