tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post7068623100827569776..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Amping Up Your StoryChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-2143903076885289702014-05-23T22:23:34.944-04:002014-05-23T22:23:34.944-04:00When I ask myself these questions, first I ask mys...When I ask myself these questions, first I ask myself how I feel about any scene or character in an objective, organic way. I can't figure out what other people might think--I just have to figure out what I think.<br /><br />The next thing I do is discover what is falling flat according to me. As long as I can be honest about it, I find that scene or character and then literally meditate on what to do about making it better. I've learned to see images in my mind and interpret them like how one might interpret their dreams. It works really well for me.<br /><br />Imaginative, creative approaches to telling your story is probably the only way to bring life to it in a way no one else can. I just let my mind talk to me in the weird way it knows how to. People do all sorts of things to be open to that part of their minds that call upon creativity, so finding what works for you is key.Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-54113003886135119892014-05-23T16:58:32.319-04:002014-05-23T16:58:32.319-04:00As a pantser, I've had to revives probably mor...As a pantser, I've had to revives probably more than I would've if I'd just plotted things out to begin with. In fact, my story changed so many times, it sent me into a panic attack. <br /><br />But I just keep asking "why?" Why would he do that? Why limit it to just this event? Why make it that easy? <br /><br />Great post with a lot to think about. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-72704172791434982142014-05-22T23:35:19.910-04:002014-05-22T23:35:19.910-04:00No tricks. Usually, my crit partners and beta read...No tricks. Usually, my crit partners and beta readers help me amp down my wild imagination and amp up the tension. But right now, I'm concentrating on html. I'd like to amp up my brainpower for that. What was I thinking, trying to remodel our house and my Wordpress blog at once? I was thinking one would take my mind off the other. Reading your chapter will probably work better, and I can help you amp up whatever needs it while I'm at it. But I have to lay out some tile first and move belongings from room to room again. Sigh.Sher A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067955594103356768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-2903752852385562472014-05-21T17:23:07.289-04:002014-05-21T17:23:07.289-04:00I like to examine character motivations in fine de...I like to examine character motivations in fine detail. I think most problems boil down to the characters themselves, and if their motives can be tweaked or strengthened, the entire book will benefit from it. <br /><br />I love Mary's approach though. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-28613179349479098672014-05-21T16:56:09.635-04:002014-05-21T16:56:09.635-04:00At the end of every roughed out chapter I ask: how...At the end of every roughed out chapter I ask: how can I make this more exciting. Sometimes it presents itself while writing the rough. Sometimes I have to think on it. Workouts and showers seem to help. Someone I have to talk to someone to work it out.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-10164853616690493782014-05-21T16:30:16.257-04:002014-05-21T16:30:16.257-04:00Yep. Excellent points here. I went to a writing wo...Yep. Excellent points here. I went to a writing workshop recently about imagination in fiction - and about how the failure in many books is a failure of imagination. That sounds exactly like what you're talking about here. I don't always have a good solution, but with many scenes, I try to ask myself: is this told as urgently as it can be? Is there way to raise the stakes, or escalate the danger/risk/fear/etc? What could I add to this that would be unexpected?Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-8571989073967023172014-05-21T15:22:55.899-04:002014-05-21T15:22:55.899-04:00It's not easy. I just apply the rules to the d...It's not easy. I just apply the rules to the details, and hope it improves the big picture. Final read-through is the test (and CPs and betas, of course). It either feels right or it doesn't. If not, I try to pinpoint the cause and come up with a fix.<br /><br />Great post as usual, Ken. :)Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-14447911835902944752014-05-21T12:35:05.043-04:002014-05-21T12:35:05.043-04:00I'm struggling with that right now - still try...I'm struggling with that right now - still trying to flesh out the full story around my original idea. As for amping it up, I'm going to go back and add some subtle subplots. If that doesn't work, I'll toss in the kitchen sink and see what happens.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com