Introduction

I think, to start out, I should admit to something; I’m not some kind of writing master. Wow. Shocker. I know. But that’s not all, not even close, there’s more; I’ve never been published, I’ve never finished a story I’ve started (excluding short stories), I suffer from writer’s block a lot more often than I’d like to, and I’m probably the most disorganized person you’ll ever meet. Worse, those are only a few of my faults.

Okay, you might be saying to yourself right about now, so if I’m all of those aforementioned things, what right do I think I have to spout off advice to other authors and authors to-be? The truth is, I don’t have the right. I may even have less right than you do.

The thing is, despite my faults there are some aspects of writing I think I’m pretty okay at, maybe not the best in the world (or even this site, come to think of it) but that I know enough about to help. And really, that’s my main goal here: to help. Not, as I’m terrified some of you might be thinking, to parade around like Miss Writer of the Universe, which, trust me, I’m not deluded enough to really think. I wouldn’t mind a tiara though... ;)

That’s all I really wanted to say before starting. It truly is my hope that someone might get something out of this.

Thank you to all who read, or even glimpse over, this. Comments are appreciated!

Sincerely,
Cat

P.S. The reason I wrote an introduction is because I'm planning to write a column each month. Right now it depends on whether people throw things at me or not ;)


Pacing Stories

One of the things that really jumped out at me while I was going over my old fictions, was the way I seemed to just rush everything, jumping from one plot point to the next without really taking the time to make it all flow. For example, in one chapter I’d have my main character, a young girl, being abused and in the next her best friend would die, but I wouldn’t stop there, I had her missing-in-action biological father reappear by the third chapter.

As a reader, I like to be kept entertained, but I find it really frustrating when authors bring up issues and conflicts but don’t address them, or if they do address them they don’t do it in a believable way that makes the reader go ‘Yeah. That makes sense’. In this case I think you could be a really great writer with perfect sentence structure, grammar, characters and all of that, but if you’re going to have your main character, say, get an abortion it’s important not to abandon the concept after the girl (or boy... if your writing sci-fi or fantasy perhaps) exits the clinic.

So, in this line of thought, I’ve come up with a list of things an author could think about while having their character(s) address an issue/conflict (Please don’t restrict yourself to this list, and if you think of things I’ve missed or that help you don’t hesitate to mention them!);


- Emotions (what’s the character feeling at this point in the storyline? How will it effect his/her emotions for the rest of the story? Do they vent their emotions? In what way?... and continue in this line of thought until you’re satisfied)

- Reaction (Will they get over it? How so? Do they reach out to people? In what way? Do they seek revenge? Do they become depressed?)

- Effects (what’s the result of the issue/conflict? How does it effect the lives of the characters or their personality? Who/what is most effected by it? How? And Why?... although the why might speak for itself, this is a case where it’s important to use your best judgement...)

- Resolution (How is the conflict/issue resolved? Or if it isn’t, how is it left unresolved? And why?)

I’m going to leave it there, because I’ve made a nice pattern and now I can say: ‘When a conflict or issue presents itself in a story remember the E.R.E.R. or the ‘E’s and the ‘R’s!!’ Except I’ll never actually say that.

Description is really key in keeping a story flowing, I find. Some authors are gifted with really poetic descriptions that are so amazing readers can’t help but be captivated. But if you, like me, are not gifted with poetic-ness readers can still enjoy descriptions without metaphors and similes and all that other poetic-y goodness. Try to get in the details you want to, to get the story flowing, without adding so many it turns into a giant list, which is what I found a lot of my descriptions turned into. Unfortunately, in fiction, lists are kind of boring. (If you find this description of description unsatisfactory it’s because I’m trying not to give too much away since I’m considering it as a future subject to write about).

It might be a good idea to make sure you are addressing a major conflict/issue in your story before introducing another. Adding other minor issues or conflicts is kind of unavoidable, but if you use all your good dilemmas in the beginning of your story, it’s likely you’re going to run out of steam before you reach the climactic end. Plus, I think it’s fun to play around with a conflict until it reaches it’s full potential.

The reason some writer’s, I think, put in conflicts at such a fast rate is because they have so many great ideas and they’re afraid they’ll forget them if they don’t put them down in their writing straight away. That’s when it’d probably be a good idea to carry around a notebook, so you can jot your ideas down and then you won’t be as worried about forgetting them (as a writer, this might just be a good idea in general. I know I absolutely hate it when I think of something and then totally forget it). Also, you can outline your chapters, which is a technique some authors enjoy and find helpful.

(Okay. I’m sorry. Here comes the major ‘But.’)

But while rushing a story is unfavorable it’s also a good idea not to drag a conflict on forever. If your bored with writing it, chances are people are probably bored with reading it (but not always). And if your character has been heartbroken for the past ten chapters, it might be a good idea to change it up slightly. Although this definitely all depends on the story. And on the writer. Some writer’s might be able to drag on an issue for a thousand pages and still keep their readers begging for more. It’s really up to you to decide if you are (or if you want to be) that writer or not.

To end off, writing is supposed to be fun. So if putting characters through piles and piles of misery, one thing after another, is what you enjoy than continue! And if a soap-opera like pace is what you like to write at then go for it! You know where you want writing to take you, or you know you like where your writing leads you.

I hope this was informative!

See ya,
Cat

Thanks Cat for sharing this interesting article with us!
I found it really interesting and helpful! I am sure our Members will agree with me on that.

I'm looking forward to reading your next column, then!

:love:

Indeed, thanks for sharing!!

I found it really interesting and I think you have said some very valuable and helpful things. I am surely not going to throw something at you and I am not under the impression at all that you think yourself to be miss writer-know-it-all.
Heck I wrote some colums myself and the world knows I am not the worlds best or most gifted writer either.

I think that it is just great that you share something that other people might find helpfull. I know that I broke some of the rules you stated here with my fic chosen and it is very good to be aware of that. Helps prevent it happening again.

Looking forward to your next column!
:hug:

Excellent article Cat!

Like Dana, I am not going to throw anything at you. I think it is wonderful that you are writing these articles.

I found this article to be very informative and enjoyable to read. It has some good points in it that I will definitely keep in handy for my own stories.