Creating A Successful Book

Tell Me A Story


What makes a successful book? If publishers knew the answer to that, they would turn out a never-ending string of best-sellers. They don't of course, so there is no real answer, but we do know some of the things that should be in place.

• The plot must have structure and proportion. The story must be in equilibrium. Stories that are in balance are beautiful, when they aren’t, they start to feel ugly.
• A story should never turn into a diatribe of desolation and emotional distress. Readers soon get tired of things like that, they become worn out.
• Readers should associate with characters. You make this connection possible by ensuring events COULD happen in that type of situation.
• The pace of the story should vary. Some scenes should be calmer than others.
• After a chapter containing an important incident, give readers chance to recuperate by writing a more leisurely scene.... Not a dull scene of course, but one with fewer disparities, fewer ups and downs.
• Make your plot congruent with life but LARGER than life.

Give your readers interesting and believable variation and if you're lucky, they’ll give you time.

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550 Other words for said

Can you hack it with words.

Writing a story - looking for other words for said, confused about what you should do about said? Take a look at my Bukisa article if you want that special word.


550 Alternative words for said

• Next post on - Tell Me a Story.

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End of post - 550 other words for said

Review - The Handmaid and the Carpenter, Elizabeth Berg

A new view on Nativity

The best selling author, Elizabeth Berg, uses her emotional words to lure us into the lives of Mary and Joseph. Berg overhauls the customary Nativity story by examining a very human couple, struggling with their faith in each other, and in God.





When all is said and done, how many people would believe their wife if faced with the same shocking news.



Jumbled sentiments
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Berg's work creates an awareness of a far off place and time, yet keeps the couple's jumbled sentiments bang up to date.

This is a tale of devotion in many ways. It’s not easy for Joseph and Mary to come to terms with her pregnancy with only her own faith and a few confused dreams as guidance. Joseph fights with his religious values, as well as his trust in Mary's word, yet stay close to her.

Berg's story is a confidential vision of love, and utterly human flaws and challenges readers to think.





A story worth reading.
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• Next post on Tell Me a Story -The accidental author

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing

End of post - The Handmaid and the Carpenter, Elizabeth Berg

To write, or not to write. That is the question.

Tell Me A Story

Incestuous relationships

Hi AJ, I’m looking for a bit of advice. I want to write a book. I know incestuous relationships are wrong, but will it be acceptable to write a story about it? I love creative writing. I want to write about a girl being in love with someone in the close family, but would the issue be too contentious - too emotive? I have an idea and wonder whether to continue and write it through, or should I just drop the whole thing before I get too far.
No such thing as normal

Hello André, glad you stopped by. Of course it'll be okay. It sounds as if it might be a good story line …. and there’s no such thing as 'normal'.
What I will say though, is that with this sort of issue make sure your creative writing is poignant. Be really emotive, wrench a few heartstrings and you'll be just fine. Go for it.
What you mustn't do is include the incestuous relationships just for the sake of shock. As long as it's sensitive then there's no problem. Make it natural, bring in the 'ah' factor, and your story could just be a winner.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story - A Wasted Day.

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End of post - To write, or not to write. That is the question.
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Book Review, Azincourt.

Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell.

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In his latest book, Cornwell focuses interest on Henry V's almost unbelievable triumph over the French.

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It must have been quite a quandary for him, deciding how to turn such a well-known story into something new and exhilarating.

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Thankfully, Cornwell is a master of words.

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The novel concentrates on individuals instead of the history-book version we’ve probably had stuffed down our throats. This creates impact and believability.

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Ordinary medieval men and women

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The tale follows Nick Hook, an English longbow man, and successfully places the victory at Agincourt into social perspective. We take a peep behind the lives of ordinary medieval men and women, at their faith, and the battle between the heretical Lollard beliefs and the Church.

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Corwell weaves all of these convincingly into the fabric of the story. Taking his past performance into account, it will come as no surprise that the battle scenes are strongly and persuasively portrayed.

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All in all this is a masterpiece well worth the read.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story - Holiday.
• My other blog - Bedlam

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End of - Book Review, Azincourt.