Creating Tension

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

AJ, how did you create tension in your novel? I couldn't stop reading PAST SINS. I simply HAD to find out what happened next. How can I create something similar, my stories always seem to fall flat?

That's very kind of you, Mary. Thank you. I've compiled a short list for creating tension, that is at least a starting point.

1. The goals of the main protagonists should be at odds.
2. Each of the main characters must be struggling to reach their individual aims, independent of, and at the expense of the other.
3. The route your protagonists take in achieving their aims becomes the source of action. You should make a meal of it; take full advantage.
4. The plot should have an emotive aspect. It should always be dynamic.
5. Strong feeling shouldn’t merely be related in characters; show by reactions, don't tell.
6. It’s the emotion that you invoke in your readers that counts.
7. It’s essential you understand the feelings you wish to stir in your reader before you write. You must write with that emotion in mind at all times.
8. The theme of the story should be one about which you care deeply.
9. You must be affected by your characters, be caught up with what happens to them.
10. Unless you believe in your characters and equate with their struggle, you may as well dump the whole idea. Your work won’t have the oomph that tempts people to turn pages.

Coupled with the above, a time constraint can also help in creating tension. Having to acomplish something before some consequence affects the characters is always a nail-biter. Hope this helps a little.

Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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Conflict and Theme, Eternal Bedmates

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

I've received another query, this time about the difference between theme and conflict. It seems to cause problems, yet it's basically quite simple.

Okay, so I've already touched on theme in Writing Tips - The Theme of Things. It's important to get it right though, so I thought I'd expand on it a little and list things down. We all like lists, don't we .... so much tidier.

Theme

• Theme provides the basic structure for your novel. Think of it as the skeleton upon which the body of the story will hang. Without it, the body simply won’t stand up.
• EVERY person and EVERY occasion in your plot should be linked to the theme in some way or other or it doesn't deserve to be in there.
• Theme should always have its roots in strong feelings.
• Without passion there is no story.
• You should be able to encompass the theme in a short sentence. Think along the lines of how a Chinese proverb is constructed. This will give you an idea of how to encompass theme.
• Make a little proverb from it, or use an existing proverb if you will.
• Theme is what the whole of your narrative hangs on.

Conflict

• Conflict is the foundation upon which every story is built. Use the theme to carry it along.
• Conflict can be between man and man, man and himself, or man and nature (use woman as man where appropriate - no PC here). Sometimes man’s inner turmoil with himself can be most poignant.
• There must be frequent tension in your novel, even when the conflict is not observable.
• The conflict should ALWAYS be plausible.
• The intensity of conflict should VARY throughout the story. There's nothing worse than overdoing tension. If you don't give time for readers to take breath, they'll be exhausted.

Hope this helps to sort things out.

• Next post Writer's workshop.

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Looking for a different read?


Try Past Sins a contemporary romance by Ellie Jones
or Short Moments - a collection of ten heartwarming stories

Writing Tips - Explaining It Away

"AJ .... Help! I'm doing a radio interview. The presenter has sent me a list of questions and one of them wants me to discuss my story. How do you explain what's going on in your book. I find it difficult to tell people what my story is about. How do you go on?"

This was a question raised quite recently. I'm no expert on radio interviews. I hate being the centre of attention, but talking about your book is fairly essential even to an introvert like me. I have to admit it's difficult getting the idea of a whole book over in just a few words. I always feel I'm underselling my work, but it can be done, it MUST be done. It just needs a bit of thought.

Concentrate on things that interest YOU in the book, what excites you about it.

• Discuss the opening theme and how it affects the story.
• Explain about the attitude and moods of the central characters and maybe why they're like they are.
• Say what conflicts exist between the main protagonists and perhaps what those contrasts mean in terms of the storyline.
• Tell them of any questions raised. Are the questions resolved at the end or partway through?
• Explain how many main characters are in the story, and how the characters intertwine.
• Explain whether the conflict is:- man conflicting with man; man conflicting with nature; or man conflicting with himself (read woman for man).

With a little preparation it's surprising what you can come up with.
Keep on writing.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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In the Theme of Things

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

How do you set out your store for writing?

I've seen dozens of questions along this line posed in on-line chat systems such as Yahoo's 'Answers'. Loads of new writers have strange notions that authors sit a desk, rattle a few keys and out pops a story.... But what about theme....

To see the full account please go to the post at Redgage

• Next post

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Right Write - 8 Cool Tips To Invoke Emotion
Story Brief - Balance, Proportion And Plot
20 Ways To Write A Story Better