Suspense.
While reading—it keeps us turning the page with sweaty hands.
While writing. . . sometimes it’s just downright a pain.
If I can cause my reader to grow a few extra gray hairs from my writing, I count that a success. *I apologize ahead of time to any of my readers hoping to keep their luscious colorful locks hair.* Here are some of the basics for adding suspense I use.
Amidst the transition from finishing my manuscript to the start of the publication cycle, something shifted in me. “Writing” (that is, doing whatever was necessary to get my manuscript published) became another thing to do on an ever-increasing to-do list. I need to re-write that first scene, build a platform, research agents, and the motivation that has always pushed me through my story has dried up.
And now I know why.
Pen Friends ~ Come hear Harper Collins Debut Author, Heidi Heilig, share about her book, The Girl From Everywhere, and her road to publishing!
SP: Welcome Heidi! Can you tell us a bit of who you are and when you started writing?
My novel has been under the knife since February. The goal? 20-30k words, slashed, slaughtered, eliminated forever.
What does that feel like? A bit like this: Princess Bride: To the Pain Continue reading
Just last week I sat down for dinner with a family who has young children. The oldest started a conversation with me over dessert, asking if I knew about the large ball that is located in the middle of the world. My first response was, “Oh, the earth’s core.”
His response was a scoff, and a condescending, “No! A ball. And if you turn it, the world will crack,” which efficiently grabbed my attention.
Pen Friends~ Today’s feature is aspiring YA fantasy author Chelsea Smith to share about one of her novels.
Welcome Chelsea!
Writing is hard.
Exhilarating, rewarding, life giving? Absolutely! Sometimes though, it’s just straight up a pain. What is it that separates published authors from the hundreds of thousands of wannabes? I think a little illustration might help.
Recently, I was put through intensive spine shaping therapy due to a back injury. What does that mean? Everyone, including myself, was most curious to know.
When I was handed back my chapter with two comments and a large smiley face on it, I realized that giving meaningful feedback on writing is a skill.
Pen Friends~ Today’s feature is aspiring author Caleb Robinson to share about his first book.
My name is Caleb Robinson, and I sometimes call myself a writer. I say this because I am a high school student in southern United States where sports are the religion. Writing isn’t exactly something that makes you a whole lot of friends, so for the first three years of high school, I kept my writing on the down-low. Luckily, I was able to break out of that shell and own up to my passion. Most of my friends know that I’m currently writing a novel, and you know what, they’re really encouraging about it! I am currently playing soccer and just trying to make it through my senior year in one piece. I plan to attend college (though I have no idea which one) and earn a degree in something or other (I’m clearly really good at making life decisions). The end goal is to pay my way through college by either working or playing soccer for a college team. I’m hoping that I’ll have time to write even in the craziness of college! Continue reading
There are many ways to begin a story—action, intrigue, mystery, a clever premise—but back story is often not one them.
Opening chapters are like first dates; a feeling of wonder, anticipation, adventure, impulse, curiosity. Perhaps a bit of flirting, letting your date see only what’s appealing, then, the longer you talk, the more you open up. There’s momentum.
Back story, (information pertaining to the story’s plot, character or worlds past) can take away from that momentum. Too much at the wrong time can be like pushing pause on a movie’s climax or a girl who talks to her date about another boy. A turn off.
However! Continue reading
The Spinning Pen 