Tags
I read several books over the break, some for pleasure and some for help with the craft of writing. And I gotta say, that I found Writing the Breakout Novel very helpful. It provides tips for characters, setting, pacing and plots including subplots. However, and this is a big one, don’t read this book until you are done with your first draft and are struggling with editing. I know that sounds unconventional, but this book is supposed to help your book become a “breakout” novel, meaning it takes it to the next level. It teaches you how to make it shine and best of all keep the reader reading. Isn’t that what we really want? To keep them reading until they absolutely have to put it down?
It’s what I want. There are only a handful of books that have kept me so enthralled with the story and characters that I literally read until I can no longer ignore life, or the children, or the husband and then I’m annoyed that I had to put it down. (Lucky for me, I’m a speed reader and can finish most three hundred page books by the end of the day with a few interruptions.) That’s what I want my readers to feel when they read my words, that longing to stay with the characters until the very last word and then wish that the story continued so they could spend more time with them. If that’s what you desire too, then I recommend reading this book.
What do you want your readers to feel when they read your story?
this is a big question for every writer. For me, it is a sense of connection. The idea that you are right there with them, almost to the point that you feel they can hear your thoughts about the situation.
I think that is why I chose to write my novel in first person present tense. I enjoyed the “Hunger Games” trilogy so much, and I felt a lot of it had to do with the way it was told. I didn’t realize just how hard it was to write in that format, until it was too late to change it. Though now, I find it easy.
If editing drives me to despair, I may check this book out. For those in the process of writing I suggest: “Beginnings, Middles, and Ends” by Nancy Kress.
I’m writing my novel in first person, past tense, but this was after I finished half of it in third person…ugh. Occasionally, I still find the wrong tense. I can’t imagine writing in the present tense. That’s awesome that you continued with it.
I adored the Hunger Games, except for me, the last book didn’t deliver the emotional magic of her other books, until the very end.
Well, present tense isn’t easy. And I don’t really recommend, as it makes many things needlessly complicated.
I too was left a bit deflated by the final Hunger Games book. While I appreciated the unique challenges, I was a bit bored by all the build up. I also found the way that Gale was dispatched as a potential love interest to be both heartbreaking and convenient.
Still, what a series it is! I cannot wait for the movie, even though I have a lot of reservations about it.
I’ve seen the preview twice now and both times, I get excited. I too was bored by the build up and Katniss’ depression/in-action. I just felt that the author tried to make it more of a theme about war, than a story.
Several other writer’s I know have also said that present tense is extremely hard. At this point, I don’t plan on ever writing a novel with it. Knock on wood.