It can be tricky to write a story that features multiple POVs. Not only must you create unique voices and arcs for every character to whom you give a point of view, you must also manage the sheer logistical problem of juggling all these people. And then there’s the rather scary possibility that readers may […]
February 24, 2012 by 24 Comments Chapter BreaksDon’t Tie Off Your Scenes With a Ribbon
Cliffhangers. Even cooking shows do ’em nowadays. Ever watched Chopped? Just as Ted Allen’s lifting the cloche to reveal the dish that failed the round, Food Network jumps to a commercial. And you have to watch. No way you can go through the rest of the night without knowing who made the best appetizer out […]
May 19, 2010 by 27 Comments Chapter BreaksHow Long Should a Scene Be? Depends on the Pacing
Did you know that writing shorter sentences during action scenes contributes to a sense of tension and speed? Turns out this simple little trick that can also help you figure out how long a scene should be. Controlling paragraph, sentence, and even word length is a common and easy way to affect the pacing of your […]
March 17, 2010 by 44 Comments Chapter BreaksChapter Openings: Orson Scott Card’s Occasionally-Appropriate Trick
A gimmick is a dishonest trick. As such, it’s usually not a good way to gain readers’ trust or engage them your book’s chapter openings. Except …. for when it is. Gimmicks in fiction take many forms, but most simply boil down to flashy intrusions—such as: Multiple fonts to indicate different points of view Strange […]
December 27, 2009 by 45 Comments Chapter Breaks10 Killer Chapter Breaks
Chapter breaks are do-or-die territory for novelists. You may be spinning a grand ol’ tale, full of fascinating characters, but if your chapter endings leave readers no reason to turn the page to find out what happens next, all your hard work on the other aspects of your story will be wasted. Not every chapter […]
