These are from the writer’s conference of life the universe and everything. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.
- Each story is being told from a point of view. It lets us get in someone’s mind.
- Maid and butler dialog, example: “As you know Bob.” Make it feel the dialog is just for informing. Can be done shorter with internal dialog.
- Show don’t tell: don’t tell happily married.
- Voice: Going postal. Terry Pratchett has a great voice.
- Pacing: make the reader wait to know about info. Leave a concept and leave a trail of details that will be a hook to drive people forward.
- Sneak things into the story. Shooting a dragon with a Winchester > hints of 1800
- Multitasking: Each paragraph should do more than one thing.
- Interweaving: long paragraphs are hard to digest. Unless it is a reward paragraph that gives answers to a previously hook. Intersperse essential world build along with the story.
- Some authors will start a story by writing several paragraphs on character relationships or past event. Then they start the story. Just start the story and show the relationships and hint of the past.
- Have enough info so a reader can understand the scene at the moment.
- Sometimes when critiques groups read a chapter a week or month may feel impatient that answers are not coming quick enough. That is why it important to have some beta readers read the story chapters close together to ensure there is not a pacing problem.
- If three readers make the same comment, listen to that suggestion.
Do you have something to add? If you do, please respond in the comment section of this blog. Thanks.
