Wednesday, November 27, 2013

slice the tension with a knife

tension

We all here about it when we're writing. If a scene is dragging on, and the reader's head has dropped to the table with drool dripping out of her mouth, then it's safe to say we have a problem.

So how can we tell if there's enough tension in our stories? We can look at the conflict. Conflict is opposition between characters or other forces that drives the plot of a story forward. Simply put, things need to be happening in our stories.

More importantly, things need to be changing.

Look at each scene in your novel. Where (physically or emotionally) is your protagonist at the beginning of the scene? Where is she at the end of the scene? If she's sad at the beginning, she needs to be happy or even sadder at the end. If she doesn't have the information she needs to find her sister at the beginning and that's what she's trying to get, she needs to figure it out or learn something significant to obtaining her goal.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

risky business...

So, a few days ago, I graduated with a Masters in Writing from Spalding University. I should be proud. Excited. Patting myself on the back. But now I'm antsy.

I spent the last two years of my life improving my writing. I've worked with fabulous mentors, attended great lectures, and met friends I hope to stay in touch with the rest of my life. I've read a lot of books and written a lot of words. I've learned so much. But now I'm stepping off the metaphorical cliff of being a student and jumping into my future as an author.

And even though that's scary enough, I decided to dive head first and quit my job as a barista that I've worked while earning my masters. Now I'm basically unemployed with student loans kicking in after a few months. I should be freaking out.

But I'm not.

I'm allowing myself a few months to give my writing dreams all I've got. Eventually, I'll rejoin the real world, get a job again, and work my writing time in when I can. For now, I'm going to enjoy the chance to dedicate myself to writing. Hopefully, I can get an agent. Maybe even a book deal. Even if those things don't happen right away, at least I will know that I took a chance.

Carpe diem, eh? :-)

Sunday, November 24, 2013

ready, set, go!

I just graduated from Spalding University with my MFA! Yay! Now it's time to get this blog up and running :)

More to come soon! Stay tuned!