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| I'M SURE ONE OF THESE COULD CREATE HAVOC IN A NOVEL BASED IN SCOTLAND |
The reasons why I haven't got too far are family based and I need to put some effort into making sure I meet the deadline - not because I have to, or I'd be in detention if the homework was late ;) I just want to keep with the programme.
SIR SAYS WRITE:
- A profound and intriging statement to hook the reader
- Introduce conflict - internal or external - right at the start
- Disclose the emotions the MC is feeling but remember that individuals express their emotions differently
SIR SAYS CREATE CHARACTERS NOT STEREOTYPES:
- looks
- traits
- talents
- ambition
- secret
- weakness
- possession in their pocket
PROFOUND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
ACTIONS SHOW CHARACTER - WHEN CREATING A CHARACTER THEY CAN LOOK, SAY AND PRETEND TO BE ONE WAY BUT, BY WHAT THEY DO, YOU CAN SHOW THE TRUTH OF A CHARACTER.
We discussed the advice provided in the short story guidelines provided by Take A Break magazine:
COMMON PLOTS TO AVOID:
- the MC is revelead to be a cat, dog, fox etc
- the victim of a rip off tradesman or raging motorist turns out to be the new boss/ emergency dentist / VAT inspector
- the police officer (male or female) turns out to be a strippagram/singing messenger
- the MC discovers his/her partner has a same sex secret lover
- when the evidence point to them playing-away-from-home, the mysterious behaviour of the MC's partner turns out to be because they are organising a secret party etc
- the MC who sees ghosts is actually a ghost him/herself
- the shifty antiques dealer who thinks they have duped an elderly victim finds out she/he has been manufacturing them and making a fortune
- anything about twins
- the nervous MC worried about their first day turns out to be the teacher, worried about the wedding service turns out to be the vicar etc
- anything to do with bumping off relatives for their inheritance or related to "Wills"
I've been thinking about Scotland recently, two ideas I've been mulling over - for MG novels - are set there. The location is an essential element in the story so I've been skating around tropes and stereotypes.
SHOULD A FANTASY STORY BASED IN SCOTLAND AVOID BAGPIPES, LOCHS AND HAGGIS ON THE HILLSIDE?
Love those ten plots to avoid...I guess the "zinger" short story has been played out in almost all its forms...too bad for all us leftover Twilight Zone fans :)
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC advice for the MC. I will apply to my first novel which fortunately is not about the Vicor being aghost planning his own surprise party
ReplyDeleteThank you for your tips. I shall check out what I've been doing wrong
ReplyDeleteI don't think anything should be avoided if you can put your own unique twist on it. At first I was going to say to avoid standing stones and fairy rings, but ya know, if you've got an idea that's new and fresh, go for it!
ReplyDeleteSome great tips. =)
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer
ReplyDeleteI found the advice about the story lines that are over used very useful too.
Hi Donna
The "actions speaks louder than words" piece of advice was very telling. Good luck with your novel.
Hi Jamara
Good luck when you go seeking out ways to strengthen and tighten your novel.
Hi Tere
That is good advice - I think standing stones and faerie rings are very powerful, too. In a story that looks for boy readers first there is a lot of comedic potential in faerie rings. ;)
Hi E. Arroyo
Thank you - we went over a lot of useful ground in our Creative Writing class.