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 By Dr. Idelia Phillips Copyright © 2004 by Dr. Idelia Phillips, Author of the Star Light Trilogy All rights reserved So, you’ve got a great idea for a novel? Great! Before you put the pen to paper, sketch out your idea and the events that occur next in the story. And next. And next. Some writers call it storyboarding. Others call it plotting. Or outlining. Whatever it’s called, it’s the thing that links bits and pieces of your story idea into a realistic series of events. Hence, the idea through planning, plotting, outlining becomes --- A STORY. Whether you plan your story in great detail or begin your story with some ambiguity and allow the story to unfold as you write, the development of the story needs some essential ingredients – a great beginning, plot, characters, motivation, conflict and setting – in order to grow into a novel. Many writers, whether a “newbie” like me or a more seasoned writer like Betty Byers, author of great murder mysteries such as, Wired for Murder, Murder Unwired, The Big Payback, and The Arcana Connection, can at least summarize their story in a sentence or two, and then can proceed to “grow” the story from the following basic ingredients: The “Hook” or Great Beginnings The “hook” is the device that draws the reader to the book. Something must happen in the first sentence – an important action, dazzling imagery, an intriguing character – something that will make the reader want to turn the pages to find out where the action is going, what the dazzling imagery represents or what’s so intriguing about the character that was introduced in that first sentence. Things Tend to Get Worse Before They Get Better! Translation: Conflict Equals Strong Plot Give your characters goals, preferable ones that clash. Infuse both internal and external conflict to into the story. For an interesting storyline, make sure the barriers to success get progressively worse before they get better. The climax, the most “intense” part of the story and the final resolution will sustain the reader until the end of the story. The “Stars” of the Show Many writers use a checklist for character development. Some of the items on many of these checklists include gender, age, ethnic identity, physical characteristics, abilities/disabilities, birthplace, family, place of birth, hobby, education, occupation, and marital status and so on. Characters aren’t real, except inside the writer’s mind. But, they must appear real to the reader. They must be unique with personality, goals, motivation, and emotions that the reader can identify with. Where Are We? Give your readers a sense of the time, place, and the ambiance of the story’s setting - a colorful, realistic and a stunning delineation of the physical environment in which the characters interact. My second novel, “Moonlight Becomes You” (in progress), will take place in the Suriname Rainforest. Although I have never traveled to the rainforest, I have gotten a sense of life there, both for humans and animals, from my research. Information about the various ethnic groups that reside in Suriname, their language, livelihood, culture, and mores add depth to the story. Additionally, the weather and other geological conditions and their affect on the characters add a sense of “reality” to the story. There are far more tips and techniques than I can possibly write about in this single article. The few I’ve mentioned is enough to get you started on the great novel of the millennium. So, gather your ideas, plot your characters fate in life and lead them to the “happily-ever-after” and enjoy yourself while you do it. Happy writing!  ;void(0)) Child Care...A Right To Choose
By: Marilyn Lewis (click to enlarge) | Return Home | The BOOK DOCTOR | The BANYON NETWORK | The Banyon Buzz Newsletters | The Aton Project Newsletters | Contact Us | |
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