Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Improve your fiction: scene building tips you mustn't miss

1. Big scenes, little scenes—and scenes you don’t need

When you’re reading, before you start editing, think about your BIG scenes: the essential scenes. A novel may have five big scenes—scenes you can’t avoid, because if you avoid them, the reader will feel cheated.

In a romance, the meeting between the hero and heroine is a big scene; in a whodunit, you may drop clues or red herrings in big scenes.

Turning point scenes are big scenes too. The climax is your biggest scene; everything in your novel needs to build toward it.

For each scene, consider:

• The rule of three—character, plot, and emotion.
• The goal of the scene. Every character in a scene has a goal. Ensure that the reader understands the viewpoint character’s goal for the scene.
• Dialogue and subtext.
• Change. At the end of the scene, your viewpoint character has changed in some way.

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Outlining fiction: look for ways to add plot twists

Aim for three major plot twists and look for ways to build towards them

You’ll need a plot twist at:

• The end of Act 1 (the end of the setup phase of your novel);
• The midpoint; and the
• “All is lost!” point at around 80% of the novel.

I like to create placeholder documents for these scenes as soon as possible after I start writing. I add an exploding bomb icon to the documents in Scrivener’s binder so that I’ll stay aware of them.

Ideally you’ll create cliffhangers along the way, but start building towards these major twists as soon as you can.

Think of these three twists as refueling depots. Your story explodes into a new direction.

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Want to make money using your writing skills? Popular questions

Think about the kind of freelance writing you’d like to do. If you’re a blogger, you might offer blogging services. Or, if you’re a self-publishing author, you might offer fiction ghostwriting services.

However, every writing business has challenges.

If you’re a freelance writer, you’re trading your hours for income, much like a job. You’ll always be limited by hours. You can’t manufacture more hours. However, as your experience grows, you can charge more for your services.

Alternatively, you can create products, such as books. Authors can sell their books forever. So, you’re no longer trading hours for dollars.

Every writing business is different. This brings us to another very popular question: how long does it take to set up a writing business?

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Self-publishing: build your catalogue, make more sales

THREE PROGRAMS, THREE STRATEGIES, IN ONE UNIQUE OFFERING

Whatever else you’re writing and selling:

• Write short fiction (and nonfiction too, if you wish.)
• BUNDLE your ebooks.
• Write mysteries, because readers love them.

Regarding mysteries, be aware that you can combine genres. Writing romance? Write a romantic mystery. Writing fantasy? Write a magical mystery. The combinations of genres are endless, limited only by what you like to read and write and your imagination.

Of course, every author is an individual, with unique challenges. Mentoring helps you to leapfrog your challenges, often within hours.

Discover Savvy Self-Publishing Strategies.

 

Questions about plotting fiction? Use this checklist

Let’s look at the plotting checklist; the essential elements of your plot, no matter the genre.

1. Your characters want what they want (and they’re determined to get it)

Everyone wants something. Some people create goals, others don’t. Whether we create goals or not, we have needs; many of these needs were established in childhood. We may not acknowledge these needs, ever—we may disregard them, then wonder why we’re unhappy.

Unlike real people however, fictional characters know what they want and you need to establish their wants/ goals on the page.

Readers respond to characters who have goals and struggle to achieve them; it develops suspense.

Establish goals for your minor characters, as well as for your major characters. Classic novels, which are read and enjoyed decade after decade, have well-established major AND minor characters who want something… This leads to conflict (see below.)

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Write from go to whoa: end procrastination for good

When I mentor new freelance writers, I remind them that everything takes longer when you’re starting out. You’re learning. Within a month or two, you’ll complete a task which previously took you an hour in ten minutes.

When you’re a new writer, you’re learning as you’re earning

I wish I were a new writer today—I envy you, because you can earn while you learn. Hop onto one of the freelance marketplaces, and start bidding. Alternatively, get your own freelance gigs by sending pitches.

Once you’ve got a gig or two, it’s time to complete them, so you can move on to the next gig.

Start with this workflow: customize it to make it your own.

Read the article, and use the workflow to end procrastination.

 

Your novel: have you created a timeline?

What happened when? Your novel’s timeline saves time

A timeline of your novel is vital for every genre. In the Mystery and Thriller genres timelines are essential.

For example, in your mystery, your sleuth will want to know where all the suspects were (and whether they have an alibi) at the moment the murder occurred.

Over the years, I’ve used apps and spreadsheets to maintain a timeline, but for me, they were overkill. A BuJo “Timeline Collection” turns out to be all I need; it might be all you need too.

You can set up your timeline as a simple list. Alternatively, you can create diagrams. Either way, a quick glance at your timeline orients you while you’re writing. (And when it’s time to revise, too.)

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Blogging for income: niches, audiences and more

To begin your journey to an income-generating blog, you need a blog topic, as well as your special slant on the topic. With luck, it will be a slant which is unique to you.

Blog topics can be divided into “niches”, that is into sub-topic areas which interest a small segment of the population. You can divide almost any topic into niches. Brainstorm ideas.

Dogs for example. That’s a big topic, with many niches: dog food; dog training; show dogs; specific breeds… For the topic of cooking, niches could include diets (Paleo, vegan, etc); barbecues; bread baking…

When you’ve chosen a niche, you need to consider your special slant on the topic. A slant is a viewpoint; a twist. It may come to you naturally (your opinions on the niche will be unique), or you may need to think about your slant.

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Want to create fictional characters who sell your books?

If you’re writing fiction, you need to observe everything. Not only with your eyes, but with all your senses. Start training yourself to pay attention: use your journal, and write down what you see, hear, touch, taste and smell.

Here’s why: the power of your fiction is in the details.

When you use detail, via a viewpoint character, readers will believe in your character. And if you want to sell more books, you must create characters in whom readers believe.

We’ve discussed writing in series if you want to sell more books:

When you write a series… you create the series’ “world” once, then you can use it for each subsequent novel in the series.

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Fiction or nonfiction, this is your most powerful writing tool

A few months ago, we devoted a writer’s group meeting to journaling. Although many authors favored bullet journals, others used an all-purpose writing journal, and a couple of authors favored project-specific journals: when they started a book, they created a journal for it.

Your book journal: paper or digital?

For me, the big advantage of a paper notebook is that I can carry it with me everywhere. A close friend tells me that she “blogs” her book in the Notes app on her phone. Whatever works for you is best for you.

You may even decide to turn your journal into a book, as many famous authors have done.

Let’s look at some of the book journaling tips we discussed in our group.

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No sales? Boost your business (you're not failing, it's just a slump)

If your writing business is in a slump, think about what you did three months ago. You need to be aware of business cycles, but nothing impacts your business as much as your daily writing and daily marketing… And you’ll see the full effects of these activities in 90 days.

Let’s look at three powerful and practical ways to conquer a slump.

1. You’re in charge: plan, then execute your plans

Planning is always essential.

Try this: estimate where you’d like your business to be in three months. How many bookings? Clients? Sales? Create a couple of goals.

Try the WOOP process for goal setting.

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Editing your novel? Start with your scenes

Fiction writing: what’s a “scene?”

A scene is a unit of action. It takes place in real time: it’s happening NOW.

In a way, a scene is a microcosm of your fiction. A scene has rising action, a climax of some kind, and a conclusion. Important: something happens in a scene — something changes.

Scenes can be short or long.

This might be an entire scene: “He tried the door. It was locked.”

Or, a scene might be 4,000 words in length.

Most authors aim for a certain number of words in an average scene, depending on the genre they’re writing.

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Easy ways to start writing fiction (as a complete beginner)

Want to write fiction? When a friend asked me how she could get started with fiction, I was glad I’d kept some notes from a writers’ group meeting a couple of years ago. I passed the notes on to her.

Is there a specific requirement for fiction authors that’s essential? Our group agreed that it’s this: you must have the desire to write.

If you want to write fiction, it’s a good indication you CAN

A writer in our group said, “if you want to write, you can. And if you keep writing and studying, you’ll improve.”

What about “talent?” Some people are better with words and making up stories than others. However, your desire to write will help you to persist. Without persistence, talent means little.

Let’s look at some ways to get started.

 

Subplots: should you create a subplot in your current novel?

Let’s look at some tips to help you to use subplots to improve your novel.

1. Illuminate your main character with a subplot

In my current novel, a contemporary romance, my heroine’s sworn off men, because of bad experiences she’s had. A subplot: her sister’s husband has moved in with his mistress.

Since my main character’s oblivious to her own contributions to her relationship problems, her interference in her sister’s separation helps her to understand herself. She thinks she knows exactly what her sister should do, but her interference turns out badly.

To create a useful subplot, tie the subplot to your main character’s arc.

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You're a writer: you hate self-promotion... But here's how to make it work

How to sell your writing if you hate it: fake it until it’s fun for you

Here’s what helped me. I pretended that I loved writing copy for my own material.

In short, I faked it. Then finally, I began to enjoy it.

Let’s look at some tips to help you to sell your writing.

1. Get attention, without clickbait: give people a reason to read your ad

Have you heard of AIDA, the copywriter’s favorite acronym? It stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action.

If you’re writing online, whether you’re writing ads or not, you need to win attention.

If you’re blogging, try to avoid headlines such as: “Jane Smith’s new book is amazing” or “Book recommendation (name of book)”. Neither headline is inspiring.

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