Wednesday's Writer's Tips from From First Draft To Finished Novel - Karen Wiesner #MFRWauthor

Last week we looked at three ways to bring sexual tension into stories. Today we'll look at at least three more.

4.Start the tension at once. From their first meeting, no matter what the sub-genre you're dealing with. This doesn't have to be too up front but you need to show the interest.  This is called setting the stage for the future love scene whether it takes place in the open or behind closed doors, the reader needs to believe these people really want each other and have from the start. By seting the attraction up early you avoid those awkward moments. You don't make the reader think this scene was inserted for no reason at all.

Use your characters senses of sight in particular here. Other senses can also be used. The rasp of a voice, the allure of a perfume. Just show the attraction.

5. Now we come to exaggerated prose. This can destroy the mood, particularly when words are used grandly and bring not sighs of excitement from the reader but giggles. I've read these kind of things in books and I can't help grinning. I'm sure you have too. It's sometimes easy to get caught in using gaudy language to describe something that is nearly undescrible. So if you've found yourself sprinkling these sort of words into your love scenes, back up a bit and tone down the words.

Let the characters try to describe what they're feeling and maybe all they can do is stumble around thinking wow and not being able to describe.

6.  Set the scene. Now this can be easy or hard. Remember the senses. Think of touches, aromas, visions, spoken words or sighs. Use the senses to set the scene for yourself and the reader.  Let yourself as the writer enter the scene and be the characters.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Those Tricky Characters #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveAuthor

While reading From First Draft To Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner a came across some things about characters that she mentioned may make the reader or worse an editor scratch his or her head. I've had a character of many try to pull one of the tricks. Sometimes it's the same character doing this.

The main character flees when things get interesting. Is it the character or the writer who chickens out on writing that intense scene. I'm afraid in my case it's the writer. This could be part of the character's character but this isn't always the case. You need to grit your teeth and write the scene.

Head-hopping. Now I've seen this done skillfully by a few writers but bouncing from head to head can be confusing. Whose eyes are showing this scene. That's a way to look at the story and decide which character's viewpoint would strengthen the scene. Sticking to one viewpoint per scene gives the reader an eye-view of the action. Using multiple viewpoints can muddy the water.

The character's emotions aren't really theirs. If you know your character, their emotions will be what they're feeling. If they're replaced by things not in character, the reader will shake their head and want to move to a different story.

Secondary characters suddenly become more interesting than the major characters in the story. You need to slap them down and show them the major players are the interesting ones. If it gets too bad, you can promise them a story of their own. I've fallen into this trap and I know some of my friends have done the same. Work on the main characters and just let those scene stealers fade.

Allowing some magical power to solve the main character or character's problems rather than having the major players find the solution. Called the "God in the machine," something to avoid at all costs. The reader may finish the book but they won't be satisfied with the results. If there's something that might seem like this to end the story, make sure you've written enough before to show this is possible,

Choosing the wrong characters for the story or having the setting be totally wrong for the characters. You might be able to pull this off but it makes for harder work. Advice is don't put the bull in the china shop. He doesn't belong there. The same with your characters. Make sure the setting and the characters can work hand in hand.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Step 2 From First Draft to Finished Novel #MFRWauthor

 In From First Draft to Finished Novel, Karen Wiesner talks about after brainstorming comes Research. Her take on research is more extensive than my take but more on that later.

During this phase of the story the first thing is to discover the areas where you'll need to do Research before beginning. The place you've chosen, the occupations of the main characters, the era you've chosen. Anything that needs to be discovered about person, place or thing. Once you've discovered all the things you'll need to discover while writing the book, you can Collect the material you need. For me, this often means books or on-line sites marked to return to again and again. Those are written down, though I do love books to leaf through and force myself not to start reading and reading. Reading is the next step in the process Karen speaks of. This is not a good time for many writer since one interesting fact leads to another. From here you go to Using. How and where in the story you're planning to write will you use this material? You may also find doing this research ideas for other stories. That's a good plus.

For me, I begin my stories by fitting a set of characters to plot and the plot to the characters. Then I decide what I might need to know and do my research after the story is roughed on paper. There are notes throughout my first drafts that say things like. Look up. Talk to. Find what can be used. But I always know before I begin what the story features, where the story takes place.