H - Hook

This post will be about hooking the reader. :) I have asked several friends of mine to write for this post, so here are their thoughts on the matter of hooking the reader. (Thanks girls for doing this!)

Writers, make sure to leave a comment sharing your thoughts on the matter. :)

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By Stephanie

H is for Hook.
No, not this kind of Hook. :)

So what is a hook?
And how does one “hook” the reader?

Well, according to the dictionary, hooked is:
Hooked |ho͝okt| 
adjective
1 having a hook or hooks: a hooked gold earring.
2 captivated; absorbed: he was hooked on a video game.
3 (of a rug or mat) made by pulling yarn through canvas with a hook.

And to hook a reader, it’s quite simple, really. The first part is explained by the above definition... you captivate the reader. You make the reader be intrigued and want to read your book. The next part would be how to do captivate/hook the reader. And it all depends on the opening/first chapter of your book.

What would be the best way to captivate a reader at the beginning of a book? Well, DON’T start it out like this (and yes, I’ve done this before when I was a kid):

“The Smith family has 5 kids, and Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad’s name is John and Jane. The kids are Sarah, who is 12, James, who is 10, Mary, who is 8, Tim, who is 6, and Beth, who is 4. They have two dogs, Spot and Buddy. Buddy is all golden color and loves to chase a ball. Spot is old and lazy.”

Kind of uncaptivating, right? Let these kind of details come out naturally in the story. It would be okay to do a sentence like “As soon as twelve-year-old Sarah came downstairs that terrifying morning, she knew something was wrong” in the first paragraph, instead.

 You want the reader to want to know what is going to happen, wonder how this will affect the character, and to feel suspense. Just think, “what kind of opening would get me hooked on this story?”

Cheers,
Stephanie

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by Natalie Noel

I'm the type of person who doesn't like to read unless it's a really good book. As a high school student, writer, and part-time athlete, I just don't want to waste time on a book that is both dull and nonprofitable. So what causes me to pick up a book? What causes me to continue reading it? 
When walking through the library, the number one thing I am drawn to is the title. Once I find a title that looks intriguing, the back cover blurb is the final deciding factor. For me, I will take the book home if it seems to have a strong Christian message, a cute love story, and/or topics that are problems in the current world (abuse, suicide, etc.). 
It takes me a long time to decide which book to read, when I'm ready to start a new book. Often, I decide this by the first sentence. If the book doesn't have something interesting happen before the end of the second chapter, I most likely will put it down--unless the book was recommended by someone; then I'll read more of it.

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by Adriana Gabrielle

What hooks me as a reader? Hmm, thats a hard one because if a book is good, I just continue to read. If a book really doesn’t hook me, I just put it down without any regrets… So I guess I’ll say that what hooks me as a reader would be The story itself.

The plot of the story is one of the things to hook me first. I guess thats not too specific, huh? Maybe it is, I don’t know.

But the plot and how the story starts and where….all that stuff…hooks me instantly if it’s good. You can have great characters and setting and everything but I will usually put down a book if the plot isn’t very good.

So, yeah, as a reader, the plot hooks me the most.

G - Genre

Hey Writers! Today we have Jonny talking about genres! Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a comment! :)

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G - Genre
by Jonathan

First thing's first. What is a Genre? Merriam Webster's dictionary defines Genre as:

a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content.

Of course, we're talking about literary genres, since we're writers.

Now, there's a lot of complicated stuff out there about genres, subgenres, and subsubgenres... Technically, there are about five or so literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc... But, since this blog series has been mainly about fiction writing, we're going to be talking specifically about the subgenres within fiction, such as fantasy, sci-fi, romance, etc.

So even though the post is about Genre, keep in mind that we're technically talking about subgenres within the realm of fiction writing. Now that we've gotten the technicalities out of the way, let's get on to the fun stuff.  

Choosing a Genre
Now there are a few ways you could go about this. One would be to write that story that's been hiding inside of you, and when you're done, see which genre it fits into.  Another would be to choose your genre beforehand, and come up with something cool to write in that genre.

The first one sounds a lot better, but in my personal experience, both can work great. Sometimes you'll know right away what genre you're writing in, and sometimes it's not until the very end after you've done some research that you know what genre your story falls into.

Sometimes it's better to choose beforehand, otherwise you could end up writing all over the place, spanning multiple genres (I did this!).  By choosing a genre first, you know exactly where you're going to be going and what you're going to be doing.  Sometimes it's good to set boundaries for yourself.

But on the other hand, sometimes it's better to just write away and pick a genre later. This allows you to have more freedom in your writing, because you're not tied to down in one genre and restricted to certain types of content.  It's just up to your personal preference, whether you choose your genre before or after. In my personal experience, both work very well.

So, why do you need to choose a genre?  There are several reasons.  

Finding a genre for your writing is important for publishing, selling, and distributing your work. Where will librarians and bookstore owners put your novel if they don't even know what genre it's in? Will it go with mysteries, or with science fiction? These people need to know this stuff. And let's just say that if you don't know what genre your book fits into, you either have a really interesting book, or publishers aren't likely to take you seriously.

Then of course, there's your readers.  Some people only like to read in certain genres, and they won't pick up your book if it's not in the genre they like because it's not in any genre at all. If you write a fantasy story and label it as science fiction, then sci-fi readers might not like it and fantasy readers might not read it.  This scenario may be unrealistic, but the principle still stands.
So not only is it important that you find a genre for your book, it's important that you classify it in the correct genre.

But keep in mind... Genres tend to overlap one another a lot.  So, don't be worried if your story fits into several genres.  It can make your book difficult to classify, but it will definitely make your book interesting if it spans multiple genres.  There are a few hybrid genres out there such as science-fantasy (a cross between sci-fi and fantasy) which are gaining a lot of popularity, so you may want to look into those. I'm currently writing a science-fantasy, and it's really fun.

Though your book needs to fit into a specific genre, you don't have to limit all of your writing to that one genre. You can write books in as many genres as you want. I'm writing historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, and I plan on writing in other genres as well. Sometimes it can be wise to stick to writing within certain genres because that's what you're good at, but don't feel restricted to specific genres.

Common Genres
So what are some common genres? Well, there are actually so many genres out there, it's not even funny. I'm going to talk about a few of the more popular ones.

As we saw in our definition, one of the things which characterizes a genre is content, and that is typically the case with fiction writing. Fiction genres, specifically, can be divided into two types: Genres based on setting, and genres based on theme.  Let's start with genres based on setting.

Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is fiction which takes place in a historical setting (pretty straightforward, huh). Historical fiction can be difficult, because you have to do a lot of research about the time period and location in which your story will take place. If you get anything wrong, then some if not all of your readers will notice, and you'll lose credibility.  You want your story to be realistic and believable, and part of that is accurately portraying the time period and location which you're writing about.  You also need to develop your characters really well, because they're supposed to reflect the culture of the century and country in witch they live. Their food, clothing, habits, likes, dislikes, and morals will all be affected by this.

Historical fiction has got to be one of my favorite genres, and I'm a big fan of historian and fiction writer G.A. Henty (you should have heard of him).

Henty wrote 122 works of historical fiction all told, and the majority of them involve a young man experiencing many adventures when he is thrown into the midst of some great historical event; from the building of the pyramids, to the battle of Agincourt, to the Boxer rebellion.

Fantasy
Not to be confused with science-fiction (even though it is all the time), Fantasy stories usually take place in imaginary worlds with imaginary creatures and usually employ a lot of supernatural forces or magic in the plot.  A such, a lot of Christians don't like the fantasy theme, because of the magic.

Easily some of the best-known fantasy books of all time, are J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series (and don't forget The Hobbit!). They are classified as fantasy because they all take place in the mythical world of Middle Earth, and like Narnia, "magic" plays a vital role in the plot. Tolkien was a Christian, like us. 

Fantasy can be fun because you can basically do whatever you want, and let your imagination loose. but you need to be careful. If you make your story too unbelievable, it will turn some people off.  But you don't want to go off the other end and restrict your imagination, making for a mediocre story.

Science Fiction
Definitely my favorite genre, science fiction is special because it features scientifically conjectural societies, environments, and/or technology heavily in the plot.  Science fiction can actually be a setting genre or a theme genre, or both.  So it's kind of in between.  It can be a setting genre because science fiction books tend to take place in the future, in alternate realities, on other planets, etc. It can be a theme genre because of the heavy use of speculative technology, life-forms, or powers.

Science fiction is a lot like fantasy, but is usually a lot more believable because it usually relies on technology instead of magic to further the plot in interesting ways. But that doesn't mean supernatural powers are completely exempt from sci-fi (Jedi, anyone?).  Like fantasy though, you can pretty much do whatever you want, but again, you have to make it believable.  You may need to brush up on astronomy, physics, or chemistry (I know I had to when writing my sci-f) to help make your sci-fi more credible.

H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds is a good example of classic science fiction. It tells the tale of an invasion of the world (but specifically, of London) by aliens from Mars who use highly advanced tripod walkers armed with death-rays. The use of the speculative aliens and technology is what makes it a science fiction novel.

Moving on, here are some genres based on theme.

Romance
Not my favorite genre, but that's probably because I'm a guy. Romance novels revolve around love and relationships, and usually follow the story of two people and their feelings for one another.

Romance can be difficult to write, because most people (at least, from what I have observed) don't know much about how the opposite sex thinks when it comes to love, and they end up incorrectly portraying the opposite sex. If we apply "write what you know" to this genre, we find that you should probably have experienced a close relationship for yourself before you start writing about one.  If you don't know how the opposite gender 'ticks' when it comes to relationships, and you've never been in love yourself, then any romance you write will probably show it, much to your discredit.  I personally don't like romance, because so much of it promotes sensuality and lust.  But there are some good ones out there, for example:

Jane Austen is probably the most popular romance writer among young Christian writers, and her books are considered classics of romantic fiction.  They fall into the romance genre because they center (for the most part) around the love lives of English ladies a long time ago. Yes, I admit that Pride and Prejudice is the only Jane Austen book I've read... (I know it shows)

Mystery
Another of my favorite genres. Works in this genre almost always revolve around the solving of a mystery (duh), usually a crime case. If unraveling a secret or finding the solution to a crime is central to the plot of your novel or story, then it most likely fits into the mystery genre.

Mystery can be tough to write, because you (usually) don't want your reader to solve the mystery before your character does. So the solution shouldn't be obvious, and the main character shouldn't be an ignoramus (actually, sometimes that can be really funny).  But at the same time, you don't want you character to be unrealistically smart. As always, make it believable.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series is easily the best example of mystery fiction. The series follows the life of Doctor Watson as he "helps" detective Sherlock Holmes in solving some of the most puzzling mysteries in England.

Other theme genres include horror (where the purpose is to give the reader a good scare), Thriller (where the purpose is to give the reader a... thrill, duh), Comedy (where the purpose is to give the reader a laugh), and so on.

As you may notice, these "theme" genres can occur within any of the "setting" genres. You can have a science-fiction mystery, a historical romance, a political thriller, whatever. So you could pick two genres: setting and theme. You don't necessarily need two genres; you could have one genre that covers setting and theme or you could have many genres that cover both.

A Cool Genre that young Christian writers should look into...
Apologetics fiction!  Apologetics fiction is distinguished from other genres in that it takes arguments and evidence which supports the Christian faith and presents them through the action and adventure you expect from most fiction genres. It's a theme genre, but transcends most other genres, both theme-based and setting-based. Apologetics fiction can be a useful tool for evangelism, because not a lot of non-Christians want to pick up non-fiction Christian books.

It can be difficult to write (this is becoming a cliche...) because you need to package the apologetics arguments in a way that's not too preachy or that doesn't stop the plot. You aso need to do a lot of research, because hello, you're representing Christ here. Do a good job. You also need to do a lot of research if you're dealing with views opposed to Christianity, because you want to represent them correctly. If you write a book which deals with refuting Evolution, but you don't even know what evolution really is, you will lose tons of credibility -- not only for yourself, but for other Christians. 

 

Keith A. Robinson is a writer of apologetics fiction, and I actually go to hear him give a talk on how to write apologetics fiction. His bookLogic's End presents a story of what life would be like on a planet where evolution and survival of the fittest was played out to it's logical end, showing that the theory evolution just wouldn't work and that Creationism is a superior model. You can learn more about Apologetics fiction here: http://www.apologeticsfiction.com/

So what genres do you write in? What are your favorite genres to read? Share in the comments! :)

E - Editing/Rewriting

Hi Writers! This week's letter is E, and is written by Frindlesmith! Thanks, Fridlesmith; I appreciate you sharing with us! Everybody, be sure to leave a comment and let him know any questions or comments you have. -Cari

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E – Editing / Rewriting

by Frindlesmith

What is editing and how is it different from rewriting, which is sometimes called revision? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know. A lot of people confuse the two terms.

According to dictionary.com, to edit something means

1. to supervise or direct the preparation of (a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); serve as editor of; direct the editorial policies of.

2. to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication. [This is the definition most applicable to writers]

This is different from revision, which means

1. to amend or alter: to revise one's opinion.

2. to alter something already written or printed, in order to make corrections, improve, or update: to revise a manuscript.

In other words, revising a work is to improve it or change the content matter in some way, while editing a work is to prepare it for publication without changing the content matter. Chronologically, revision comes first.

Okay, but when should you consider editing or revising your piece, be it fiction, poetry, or otherwise? Based on our definitions, it makes sense to do both after you’re finished with your first draft. You can only manipulate something if you have a something to manipulate.

Picture this. You’ve just finished writing the last chapter of your novel for the first time. Depending on who’s in the room, you may dance and sing some. Usually you thank the Lord for bringing you through such a grueling process. But then what do you do? Do you try and get it published? Do you move on to your next work? Do you immediately begin reworking that one chapter that you kinda-sorta remember being less than great? A lot of writers make the mistake of immediately going forth and changing up everything they think is less than spectacular. Unfortunately, that leads to this.

Read any how-to-write-fiction book, and they’ll tell you (figuratively, books don’t speak) that your first move should be to lay aside the work for as long as you can. Don’t add any new words, don’t think about it, and don’t even read it. The recommended separation time-frame is a week, but if you’ve limited time, one day will work. The purpose of this step is to allow you to approach the work as objectively as you can so you won’t let your love for you work interfere with your revision process.

Now, people have written entire books on the subject of revising and editing, so I would be arrogant to assume I could sum up the process in one blog post. However, here are the steps that have worked for me in revising/editing my work. Remember that editing and revision are different for different people, so feel free to do what works best for you.

The Seven Steps to Revision

Step I: Monitor Information Amount

One of my habits when I’m writing drafts is to get all the necessary information down on the computer without paying any attention to how it reads. I’ll tell, not show; I’ll summarize (“After a grueling fistfight, George ran to the door . . .”); and I’ll leave notes to myself on where the reader might need more information. That’s perfectly fine for your first draft and might actually be helpful to get through it if you’re pressed for time. When you’re rewriting, however, the first thing you should do (after your break) is go through your piece looking for all the places that might be summarized or unclear to the reader, making each one more concrete. I might, for example, actually include a “grueling fistfight” in George’s story. In general, you should be asking questions along these lines at this point in time: Is this a place where I should show or tell? Can I clearly see this in my head? Does it seem like I’m just dumping information on the reader here? One thing you should not do at this point is cut anything out. That’s a later step.

Step II: Check Your Connections

                At this point, you should now go through your work, making sure that everything makes sense to the reader. Here you are looking for places that might be confusing, vague, or unclear to a reader who doesn’t know the whole story and everything that went into making it. While it’s okay to have some mystery in your piece—if you’re writing a mystery novel, for example—it makes for an unpleasant read if things are confusing for no good reason. Questions to ask at this point: Have I answered all the loose ends I brought up? Have I answered all the questions my readers might be asking? [for fiction writers, primarily] Have all of my characters acted in ways that are logical and not out-of-character?

Step III: Investigate Subplots [probably more for fiction writers]

                Once everything makes sense, now is the time to consider adding mini-stories that go along with, but are not necessary to the main storyline. The purpose of a subplot—among other things—is to add character development, provide backstory, or add tension. If you’re adding in a subplot just to fill in space, or if the story seems long enough already, consider skipping this step. Questions to ask here: Does this develop my main character in any way? Does the reader learn anything new from this extra mini-story?

Step IV: Examine the Information Accuracy

                At this point in time, you should make sure that all of your facts, extra information, and references are accurate. For more information, a post on research will be coming later. Questions to ask at this point: If someone were to do a Google or Wikipedia search on something I talk about, will they find something different? Why? Are there any reputable sources I can double check my facts with?

Step V: Trim the Excess Content

                This is probably one of the hardest parts of revision, since you have devoted so much time to your project by this point. Most writers (me included) feel as though we’ve worked so hard on this that there can’t be anything needing to be cut. It’s fine the way it is, thank you very much. For the benefit of your story, however, it’s best that you remove whatever scenes, chapters, paragraphs, or even words that take away from your story. Not only will your readers appreciate it more, but you’ll end up with a better story overall. The less unneeded material you have, the quicker you can get to the climax. The best way to know whether or not something adds to your story is to ask the following questions: Does the thing I’m about to cut add anything new to my work? If so, is it necessary to the story? If I take this out, will the story read the same, or better?

Step VI: Reread

                For me, this step has to be the hardest part of revision, probably because it is so closely tied to step V.  Now that you have your mostly finished work in front of you, read it through from start to finish. Don’t stop and correct a single thing. Just read it. If there’s an adjustment that you need to make, grab a pencil and paper and write out notes on corrections, but don’t touch the work. Read it all the way through. Once you’ve done that, then go through and make the corrections you noted before. Another reason this step is the hardest is because the questions you should be asking now are pretty much all the ones I’ve just listed. It’s painful, but worth it. After this step, the draft is usually near being “done.”

Step VII: Edit the Language

                The last step is not as hard as one might think. Now that the draft is finished in terms of revision, you must now go through and clear up the language. This includes grammar, punctuation, sentence construction, and word choice. There are no particular questions associated with this step, but I’d recommend that you get a reputable grammar guide, go through each point, and make sure that it’s being applied in your work. Read the chapter on commas and make sure you use commas correctly. The best part about this step is that the more you know about grammar, the less you’ll need the guide.

A final note, even though I’ve written all these steps like it’s a guide, I urge you to take breaks in-between steps. I would especially recommend a break of at least a day between steps V and VI (but no more than a week). Writing is fun, but not if you try and cram it all in one sitting.

Any other editing tips?

Recommended Reading:

How to Write and Sell a Christian Novel by Gilbert Morris

                In addition to being a very good reference on the entire process of writing a novel from a Christian perspective, the chapter on editing is pretty good.

Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell

                For those who’ve read Plot and Structure, the same author wrote a book completely devoted to revision. There is a section on the subject in his other book, The Art of War for Writers—which I also recommend—but it makes several references to the book mentioned above.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

                Arguably the quintessential text on the English language, this little book is easy to read and can answer just about any question you might have about grammar or punctuation.

D - Description

Hey Writers!

Next letter in the series, again written by Ana Belen. Ana Belen is a friend of mine that I've known for a couple/few years and she also wrote letter B in our series. I hope you enjoy her post! Comment and let her know you read it! :)

If you'd like to write any of the available letters, please let me know so you can RSVP. :D

-Cari

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D - Description
by Ana Belen


Description:

1. A spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or
event: "people who had seen him were able to give a description".

2. The action of giving such a representation or account.

This is a very tricky subject for authors, whether they know it or not.

Some lay the descriptions on extra thick, like a sandwich with an inch of mayo. I
know…yuck. In other words, they describe everything in excruciatingly meticulous
detail-everything from the kind of leather on a side character’s shoes, to the
species of an ant on a cracked wall in the background.

Too much description.

On the other hand, there are authors who get an idea, then transfer it onto paper
or their computer as fast as possible, leaving out everything except for the basic
storyline. But, (to give another food example) this would be like having a hot dog
or burger without any condiments. Yes, it’s edible, but not INTERESTING.

Too little description.

You can think up the most complicated, engaging plot, but if you write it dry
and flat, the entire work will flop. No one will be able to see how wonderful
the storyline is, if you don’t add those elements that enhance the reader’s
imagination. Those details that let the reader see what you see in your mind’s eye
are what can captivate your audience.

Your mind’s eye…

What do I mean by that? It’s not just your imagination; it is a whole other
experience.

To explain what I mean by this, look around you. Choose an object near you
(particularly a small, unimportant one) and lock your eyes on it. Stare at it for

about 10 seconds, study it and discover every little detail about it. Go beyond
color, shape and size. What can you see?

I am sure you noticed many things about the object you would have never noticed
with a careless glance. There is intricate detail in everything! Our eyes can capture
so much if we care to look for it!

So now, let’s look through our mind’s eye. Imagine a scene from your most
current work, a past story. Try to conjure up a rich scene of immense and
miniscule detail. Is there much more you could describe to enhance your story?

For example, next to me is a blanket, which I could quickly describe as an old, red
blanket. But with this simple statement, the reader could imagine anything from a
cracked tarp to a dilapidated down comforter! Either could be old, red, and used
as a covering for warmth, right?

This is why you need to go beyond the basics. Consider the following scenarios:

1. Mary saw an old red blanket, and wrapped it around herself because
she was cold.

Or:

2. Mary, shivering pitifully in the chilling wind, spotted a worn burgundy
coverlet, and pulled it quickly around her quaking shoulders, but the
frayed, loose weaving offered little warmth.

Which is more appealing?

Now that we know how to add detail, we need to go back to the first point I
made, which is that many authors use way too much description. This bores the
reader, who is desperate to get on with the story!

In addition, if you take too much time adding detail, writing will become tedious
and grueling work, instead of enjoyable if you take every sentence and elaborate
it as much as possible. This will cause a writer to hit a wall simply from fatigue!

Be careful never to use detail as fillers that end up just as appealing as packing
peanuts. (By the way, have you ever tasted those things? Bleh. -Not to say that I
have… :D) and never, never, EVER forget to have fun writing!

Description can make or break a story, so what we need to find is: BALANCE.
Balance is knowing when, and how much to describe. In my opinion, there are
two types of description:

I. Description that is necessary for the storyline. [e.g., location, MC’s basic
appearance and back story-{see ‘B’}, etc.]
II. Description that embellishes and enhances the story. [e.g., scenery
details, movement {during dialogue, etc.}, emotions, unseen
occurrences, etc.]

Obviously the first is a must-have in writing, but each author will use the other
kind differently.

Remember, this can easily be the fall of every work, so don’t overdo it, OR under-
do it!

Find the balance that suits you and go with it!

C - Climax

Time for letter C! This time it is written by Stephanie. Thanks Stephanie!

Make sure to comment, everyone! :D

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C-Climax

by Stephanie

This week is C - for Climax. Personally this is my favorite part of a story... the most fun to read, write, or watch. A climax is where everything comes together, and that when the climax is done, something(s), someone(s) (or a combination of both) are not the same as when we first meet them/it at the beginning of the story. It is necessary for both books and movie screenplays to have this.

The general definition is this:

Climax |ˈklīˌmaks|
noun

the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex: the climax of her speech | a thrilling climax to the game.

• Rhetoric a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression.

verb [ no obj. ]culminate in an exciting or impressive event; reach a climax: the day climaxed with a gala concert.

• [ with obj. ] bring (something) to a climax: the sentencing climaxed a seven-month trial.

Climax should have these three “elements” to make it a good one:

1. Suspense. EVERY story has to have that to some degree. Otherwise why would someone want to read the story, or watch the movie? The story will be monotone unless there is some suspense to some degree, be it subtle or intense.

2. Importance. Whatever happens, it MUST be important enough to change the character(s), the setting, or both.

3. Tying up loose ends. Ok, so I couldn’t find a word for this, but this phrase. Or if you want you can say everything comes to a head. Basically, the climax needs to tie up the major plot lines. A culmination of all the storylines. Be it one Main Character (MC) or many.

Although leaving some tiny things for the reader to wonder about is okay, even good, sometimes. Makes the reader use their imagination.

Some examples of good climaxes would be...

Like with Lord of the Rings. It spans three books. The main character “group” (aka, the Fellowship) gathers, and are together in the first book (Fellowship of the Ring). But by the end of the FoTR, the group has been split into about 3-4 storylines. And it stays way throughout the rest of the storyline... until the climax. There are smaller, underlying storylines that crop up in the story, but all of them, big and small, culminate together in destroying the Ring, which of course is THE CLIMAX.

Or take Les Miserables, where Jean ValJean’s story is the sole story at the beginning, but snowballs into where, anyone he knows, their story lines climax when his does. ValJean’s story is the engine that pulls the storyline into the climax, and all the supporting characters are the cars of the train, making a complete train of thought and storyline ending in the climax.

Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a great example. The question of “will the Pevensies win, and make it back home” builds the suspense. The battle is important to defeat the White Witch and provide justice for the Narnians. And the main loose ends that get tied up are the Witch getting defeated, and Edmund earning back their trust, among other small storylines.

Or take Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, with Scrooge going on three “adventures” (or doors), each one more life changing than the last, building suspense, making how Scrooge reacts important, and how he reacts is the main loose end (a side story loose end being how will Tiny Tim survive).

And as a final example, Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Will everything be set to rights (people marrying mostly ;) ) is the suspense. Everything adds up to being important. And the numerous little loose storylines/threads get tied up, although the main one is that Elizabeth Bennet changes, learning not to judge so hastily and learning to love Darcy in the process. :)

So, there you have it. Three elements that make up a climax, and five different stories to illustrate the points! Just remember to make a wonderful climax that the reader can’t wait for, with suspense, importance, and revealing all the little ending nuggets to the character(s) storyline(s) (aka tie up the loose ends!) Now go write something fabulous! :D

B - Backstory/Flashback

Today we have the second letter in our series "The Young Christian Writer's ABCs".

Thank you so much, Ana Belen, for writing it! Be sure to comment, everyone!! ;)

Let me know if you'd like to write a post for the series! -Cari

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B- Backstory/Flashback

by Ana Belen

First off, let’s define what a backstory is.

Backstory:

Noun 1.    1. A history or background created for a fictional character in a motion picture or television program. 2.    2. Similar background information about a real person or thing that promotes fuller understanding of it.

Now, when writing, there are several ways to use a backstory. I have seen authors feel an obligation to add some information in, but do so very unimaginatively, making it boring, and ruining their work.

An example of this would be throwing blunt, hard facts at the reader in the middle of the plot, interrupting the flow of the storyline, and confusing the reader.

Another example on how not to use a backstory would be to give a skimp summary of the character’s life at the beginning of the book. Basically, ‘here is the character, reader… Got it? O.K., moving on!’

Both of the above examples can affect the way your work is received by the readers, and their over-all enjoyment of the story.

What I suggest is: Be creative! Think of ways to explain your character that perhaps no author has every thought of!

A few suggestions on innovative writing of backstories (In no particular order):

§  Mystery: Don’t tell the readers anything about who the character is. The readers won’t know the motive of its actions. Yet, give them tiny clues to keep them intrigued. Then, at the climax/conclusion, his/her true colors are revealed! [Example: in the book,The Thief, -which I don’t recommend- you meet the character in a prison cell. Basically, he was summoned to steal back something on behalf of his kingdom. You follow him on his journey to the enemy kingdom. He finds the precious gem, but… gives it to the enemy queen! He was actually the Royal Thief for the other country!]

§  Flashback: If the book is in first person, the MC may recall things throughout the story, perhaps to help it make decisions, but also giving information to the reader. Maybe you build up questions in the readers mind, mysteries. When suddenly, the MC relates everything, solving questions but not the plot… [Example: The Mysterious Benedict Society: The Prisoner’s Dilemma. This is the third book in this series. All leading up to it, you have been wondering about the backstory of one MC. Just when this info is needed most, however, the reader is rewarded with the history, his enjoyment, and the fulfillment of the plot!]

§  Intro Story: In some stories, much information is needed for the story’s foundation. If so, have fun with it! Don’t feel like you have to go through a lot of boring introduction before you get to the ‘actual story’, but make it a story in itself! Maybe you will tell about the MC’s past by giving an account from an arbitrary character in the beginning, whose presence has a secret impact on the story. Or perhaps the intro will be about the MC’s parents, to give the historical background necessary. YOU DECIDE! [Example: Beyond the Summerland has a story at the beginning which appears to be the story for the whole book, but is actually the story of the MC’s ancestors! It was written so well, I enjoyed it as much as the true storyline!]

§  One MC in the Dark: You may wish to write a story with more than one MC. As with one story I am currently in the process of creating, there are two MCs. I alternate from which viewpoint the story is. The readers know the backstory of each character, ( as revealed to them throughout the book from the respective character’s perspective.) but they are still in suspense, because the characters must discover these facts for themselves, creating, suspicion, tension, confusion, and eventually, treachery! …Or was it?

§  Come up with your own creative ideas on how to involve the backstory as the most interesting part of weaving together your story!