Stacy DeKeyser's Blog: Reading, Writing, and Chocolate, page 9
February 14, 2011
Kindle as a writer's tool
So I downloaded the new software, and...
...none of the books I own have page numbers. Of course.
But I discovered two nice things instead:
Thing One: The new software did erase the nasty location numbers, leaving only the "percentage read" number in the lower left corner. My screen looks much less cluttered (and, somehow, makes the % number more meaningful, maybe because I'm not trying to figure out some kind of equivalence between the % and the location numbers). Suddenly, I don't even miss page numbers. I know where I am in my book with a quick glance at the lower left corner.
Thing Two: And then it occurred to me that, as a writer, I can follow along in any novel and see at a glance how that novel's structure is revealed by its % numbers. Here's how:
I'm a fan of Linda Seger's book, Making a Good Script Great. In it, Seger explains the basic structure of a movie script, which can also be applied to novels. It's a 3-act structure with distinct milestones: turning points, a midpoint, climax, and resolution. Seger maintains that each of these milestones should come approximately at a certain percentage of progress through the script/novel, and if the writer sticks (more or less) to this structure, the story will flow well, without lagging. For example, the climax should occur at approximately the 90% mark.
Back to my Kindle. I'm currently reading All Clear, a time-travel novel by Connie Willis.* I was plowing along well past the 50% mark, the plot was picking up speed, and all the many pieces of the puzzle began falling into place.
I glanced down at the % number, and where was I?
80%
The story built, the plot threads continued to tie together, and then came the surprising and impressive climax. Which was at...
89%
That's when I realized that the basic plot structure of this (very complicated) book could still be boiled down to a tried-and-true, foolproof plan. A plan that was laid bare by my Kindle in one little number. And a plan that I can replicate when I write my own novels.
True, you can figure out pretty much the same thing with a physical book, by counting page numbers or even by comparing the thickness of the pages left as you read. But somehow, that little number in the lower left-hand corner makes me feel like that book's author is whispering a secret into my ear.
*Fans of Willis may know that All Clear is actually the second part of a complete story begun with Blackout. So you could probably identify milestones based on the entire 2-volume story, but I've discovered that All Clear has its own structure, and milestones that still fit the 3-act structure outlined in Seger's book.
February 1, 2011
About That Ending
One of the best things about having a book published is hearing from readers. The question I'm asked most often about Jump the Cracks is: "What happens after the book ends?"
At first this question surprised me, and I wasn't sure how to answer it, because (of course) I think the ending is perfect the way it is. But the more I thought about it, the more I decided that it's a great question, because it means you got so wrapped up in the story that you kept thinking about it after you finished reading. I like that.
But I suppose, since so many of you have asked, you deserve an answer. What DOES happen after the pages of the book close? Does Wills grow up happy? Who raises him? Will Victoria ever see him again?
I have a confession to make: Originally, I wrote a different ending. An ending that answers all of those questions, without any doubt. I tied the story up in a neat little bow.
And then I changed it.
Because the thing is, when you're writing a story for readers who are smart enough to think about what they're reading, it's not fair to do the thinking for them. So I changed the ending for a couple of reasons:
1. A "neat" ending wouldn't have fit the story. After all, Jump the Cracks is about a bunch of imperfect people trying hard to do their best (well, most of them, anyway). It wouldn't have made sense to end the story with everyone suddenly perfect and doing all the right things.
2. The open ending allows each reader to imagine his or her own perfect ending—whatever that might be.
Think of it as one of those "You decide" stories.
Are you a sucker for a happy ending? The possibilities are there, at the end of Jump the Cracks, for a perfect, storybook ending. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.
Or maybe you like your stories gritty and more true-to-life. The possibilities for that type of ending are also there, in the story. Just fill in the blanks.
It's completely up to you. You are free to imagine what happens after the book ends. And whatever you imagine, that is the right ending.
January 28, 2011
Launch Party!
Thanks for visiting, have a look around my lovely new website, designed by artistic genius Donna Farrell.
January 1, 2011
The Archives
February 27, 2009
Artist Fellowship, Yay!
These grants are given every year, but only every OTHER year to writerly arts. It's especially gratifying to know that they see merit in writing fiction for kids and teens.
