Zoe M. McCarthy's Blog, page 21

Melodrama: Story Drama That’s Gone Too Far

We want our scenes to be dramatic. We want our readers to live through events with our characters and experience our characters’ emotions. However, if we slide into melodrama, we rob our readers of emotional involvement. Definition: Melodrama is: “a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates […]

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The Inciting Incident Plunges Your Character Into His Journey

Definition Inciting Incident. Incite: “to urged to action; instigate; stir up.” (Webster Illustrated Contemporary Dictionary) The inciting incident is an event in which something happens to the protagonist that changes his everyday life. It creates an opportunity for him to begin a journey that drives the story and exposes his true underlying problem. Purpose of […]

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Your Story’s Opening Line: Look for the Mystery

I stopped reading “The Chain of Awesomeness” by Jeff Somers (Writer’s Digest July/August 2016). I brought up my first chapter to see if my opening line held the mystery Somers said was more important than shock or coolness (even though they’re good too). My opening line contained some mystery. The reader might ask why my character was […]

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Cramming in Characters: Overloads & Overwhelms Readers

A common first-chapter problem is introducing too many characters in the first scene. This can also be a problem for later scenes. The Problem Readers feel as if they’ve entered a gala with names thrown at them. People can keep track of around three characters at a time. Readers become confused and forget the many characters’ […]

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Story’s Black Moment: Make Sure It’s Black for a Red-Hot Reason

Writers hear much about the need for conflict and disasters in every scene and a black moment near the story’s two-thirds point. We don’t throw these essentials into the mix, but intentionally construct them. Conflicts and disasters work to enhance the plot or develop characterization. The black moment forces the character to realize what the […]

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Point of View: Deepen Your Scene as You Employ It

Through two examples, I’ll show how employing point of view can enrich a scene as readers experience the setting, characterization, plot, and story theme. I’ll use the same elements for each example.    Character: Clara Hill, a twenty-three-year-old woman.    Theme: A first-time teacher learns to reach and help her students.    Setting: Classroom.   […]

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What to Put Into Your Story So a Great Pitch Comes Out

I read articles on high concept. The definitions varied widely, but I was more intrigued with the elements that create what are called high concept stories. These elements can help with what I funnel into my stories—the bling. A great pitch naturally comes out. First, what is high concept, which many publishers demand? Popular definitions […]

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10 Writing Mistakes That Give Readers Heartburn

These mistakes could irritate and lose your readers for your current book and all your future books. Insufficient grounding. The reader struggles to establish the who, where, and when from the beginning of a book or scene. The age of the character’s son isn’t revealed. The reader thinks he’s three years old, but then the […]

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Using Backstory in Chapter 1 Without Adding Backstory

I’m rewriting a story to take care of some issues. While struggling with the first chapter, I saw David Corbett’s article, “Backstory From the Front” published in Writers Digest July/August 2016. His concept of how to use backstory is exactly what I needed. I’m talking about stories that rely on empathy for dramatic impact. In […]

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Flashbacks: When They’re Not Appropriate & Tips for When They Are

While researching whether or not to use flashbacks, I received warnings from, “Don’t,” to “If you must.” Reasons to resist flashbacks. They often: stem from the author’s wish to explain everything – info dumps of old news. tell information that can be shown through current scenes and dialogue. may indicate, if especially long, that the […]

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