Propping up a saggy middle – writer-style…

Yeah, so this isn’t about support hose, girdles or Spanx. I’ve been reading up on plotting and pacing, trying to figure out how to move things along more efficiently in my writing (ie. get rid of the boring parts). If I had a choice, I’d take character development over plotting any day. Sadly, there is no such choice as both are essential elements. So, here’s the list I keep taped to my desk:

PLOTTING ADVICE – INCREASING TENSION IN YOUR NOVEL

COMPLICATE THINGS; ADD APPREHENSION
THINK OF CHARACTERS AS ACTORS ON STAGE – IS WHAT THEY’RE DOING CAPTIVATING?
RAISE INTERESTING QUESTIONS, CAUSING READERS TO WANT ANSWERS
BUILDING TENSION IS LIKE INFLATING A BALLOON, SLOWLY BUT SURELY, UNTIL IT THREATENS TO POP
FORESHADOWING
PRUNE SCENES DOWN TO THE ESSENTIAL BITS
ANTICIPATION (OF GOOD AND BAD THINGS); POSTPONE THE RESOLUTION
INCLUDE MORE PROMISES TO SET UP THE READER’S EXPECTATIONS
DON’T MAKE EVERYBODY TOO NICE (yikes!)
THINK OF FLAWS THAT CAUSE CONFLICT/OBSTACLES TO GOAL
FLUCTUATING EMOTION
CHANGES TO THROW THE PROTAGONIST OFF BALANCE
WHAT IS THE PROTAGONIST’S (OR YOUR READER’S) WORST FEAR?
UNEXPECTED TWISTS – OPPOSITE OF WHAT’S EXPECTED
LET YOUR PROTAGONIST HAVE SECRETS SHE KEEPS
ANGER/HURT BETWEEN CHARACTERS
BAD STUFF THAT HAPPENS QUICKLY
GO THERE – LET YOUR PROTAGONIST HIT ROCK BOTTOM
ALWAYS GIVE THE READER A REASON TO TURN THE PAGE (ESPECIALLY AT CHAPTER ENDINGS)

I read a lot of articles, but many of these ideas came from C.S. Laskin’s site, a valuable resource for writers, found here:  http://www.livewritethrive.com/resources/ Thank you!

I hope you might find some of these ideas useful. It would be easier if we could just buy Spanx for our words – I suppose that’s one of the editor’s roles:) And if all else fails, read your work aloud to your dog, my best audience. Thanks for reading, and happy plotting!