Status Updates From Plot & Structure: Technique...

Scenes are like music :

Major chord = lots of: action, reaction ... Minor chord = a lesser amount of : setup, deepening
A beat is a smaller unit within a scene.
Give the reader a cookie = Hook them first => rising tension => Intensity, and => end the scene with a Prompt to keep the reader engaged.

Chapter 8 [complex plots]

Develop your Theme =>weave in a thematic subplot
Symbols and motifs can deepen theme

Endings: 3 types: Positive. Ambiguous. Negative.
But a loss can also be a gain, and a gain a loss.
Sacrifice Goal: Final choice
Sacrifice your safety: Final Battle
Last page Resonance: leave a lasting impression.
Avoid rushing the ending. Think BIG. Take time to make sure it's better than good. It MUST be Great!

Action Reaction More action. Of course you need an active lead.

Interweave action, thought, dialogue, description, to stretch the tension. Raising the stakes involves not only the Character stakes, but the Plot stakes and Societal stakes.

I suppose you can think of this particular nudge as weaving the World Building in with all the other threads.

The middle. Raise the stakes. Maintain the tension. Keep the reader worried/engaged...

Death comes in many forms. Hmnn. Just like the tarot card, Death is, above all, a symbol of drastic change.

80 The opposition: aka Villain Add adhesive to make it stick. A strong and logical reason for the conflict. (This rule must, in my opinion, also hold true for inner conflict as well.) All conflict must stand up to reason.

Hook readers on the 1st page. Avoid excessive description, looking backwards. Make sure your character has a viable threat looming.

71 Handle exposition craftily, sneakily, wryly, #1 act first explain later. #2 explain using iceberg analogy. #3 Reveal crucial information during conflict. Guard the flow of the story. Pacing should vary by intention.

Next few pages site examples and break them down thoroughly.

Present setting early. Place the reader in the setting.

Set the tone early. be consistent. The reader expects it. Besides it will help him or her get cozy, and that's what you want.

Action prologue. Establish bond between main character and the reader. Established through 4 dynamics, #1 identification/empathy (happening to me), #2 sympathy (jeopardy, hardship, underdog, or a vulnerability). #3 at least one likable characteristic, and #4 inner conflict (bring doubt forward) conflicting reason/passion or some variation thereof etc. etc.

I had listened to 4 different Joanna Pen podcast with James Scott Bell. I listened to each one many times. Drove my wife crazy. I was very fortunate recently to find not one, but 5 of Mr. Bell's books at a Library Book sale! Most auspicious.

Mr. Bell articulates the subject matter strikingly well. You get the how, the what, and the why. And he has done the bigger job of isolating the time proven techniques.