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There's a temptation at times to make our writing as exciting as possible. It's no wonder, really, not when we're inundated with stories full of apocalyptic chaos, sizzling love scenes, and murder plots.
A story full of ACTION! MORE ACTION! EVEN MORE ACTION! with no downtime is exhausting, not to mention that it stops being exciting partway through because all those high stakes become the new normal. Excitement ramps up and up and up and then has nowhere else to go, so it inevitably starts to fizzle.
You need moments of calm to ensure that (1) readers have a chance to process what's been happening and (2) the high action points still create a sense of excitement and urgency.
These moments of stillness don't have to be (and shouldn't be) boring. They can have both positive and negative connotations. Consider, for example:
- coming back to a quiet house after a few days in the hospital with constant beeps, conversation in the hall, and obtrusive roommates
- driving home after dropping the youngest child off at their university dorm room
- going for a hike on a less-frequented trail, finding peace from the quiet birdsong and the crunch of gravel under hiking boots
- the distressing moment of realization that there's nothing left to say or do; something can't be fixed
These moments (which could be brief or more extensive scenes) don't just give the reader a chance to breathe; they're opportunities for us to experience a character's reaction to something and understand them a little better.
Quiet doesn't mean inactive or even just reactive, either. The body could be quiet while the mind is busy. We're familiar with that as creative souls, right? Just because we're sitting still doesn't mean we're not doing anything. We're bringing worlds to life in our mind's eye; plotting the next scene; teasing out the intricacies of the relationship between two characters.
There's no perfect formula that applies to each and every story as to how much action and how much stillness needs to be there. You need to feel it out as you go. Sometimes it will be scene by scene; other times, it will be a moment by moment thing within the scene. Experiment a little with your pacing - slow it down when you have the urge to speed up, and vice versa - and see how it feels.
This is something that's worth asking beta readers, too: if there are points where they started to feel overwhelmed or lose track of things, that's a good clue that a rest might be needed nearby.
What are some of your most memorable moments of stillness, either from a story you've worked on or a favourite book from another author?
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A writing prompt just for you ...
We all have something, in our past or present, that we've allowed into our lives repeatedly, in spite of the fact that it makes no sense and perhaps even harms us. Maybe it’s the late night partying that leaves us haggard and cranky at work the next day, or the “friend” who constantly puts us down but remains a part of our life, or the brownies and cookies we gorge on before stepping on the scale and wondering why our weight doesn’t budge.
What harm has your character repeatedly allowed into their life? How does this affect them?
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Lately on Something Delicious ...
" How to Unlock the Potential of Transportation in Fiction:" A blog post full of writing prompts (yay!) about how different forms of transportation mesh with character development. How your character gets from place to place has the potential to unlock some dynamic story possibilities.
" How to Nurture the Heart of a Story:" This post is all about how to discover, connect to, and protect the core of your story. The truer the heart, the stronger the story and the easier it will be to find your way home when things get muddled.
Main Characters: Bullet Journal Printable: Bullet journalling makes keeping track of reference material for writing so much easier, but I'm not a fan of recreating the spreads and collections by hand. Enter this streamlined printable! ^_^ It's black-and-white, comes with and without a dot grid, and is available in a variety of sizes.
Writing coaching is back! I've been on hiatus with my coaching work for a while, but I'm dipping my toes back in the water now, and I promised that you would be the first to know. If you'd like to know more about how we can work together, hop on over and have a peek. I love helping writers develop routines, transform the seed of an idea into something tangible, and put the fun back in their creative adventures. |
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In the writing community ...
I recently found myself on Hillary Manton Lodge's author website, having just devoured Jane of Austin, her scrumptious take on Sense and Sensibility. This has to be one of my favourite author websites ever. She keeps it updated, it's gorgeous, there are behind-the-scenes goodies like recipes and playlists, and it's easy to navigate. I would love to see more author websites like this one!
There's a new magazine in the making for writers and creatives, and it's currently on Kickstarter. I'm not at all affiliated with Elsie Road Magazine; I just happen to think there's a lot of promise here and would love to see it fully funded! We need more publications like this, to help us bridge the gap between creativity and practicality. |
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I hope you're staying lovely and cool/cosy, depending where you make your home in the world. I'm off for a wee walk to one of my local indie grocery stores, because their produce looks amazing right now. Okay, okay, I might also be out of cookies ...
My greatest wishes to you for a creative month ahead! Happy writing! ^_^
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