In Truth and Lies, I discussed how author Stephen Crane was brilliant — showing the comparison between the rather uneventful nature of daily routine and scenes of high drama that shaped his characters’ lives.
After reading an early draft of Unfolding: Awakening and Unfolding: Nexus, my friend The Professor advised that they needed more “grit” if I wanted anyone outside of my family to read the series.
To that end I retooled, cut excessive words, and added tension. There is no feeling like adding another year to a project (tension) in order to produce an improved manuscript — unless it’s the satisfaction of having a better story after the effort.
Balance between tension, action, and a story’s theme requires careful consideration. Do it right, add some luck, and you have a best seller.
So, what to add …?
- An attack?
- A mythical creature?
- How about complicating twists?
- Say a former lover showing up?
What about a button?
One single large RED button and a vague invitation ….
A DRAMATIC SURPRISE ON A QUIET SQUARE
Would you have pushed the button?
– Jeffrey A. Limpert
__________________
References:
https://unfoldingseries.com/nexus/on-writing-truth-and-lies/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316AzLYfAzw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Image Information:
Brick Wall
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/elsie/44380431/
By Elsie esq. (Les Chatfield)
Amazon – Unfolding: Awakening