DIFFERENT WAYS TO DEVELOP THE SAME STORY ( CONT ’ D )
option of working with a combination of first person / third person works . Not only that , but it ’ s becoming more and more popular . I ’ d never considered it .
THERE ARE MORE TRICKS IN THE BOX LABELED “ OPTIONS .” HERE ARE A FEW � Dreams to add dimension
� Delay tactics , to keep the reader wanting more . �
The protagonist ’ s imagination , to introduce some- thing they can ’ t know about or can ’ t see .
� Another character ’ s dialogue or narration , told in third person . Each of these devices is a tool . Simply choose the ones that work for you .
WHY CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTIONS , INCLUDING CLUES , ARE GOOD FOR THE READER AND THE WRITER .
These tricks of the trade keep the reader engaged while fending off boredom . Use clues to imply what might come , or to convey back story thereby explaining why certain things happen . The trick is to add other tidbits of information in a variety of ways .
EXPERIMENT WITH VARIOUS POVS . Consider introducing third person characters to help tell the tale . Pick a story idea , then take various techniques for a “ test drive .” When you hit upon the perfect combination and your imagination soars , it just might result in a story you can ’ t wait to finish — one the reader can ’ t put down .
USING DREAMS TO ADD DIMENSION
Dream sequences convey a character ’ s innermost emotions unencumbered by daily reality . Fears , expectations , unrealistic goals or realistic ambitions , even premonitions of what is to come , all are possible under the cloak of dreams .
If you choose this technique , be sure your writing mimics real dreams . Include out-of-sync scenarios , bizarre situations and anything that helps the story move along in a surreal manner . These sequences must feel like dreams , not simple narrative .
Here is an example : Because of a horrible experience , the protagonist is plagued by nightmares that almost destroy her . They might be triggered by something she saw , touched or even smelled . Whatever the stimulus , a lurid image forces her to remember more of the missing pieces . Each memory removes another bar from the mental cage that protects her . This device leads the reader right into her ongoing torment . Even though she tries to deal with what happened to her , most of the details were trapped in her subconscious , as illustrated in this sequence :
ABOUT PROMOTING
YOUR BOOK It can take a lot to break through the fog of noise on social media and in life . You might hear or see someone ’ s name five or ten times and still feel like you have never heard or seen it before , then suddenly on the eleventh occasion you feel like you ’ re seeing this name everywhere and maybe you should check this person out .
DON ’ T EXCLUSIVELY BOOST YOUR OWN BOOK Just don ’ t ! Don ’ t start a blog solely to post book updates . Don ’ t start a Twitter account if you ’ re only going to talk about your book . No one will like you . You can talk about your book too much .
More good advice on The Blunt Instrument
WRITERS ’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
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WINTER 2017