Presently I am reading Anuradha Roy’s novel, An Atlas of Impossible Longing .
As with any good novel, interactions between the main characters are strained.
Tension abounds, but not in a melodramatic way.
The story moves with a nice speed for an opening.
I look forward each evening–a hallmark that I have found a jewel of a novel–to settling into bed,
Of Books, Tension, and The Mind on the Page… Read More »
The greatest revelation in a novel often comes, quite understandably, during the end. The context in which this occurs involves releasing underlying knowledge, all of which provides the stage upon where the ultimate truth of everyone’s motives comes forth.
Protagonists that draw on our senses and emotions not only face tough dilemmas and challenges they also encounter wonderfully treacherous antagonists whose actions force the main character to dig deep within themselves, assess and display their strengths.
Of Revelations, Redemption and Grace… Read More »
Revelations in a novel not only reveal character, but also ideally raise the stakes, up the ante, so-to-speak, which ultimately intensifies conflict.
The opening revelation and/or those of the first chapters of a novel establish the chaos that has befallen your protagonist, i.e. display the problem she or he is facing.
Disclosures during the middle of your story widen the deepen the borders of the problem, thereby expose more of your protagonist’s–personality, weakness and strengths, hopes and fears.
Of Turning Points, Disclosures and Amplifying Conflict… Read More »
Capture of the King in chess ends the game. And thus the role of each piece or character’s movements works towards the larger goals of protecting the King of the same color and capturing the King of the opponent.
The players move their characters and/or chess pieces towards accomplishing these two tasks.
In this way process of playing the game of chess resembles that of writing a book. While writers do not move our characters around the chessboard of our stories like the pieces of a chess game, each character of a novel or short story carries her or his own role, both in the narrative line and the structure of the plot.
Of Kings, Strategies and Tactics… Read More »
The pull to reach the summit of action in a novel or story requires the writer to look within.
More than that we must reach down into those dark places where fears and hidden joys lurk.
It is here when connecting with our those aspects of life that frighten us we uncover the yearnings and desires that motivate and drive our protagonists and supporting cast.
Of Dark Places, Irrevocable Decisions, and Transubstantiation… Read More »
“At heart, despite its infinite variety, the hero’s story is always a journey.” —Christopher Vogler, “The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers” It helps to have a map, itinerary, or even hotel reservations when setting out on a journey. The writer works with symbols that settle reader in for the journey.
Preparing for the Journey Read More »
“Summoned or not, the god will come.” –motto on the door of Carl Jung’s home. Archetypes help writers clarify a character’s function and role in the way of plot development and the evolution of personality regarding the protagonist. Stories are about growth and change. And archetypes carry energies.