 Action/Adventure: July 26, 2006 Issue [#1170] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: Edited by: John~Ashen  
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Action/Adventure! It comes in many forms, not just books and movies. However people get their thrills, in this genre it's our job to bring more excitement into their lives through writing. In this newsletter, I offer advice on how to maintain plot suspense while still building your main characters. Enjoy  -- John~Ashen |
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Suspense By Diversion
This week's newsletter comes thanks to the Creative Sessions at the 2006 Writing.Com convention. In fact, I'm writing this editorial from the goodbye lunch! Mia's cracking jokes while StoryMistress is taking pictures. Milkman is trying hard to get Sweet Lady to blush one last time... ah, the adventure is ending, you might say. *sigh*
On Maintaining Suspense
One thing we all know is to keep our readers guessing. We don't want to give away the whole plot in the first few sentences. It's like when movie trailers give away so much information that people feel there's no longer any reason to see the actual film.
It should be obvious, then, not to spill the beans at the start of our stories. Alas, no, we cannot resist a teasing line like "it would be a day he would never forget." The only trouble with that is, all the readers are on the lookout now for the surprise.
Creating A Diversion
As story writers, we are supposed to immediately hook our readers. If we do not provide a teaser of some sort, then how can we keep them around to learn the surprise later? Usually we present a problem to be solved, which keeps the reader curious.
The solution I propose is to give your characters an everyday problem to start. As the reader expects this to be resolved, you can spring the twist later while maintaining an element of surprise.
You can develop your characters by having them respond to their everyday problems. Once the audience has a feel for your character's personality, then the real problem of the plot surfaces.
Example
Your basic plot could be that the bank is going to be robbed. How would you tell this tale from the perspective of the bank teller?
You would not want to start off with "the two guys by the door were suspicious." The reader would ignore everything else once that plot comes to light. Instead, try a mundane problem like running out of a certain currency. "Oh no, I'm almost out of ones! I hope the next customer doesn't ask for change." That sets up a situation where you audience now expects the next customer in line to have an impact on the story.
When the next customer talks to the cashier, that's when you have the bank robbers appear. The reader was expecting the money situation to come to a head; instead, something else interrupts the story in progress. Bank robbers love a diversion; so should you.
If you can't think of a way to forestall your main plot thrust at the beginning of a story, drop me an email. I'm sure I can think of something for your characters to do until you're ready to spring your surprise.
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strider7901 asks: Just have a simple question...how did you become a writer for the newsletter?
Answer: For Writing.Com, only moderators can be editors for the newsletters. This is because we have deadlines, and the StoryMistress likes to crack her red leather whip to keep us in line. 
Remember that we're only editors, though. We take suggestions on what to write about and what items to feature. Also, I'm sure many writers wouldn't mind taking a mental break. So, if you would like to be a guest editor one issue, try submitting your editorial to one of the moderators who works on that newsletter.
Teddy  asks: What about adverbs? Some writers try not to use them at all while others seem to overuse. Any general guidelines?
Answer: Just like adjectives, adverbs are best used in moderation. Not every noun needs modification by an adjective, and not every adjective or verb needs modification by an adverb. When in doubt, leave it out. If it seems too plain on a second read-through, you can always put one back in.
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