Uncategorized

Ah, the Plot Thickens

James Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment
pic

You reduce the sauce on the stove and it thickens. Wait a while longer and it thickens even more. I found the same principle in my writing. Time spent editing, re-writing, with more input from beta readers, etc. and the plot thickened.

Now, I have reached the point where I am ready to take my manuscript “off the heat” and send it out to a few select literary agents. Has anything changed? Yes, plenty – and especially the main plot. It is far better and brings together the key elements of my story in a more powerful and complete way.

Keeping it Real

James Uncategorized 0 Comment

What is truth? An age old question with many answers but, on the writing level, I like the plot/characters/action to be realistic. By that, I mean that it’s possible. Some writers stretch the limits of believability but I just can’t write like that. You know the plot – the protagonist gets into strife and needs a miracle rescue to be saved. That’s great, but not if the rescue requires perfect timing at 500 miles per hour against a raging storm of 25 foot waves. Imagination can run wild with fantasy or science fiction, but I like my thrillers to be grounded on a good dose of truth. That requires continuity of dress, place, season and substance. Come to think about it, perhaps being less real might be easier on me as a writer? I guess I have always preferred true adventures and stories of overcoming real obstacles, though I’m not about to reveal where the boundary of truth and fiction really lies in my new novel, and I hope you can’t find it!

Saying “Goodbye” is so Difficult

James Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Think about your favorite movie. How did it end? If you don’t know, then it’s probably not your favorite movie!

In the same way, there’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours reading a thriller that has a disappointing ending. Of course, the longer this genre has been popular, the harder it is to finish with a surprise twist. In my new heist-thriller, the goal with the ending was to achieve two outcomes – first, to tie up loose ends and, second, to paint a future (and potential sequel) for the characters. “Shock” was not my final intention, but “surprise” certainly was.

I had just posted this blog when I decided to head to our local bakery for something

webpic

nice for my wife for morning tea. The radio was playing an interview with Michael Morpurgo – one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors (see pic). Michael was asked if he planned the ending for his books and he replied, “No,” and went on to explain that, for him, writing was an adventure. I can identify with this. My writing has the main plot in my head when I start to outline the place and people who are going to unfold the story, but the ending never comes to me at this early stage. Like Michael, I just want to discover where the writing adventure will lead. My hope is that this technique will be just as exciting for my readers.

Shocked, Surprised, Scared?

James Uncategorized , , , , , 0 Comment

I have a wonderful wife who scares easily – so I tend to not surprise her.

There was one surprise birthday I arranged for her though and I am still recovering from that one. Anyway, when there is a sudden scare in a movie or a dog barking at us on a dark night, she jumps – oh, boy, she jumps! I mention this because, as an author, I love weaving a surprise of two into my novels and the reaction I get is encouraging – e.g. “I didn’t expect that.” After all, what would a thriller be if there were no surprises? Better still, I like to have an unexpected twist in the final chapters – one that opens the door for a sequence, yet still brings a sense of completeness to the book.

The funny thing about some of the surprises in my books is that I get surprised while writing them – though not as shocked as my wife.

It’s Not Just Another Heist

James Uncategorized , , , 0 Comment

Author Sara Desai shares tips for plotting a great heist novel and notes that, “There’s a unique, intoxicating allure to a good heist novel. It’s that tantalizing thrill of a merry band of misfits (or an elite and seasoned crew), up against long odds, pulling off the impossible, and ‘getting away clean.’ Writing a heist novel is a high-stakes literary game of cat-and-mouse that catapults the writer and the reader into a whirlwind of intrigue, danger, and breathtaking feats.”

And, if I may add, a great heist needs a great location – one that ups the stakes to a seemingly impossible level. In my new novel, STEALTH, the culprits get away too, but there’s a twist. And, forgive me for laughing out loud, but you won’t know what the twist is until you read the story.

 

What to do when your writing sucks

James Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment

It’s a common problem – the writing is flowing and the ideas are getting put down onto your draft manuscript. However, when editing, you come across awkward text – difficulties in the character development, plot or setting. What I have learned (the hard way) is that the best action in this case is to cut the text. That’s right, by cutting the text you eliminate the obstacle and help the flow of the book. If it’s not necessary, then get rid of it! From my experience, authors need a good editor to point out what is not working. When they do, it’s time to erase the culprit, reduce the word count, and move on. Do the same with poor storylines and out-of-place characters. My TIP: if you can’t afford a full editing service, at the very minimum get a professional editor to check your first few chapters.

Skip to toolbar