“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”
–Saul Bellow
Cutting and Polishing the Draft Manuscript
The analogy is cutting and polishing diamonds. Cutting is crucial, and the same applies to a manuscript. In my latest script, the rough draft had an opening chapter that I cut in order to begin at a more important part of the plot. For a diamond, the final polishing of all the facets is a crucial step in determining the quality and beauty of the finished gem. This takes far more time and painstaking attention to detail. I would have to say that this process of polishing the script, editing and re-editing is taking far longer than I expected. But, I guess I am my worst critic and I am at the level of getting ruthless with each word now. Hopefully, the final product will be polished enough to pass the critic test.
Quote of the Week #7
“Sometimes the ideas just come to me. Other times I have to sweat and almost bleed to make ideas come. It’s a mysterious process, but I hope I never find out exactly how it works. I like a mystery, as you may have noticed.” ~ J.K. Rowling
Another Reader Review
“I have finished reading 3 WISE MEN. I have to say that, for me, the story was right up there with what David Baldacci and James Patterson write. I enjoyed the whole story and was somewhat disappointed when xxx was killed off and I guess for that matter the same with xxx…I look forward to Jak’s next adventure.” by Les Wills [reply: my next thriller does not feature Jak, but I have plans to use him again. ]
The Flashback?
We all have our pet peeves. Personally, I loathe stories that constantly flashback to earlier events and then jump forward again. It’s too haphazard and too confusing. There is nothing wrong with a brief recall to give background to a character, etc. Here’s an example (pg 279):
Claudine asked, “Why MIT, Ravi?”
He remembered the day as vividly as the question; a warm, fall day with crumpled leaves scattered across the campus lawns, and the institute’s pale dome appearing to be on fire in the New England sunset.
“Why MIT?” she repeated.
“Oh, sorry,” Ravi replied. “My reason was simple and complex,” he answered. Claudine laughed and reached for his arm.
“Oh, that is funny. What do you mean?”
“The simple answer is Jay Forrester.”
“Jay Forrester?” she asked. “I’ve never heard of him.”
“Yes, Mr. Forrester was a smart guy who pioneered work on digital computers here at MIT. He’s famous for his Global Sustainability Model, predicting that civilization would destroy the world in 2040. And what’s remarkable, is his conclusion was the same made by Isaac Newton in 1704. That’s why their ideas intrigue me and they agree with scientists who established the Doomsday Clock over seventy-five years ago.”
“What did they conclude?”
“The clock is now set at one hundred seconds to midnight. Our time is almost up, and Armageddon will be upon us unless we do something radical to change the world.”
Claudine smiled. “That’s why I’m here.”
[More on flashbacks here.] Note: Jay Wright Forrester (July 14, 1918 – November 16, 2016) was a pioneering American computer engineer and systems scientist.
Quote of the Week #6
“The English language is an arsenal of weapons. If you are going to brandish them without checking to see whether or not they are loaded, you must expect to have them explode in your face from time to time.” ~ Stephen Fry
The All Important Catch Line
A catchphrase or by-line is a crucial handle for writers. It provides reader with a grab handle for your story. Mine did not come easily and only late during the editing phase. Here it is:
It’s the largest bank robbery of all time, but it’s not about the money.
That’s a nice summary and may broaden the appeal.
Tension and Suspense
Avoid Clichés; Scare Your Readers
The Power of Words to Resurrect Your Story
The legacy of our earliest ancestors left them with two options when confronted with fear – to stay and fight or to run as fast as they could. Those who were good at predicting the outcomes survived and passed this genetic trait down to us.
Faced with this situation – real or imaginary – the brain mobilizes the body’s resources. It sends a rush of adrenaline and other hormones coursing through the body. Our pupils dilate to see better. Our heart pounds and our breath quickens to rush blood and oxygen to our muscles. We might turn pale as blood is directed away from the skin to power the muscles and fuel the brain. We might tremble or shake as our muscles tense, primed to take action. You might even get goosebumps, as tiny muscles flex in the skin, causing hairs to stand up. All triggered by the brain’s prime directive: survival.
When we realize that the danger isn’t real, we are left with a dopamine rush – the “feel good” hormone released in the process. While I adore a good scare, not everyone enjoys the thrills of a haunted house, a wild roller coaster ride, or a spooky story. Neuroscientists believe that may be because our brains have different sensitivities to the dopamine rush.
At an anniversary screening of Halloween many years ago, one of our young interns, now a successful manager and producer, sat beside me. She squirmed throughout, grabbing my arm and practically crawling into my seat in the scariest scenes. “Jamie Lee Curtis is alive and well and sitting two rows ahead of us,” I hissed. It didn’t matter. For her, the dopamine rush was too intense.
Strong storytelling engages us, draws us in, pulls us into the world, and straps us into the shoes of the character. We feel what they feel. Instead of merely observing, we are participating. We are in the moment. Caught up in the spell you’ve woven with your words.
Delicious dopamine cannot be activated with the overly familiar. Our brains have come to ignore phrases that once made storytelling awesome, but have been overused:
Upset the applecart.
Clichés fail to activate our brains. Switching them up with something inventive yet understandable grabs our attention. It delivers more emotional impact and will resonate with your reader.
Shaken like a snow globe.
To keep that dopamine flowing, the words and the elements of your story must be fresh and distinctive.
Read the full article from scriptmag.com
Drafting Reveals a New Story
Alaa Al-Barkawi says, “Growing up Iraqi Muslim American post 9/11 and during the US occupation of Iraq, I was constantly flooded with images of my people as the villains, and it affected my work as a writer…Through many trials, plot changes, and mental breakdowns…not only did I have a newer, shinier draft—but a new story I didn’t know existed in this book!”
Alaa’s comment resonated with me. I had the same experience and wanted to share this too. During extensive editing on my new novel, and from Beta Reader feedback, I discovered that there was another story within the pages; one more powerful and convincing, and one that propelled the plot. My novel moved from pure thriller to crime and grew in meaning and impact (for me, at least). Read more about Alaa’s writing journey here.