Your Story Should Be Up, Down, and All Around

 

 Contributed by Children's Author Karen Cioffi

I’ve noticed that people who want to write a story but are new to the arena don’t understand what’s involved in writing a good story.

And I’ve seen lots of drafts that are cute, but they have no story arc or character arc. They’re simply a series of related events or incidents.

Along with these story ideas that don’t have a story arc, a lot of new authors don’t want to make their  protagonist real.

A story and its characters should be like a roller coaster, not a carousel.

First, let’s touch on what makes a publishing worthy story.

The very first thing is that your protagonist needs a big problem. It needs to be something that he struggles to overcome.

Here are a couple of examples of a problem that needs to be overcome:
•    Maybe Rafael is being bullied at school.
•    Maybe Sophia just got a new bike and was told not to leave it alone. She left it unattended at the park and it was stolen.
•    Maybe Lisa moved to a new neighborhood and had to start a new school. She’s anxious about all the changes.

After the problem has been established, the main character (MC) must try to figure out how to overcome it.

But as life isn’t smooth, the MC can’t overcome the problem in one attempt.

The protagonist needs to struggle to reach the goal. He needs to try a couple of things, fail, and become deflated before he finally comes up with a plan that leads to success.

Along with the MC succeeding, there must be some growth.
•    Maybe he learns he’s not the person he thought he was, like the protagonist, Wang, in my chapter book “Walking Through Walls.”
•    Maybe she learns compassion.
•    Maybe she learns how to make friends.

The story arc and character arc both have a beginning, middle, and end.

When thinking of a story arc, think of a triangle.

1.    The exposition: The introduction is at the bottom of the left side. It introduces the MC and setting.
2.    The trigger: The problem appears (the inciting incident). It may be internal or external, but it needs to be addressed.
3.    The quest: The MC struggles to overcome the problem. The action is rising, and so is the conflict. On her quest to find a solution, the MC encounters obstacles that must be overcome.
4.    The climax: The MC makes a critical choice and engages in his final attempt. He’s chosen his path and it’s the beginning of his change. The action declines as everything unfolds.
5.    The resolution: The MC has reached the end of the road. It's now the reward or consequence time. But whichever it is, the MC needs to have grown in some way as a result of the journey. When writing for young children, the journey needs to end with success.

For #4, the climax, think of a kid about to steal for the first time. Will his conscience kick in and stop him, or will he go through with it?

So, you can see that a series of related incidents does not lend itself to a a full story arc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. If you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.
 

Karen also offers:

 HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK
A 250+ book that will help you start or finish your children’s book.

WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICE
Help for children's authors.

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A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.  

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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Creating Scenes

 

 

 Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

One of the best descriptions I’ve read on what a scene is comes from James Scott Bell’s blog, Kill Zone. In an article on strengthening scenes, Bell explains that “scenes are the bricks that build the fiction house. The better the bricks, the better the house.” (1)

This gives a visual of how scenes work. Building one on top of the other to create a strong story.

Masterclass describes a scene as “a section of a story that has its own unique combination of setting, character, dialogue, and sphere of activity.” (2)

This description gives more details, but I like Bell’s visual better.

The Masterclass article also explains that scenes are one of the “most valuable writing skills an author can possess.”

This makes scenes even clearer. They’re essential to a ‘good’ book. Going back to the brick house, the better (stronger) the brick, the stronger the house.

A scene has a beginning, middle, and end, just like the story.

When the location changes, another character enters the scene, or something else significant changes within the scene, that’s usually an indication that it’s the end of that scene and the beginning of the next.

My chapter book, Walking Through Walls, is an example of this.

The protagonist, Wang, is trying to walk through a wall but just can’t do it. He’s fearful of getting hurt. It takes him ten tries.

Finally, he passes through it. That’s the end of that scene.

The next scene has Wang ecstatic. He’s thrilled. He can’t contain himself.

So, how do you make scenes work?

1. The first thing a scene needs to do is achieve something.

Think of the brick. It’s solid. It’s its own entity.

Each scene has a story to tell.

The scene may be a chase scene, a fight scene, the inciting incident, a romantic scene, or a scene establishing the setting.

Using Walking Through Walls again, at the beginning of the story, Wang is seen sweating and complaining while working in the wheat fields. This scene establishes the type of work Wang is doing and also demonstrates his attitude toward it.

2. A scene should be the foundation for the next scene.

Scenes are like building blocks. They provide information the reader should know to move forward in the story.

Going back to Wang and his attitude toward hard work, it allows the reader to understand why he desperately wants a way out of his life.

The scene can also provide more information, such as backstory or a look into the character’s family life, friendships, strengths, weaknesses, and so on.

It can be anything of value that helps move the story and characters forward.

3. Every scene should have a point of view.

As a children’s ghostwriter, most of the stories I write have one point of view.

But I also work on upper middle grade, where there can be two points of view and young adult where there can be multiple points of view.

When working with more than one point of view, each scene should be specific to only one; otherwise, it can get confusing and weaken the strength of that brick.

4. Each scene should contribute to the world you’re creating.

The period of Walking Through Walls is 16th century China. This meant a lot of research.

I incorporated tools of the time, clothing, and even food within the scenes to build the world the characters lived in.

I also used dialogue to build the world. I eliminated contractions and flavored the dialogue and actions with respect, especially toward elders.

5. As your story should be shown and not told, so should your scenes.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new writer or an experienced writer; it’s easy to fall into the ‘telling’ mode when writing.

Showing a scene means using dialogue, action, sensory details, and internal thoughts.

Using showing enables the reader to be absorbed in the story. It connects the reader to the character and brings the reader into the story.

Telling keeps the reader at arms-length. The reader won’t be able to make as strong a connection to the character or the story.  

Hope these five tips on writing a good scene help you strengthen your story’s scenes.

References:

(1) https://killzoneblog.com/2021/08/three-easy-ways-to-strengthen-a-scene.html

(2) https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-the-perfect-scene#quiz-0

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. If you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.
 

Karen also offers HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK.
A 250+ book that will help you start or finish your children’s book

And for those children’s authors who are self-publishing, Karen provides WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICE.

-----

A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.  

-----

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Ups and Downs of Writing Reviews as Part of a Book Marketing Campaign

 

Consider Both the Downsides and Upsides of Writing Reviews

 

Before you decide to use reviews as an integral part of your book’s marketing campaign or making them an income stream for your writing career take a exactly two minute to read this little post. Mary Gannon, deputy editor of Poets & Writers Magazine, says reviewers take “a lot of heat…for some free books, a few bucks, and a byline.” However, it’s usually only the most famous reviewers who are disparaged for their criticism and usually only the radical or caustic ones at that.

 

Many authors worry about lawsuits. They also worry about tax collectors since the books that reviewers get free must be claimed as taxable income. (Check with your tax accountant.) Neither threat is going to disappear, but you can help protect yourself from both by using a disclaimer in your review. The disclaimer might be official sounding or more casual. Something like this:

 

“Just so you know, I received a book (or e-book) in exchange for an unbiased and fair review. No fee was charged the author or the publisher.”

 

It does make a nice income stream for you because you’re probably already doing a lot of reading. With a little research you can pitch the marketing departments of publishers to review their new release you’d probably read anyway, to review their new releases. (If you do, don’t be afraid to tactfully ask for paper ARCs if that’s your preference.) 

 

You can also ask publishers or online review sites you review for frequently to write a recommendation for you for expos and tradeshows you’d like to attend. That can save you the cost of an entrance fee and get you access to their media (press) rooms. Having a representative at these expos benefits them, too. You can hand out business cards to people you meet who might be interested in their review site and your badge will qualify to place a supply of their media kits to be distributed in those media rooms. (Do a search on “tradeshows” to read the parts in this book (the soon to be published How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically) where I discuss some of my experiences with this benefit.)

 

Here’s the nicest thing about making a review-writing decision: You don’t have to make a choice. You can have it all. You can write for pay sometimes as a legitimate freelancer for the media. You can write reviews to boost your brand sometimes. You can write as gifts to authors you know or for authors whose work inspires you. Call the latter the golden-rule choice. The do-unto-others choice. The Karma choice.

 

Notice I did not suggest you start a business that sells reviews directly to publishers and authors. I cover that elsewhere in this book, but if you aren’t already aware of it—reviews paid for by anyone associated with the book are considered unethical for both the payer and the payee. It’s about credibility. It’s about keeping reviews believable. To put it more bluntly, it’s about avoiding anything that smacks of bribery or payola. 

 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers.  

Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Carolyn’s Flagship HowToDoItFrugally Book for Writers on Sale--Along with Others in the Series!

As many of my followers/subscribers/visitors know, I have been supporting WinningWriters #NorthStreetBookPrize for years--since its inception. Because of its credibility. Because of its value-added benefits over most respected contests out there.  Because of the low cost compared to its overall value. I also know that its audience of savvy authors is similar to my audience of savvy writers, thus I love my ads with them including ads for the occasional discounts my great publisher, Modern History Press, offers those same loyal authors! Ahem.  I hope you can use to this one to buy one of the books you haven’t yet read--perhaps for yourself. Perhaps as a gift for a fellow author who deserves (or even NEEDS) it! (-:  Here it is: 

See bottom for your special discount code   The Frugal Book Promoter: 3rd Edition On Sale!     The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been a must-have book for authors since its 2004 debut as a text for her UCLA Extension Writers' Program class in book marketing. Modern History Press today offers the third edition sporting a complete update including a new cover, bibliography, and reference section. Like the previous editions, the 3rd edition of The Frugal Book Promoter helps give your book the best possible start in life. It's full of nitty gritty how-tos for getting nearly free publicity. Carolyn shares her professional experience in journalism, PR, and retailing as well as the practical tips she gleaned from her own book campaigns. She tells authors how to do what their publishers can’t or won’t, why authors can often do their own promotion better than a PR professional, and shows them how to work best with their publisher’s publicist or the one they hire on their own. Past editions of The Frugal Book Promoter have received an Irwin Award, a USA Book News pick for Best Professional Book, and a Dan Poynter Global Ebook Award. When more than 30,000 authors downloaded it as a promotion for BookBaby, they dubbed it a “classic”. It is the flagship book in Carolyn's HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers. Carolyn says, “Frugal has been a labor of love, a way to share what four decades of loving publicity, writing, and publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry has taught me.” The Frugal Book Promoter can be yours for $19.96 in paperback (plus shipping). Be sure to use the code GOFRUGAL at checkout to receive your 20% discount. Buy it today! "The most expensive parts of book promotion are the mistakes. This book will save you time and money." —Dan Poynter, legendary author of The Self-Publishing Manual "[Carolyn Howard-Johnson is] an incessant promoter who develops and shares new approaches for book promotion." —Marilyn Ross, founder, Small Publishers of North America and coauthor of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing "The Frugal Book Promoter has given me ideas that would never have occurred to me and has changed the way I think about book promotion." —Mark Logie, award-winning poet and short-story writer   Buy The Frugal Book Promoter - Use Discount Code GOFRUGAL

P.S. Your discount code GOFRUGAL is good for 20% off all of my books at Modern History Press. That includes The Frugal Book Promoter, The Frugal Editor, The Great First Impression Book Proposal, and Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers.     Carolyn Howard-Johnson   Author

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.