Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The little story that could

So I had this idea a long time ago to write a book using faries as the MC's. I'd dreamed about it for a long time, ever since my daughter was little. (She's now 18.) For a long time I felt I wasn't capable of writing anything that was worth publishing, but that's another story. Back to the faries. I remember as a child being enthralled by the gnome book my grandmother had. I thought it was so cool to detail out a life lived by somone else. I remember reading that book every time I visited. So as I grew up and tried writing then put it away for years that story idea and the things that prompted it never went away.

Fast forward to now. Still dwelling on the fairy idea but with a new drive and message. (teaching manners to children in a fun way)I pitched it at last years Publishers Mix and Mingle. I got three yes's and two said that they weree looking for something similar. I sat down after many long months of research and testing and wrote Enchanted Etiquette. It was during that process that I realized that there needed to be a book for boys too and started searching for the perfect "medium" for a boys book. With the help of some friends I not only got the boys idea hammered out I found a name for the girls book and had it edited.

So now Enchanted Etiquette is in the hands of my editor and is being discussed. There's a chance that this little idea started when I was just a young mother with tiny babies will become more than one book.

I can't express how blessed I feel in regards to my career as a newly soon to be published author has been. It pays to be determined and stick to your guns. We'll talk about that later.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

May Thirteenth

Happy Mothers day to all the wonderful women that have been an influence in my life.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Plot Point part of Sructure

by C. Michelle Jefferies



If you remember, last week we talked about the four parts of the story, and the four stages of character.

Today we're going to talk about plot points. Plot points are the defining moments in the story. They aare supposed to happen at the quarter marks in the story, IE PP1 at 1/4th the way into the story. However if they don't happen at exactly the proposed time or aren't just one scene, that's okay. I myself tend to have really short resolution stages and long mid points.



The first point in the story is called the hook.



It:

•Happens early in the story, preferably the first few chapters.



•Gives the reader some clue as to the conflict later in the story.



•Provides some action or conflict in the introduction part of the story.







The next point is called Plot Point 1. It happens at 1/4 the way through the story. It begins the reaction stageof the story, and the wanderer character stage.



It is:



•Most important part of your story.



•The MC’s call to action, or event that starts everything moving.



•The true introduction of the conflict.



•After this point the MC or Hero’s life can never be the same.



•Can be external or internal.



•Doesn’t have to be dark and earth shattering.





An essential element of Structure are Pinch Points.



They:

•Are a reminder of the conflict and bad guy throughout the story.



•Should happen at least once half way between PP1 and MP and once between MP and PP2.



•Can be sprinkled throughout the story.



Deepens the conflict, and raises the stakes.



The next Point is Mid Point, it is crutial to a good story. It marks the middle of the book and heralds in the active stage for the characters. This is where your character goes from wanderer to warior.



It:



•Can be a huge unexpected twist in the story leaving the characters and reader shocked, or something so subtle the MC doesn’t even know that things have changed. (but reader does)



•New information that changes the experience and understanding of the MC, the reader or both.



•Changes the MC from reactive stage to active stage



•Prevents the “sagging middle”



The last plot point is Plot Point 2, it happens at about 3/4 through the book and is where things wrap up and we move from active stage to resolution stage and where the character goes from warrior to martyr.



It is:



•The climax of the story. “The final car chase scene.”



•New information or something happens that takes the MC toward the conclusion of the story.



•The story shifts into resolution mode.



•No new info, or characters after this point



Which brings us to the resolution, in the Resolution we must:


•Hero must emerge and MC engages as the primary catalyst.

•Hero must conquer their inner demons and show personal growth.

•Ending of book should resonate with the readers.

•In a stand alone all major loose ends must be tied up.

•In a series only the book specific ends must be resolved, should leave some ends un finished leading into the next book.


I have drawn this out in a diagram. I hope this translates well.






Introduction ______Reactive _________ Active _______ Resolution



Orphan _________Wanderer_________Warrior _______ Martyr



Begining___________^________*________^_______*_______^_______________End



Plot Point 1 _________Mid Point _______ Plot Point 2 (Represented by ^)



Pinch Point 1________Pinch Point 2 (represented by *)





I hope you are enjoying this little jaunt into the world of Story Structure. I know it has revolutionized the way I write.