As I've been prepping, there's several parts that are screaming for audience participation. The only problem is, I'm worried that people might think I'm weird. Or a few croutons short of a salad if you get my drift. I mean, if someone is teaching you about building suspense and anticipation and has a large pin in their hand, would you be scared to be asked to come up and be an "assistant?" Or, if we're talking about fight scenes, wouldn't it be more fun to "act" things out? Oh man, my imagination is running away with me.
I even made a handout for my class. Want to see it?
Creating
Kick-Butt Conflict Using Action and Suspense
by Julie Coulter
Bellon
Conflict
and suspense are two of the reasons we get lost in a book. No matter what genre it is, we want to see
what’s going to happen and how these characters will overcome the obstacles
facing them. Yet, sometimes writers
don’t focus enough on keeping the tension taut and their readers in
suspense. These conflict techniques
will make your writing compelling to any reader, draw them in, and keep them
reading.
The Whole Point of the Story
Main
Conflict
Secondary
What’s Your Problem?
Internal
External
Raise The Stakes¾As Kenny Rogers Would Say
Know When to Hold ‘Em
Reader
Expectation
Realism
Deadlines
The Clock is Ticking¾Have You Created Suspense
and Anticipation?
Scene
Pacing
Hooks
Tension
Is It Over? Resolution or Twist? Tips on What to Do and
What to Avoid
Organic
Maguffins
Deus ex
machina
Writing Nuts and Bolts¾Choose Your Words
Sentence
Length
Story
Pacing
The Tension
Chart
Character
Goals and POV
Tips for Writing Action Scenes
The Domino Effect
Juggling the Action
True to Life
Tempo
Consequences
As you can see above, I even used my Kenny Rogers reference! I am so excited about this class. I wish you all could come. I mean, if you read that handout, wouldn't you want to come to it? Maybe I should have jazzed it up and put a graphic of a bomb under the table or something. Hopefully it's as fun and interesting in real life as it has been to prepare for it. And that people think it's helpful. Cross your fingers for me, okay? And maybe send good thoughts to the people I rope into being my "assistants." *evil grin*
What are you going to do this weekend? Anything fun?
6 comments:
*whining loudly* I want to come to your presentation!
I'm cleaning this weekend. Yeah, I need to whine.
I got lost reading your first sentence:
Conflict and suspense are two of the reasons we get lost in a book.
The next sentence kind of supports my warped perception, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't pan out and tell me how now to get lost. =) (This may not be a problem for everyone.)
I'm not sure what it says, but I was singing that little bit of Kenny just yesterday. And the best that you can hope for is you die in your sleep. =)
Augh, I wish I could come to your presentation, too, but I have too much conflict in RL to manage it, plus I have this big MacGuffin in the way.
Debra, I wish you could be there, too.
Jon, is it the "lost in the book" that is throwing you off? I'm trying to understand what's not working for you and it's hurting my poor little brain. LOL Too bad you can't come to we can discuss it in person! Next time. Hey, maybe you can bring your family to the Canada Day Celebration on Monday. It'll be fun.
And maybe the Kenny part you mentioned is an omen for my presentation tomorrow. Uh oh.
You're saying "we get lost in a book" meaning we get captivated by the book and lose ourselves as we fully embrace the story. I was reading it as "I got lost while reading, and couldn't figure out what was going on." You see, I wanted to be IN the action, seeing it take place, but I felt like I was watching one of those shaky-cam Bourne movies and I couldn't tell who was hitting who or who was winning until a body hit the floor.
You see?
I don't think I'll be able to manage the fam on Monday. Lucky to manage me.
Julie, as for your presentation tomorrow, I'm sure you'll have a few aces up your sleeves. If not, you need to know when to walk away, and know when to run. =)
Sound great! Wish I could be there.
Your class was so great! I especially loved you beating up a guy and explaining each of the punches ^-^ I'm glad I got to be there and meet you!
Post a Comment