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One Rule to Rule Them All

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

There are lots of rules when it comes to writing.

No head hopping. Avoid passive sentence structure. No cliches. Show, don’t tell. Write using scene and sequel. Make sure your scenes have GMCs. Write tight. Be specific. Don’t use a prologue. Or if you do, make sure it’s done in the correct way.

Et Cetera.

Et Cetera.

Et Cetera.

Yet, we pick up books – published books – and we see the rules broken. And we scratch our heads because we don’t break the rules.

Do you know in The Help, a best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett, there is a scene completely told in objective point of view? The story’s told from three different perspectives, all in first-person point of view. Each of the three voices fleshed out in a way that spins my head, it’s that good. And then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there’s this one scene.

This one scene that reads like a newspaper article. A detached telling of the events. As if the reader were hovering above the party observing the goings-on of each character. Unattached.

Kathryn Stockett broke a rule.

And it completely, one hundred percent works.

I remember laying in bed, reading that scene, crazy impressed because of how well it works. And I remember thinking….

Kathryn Stockett gets it. She understands that amongst the lot of rules hemming us writers in, there is only one that should never ever be broken. There is only one we should vow to live by. And it’s this.

Do what works.

Three simple words.

Do what works.

It’s a rule that overrides all the others. It’s a rule that lets us break all the others. It’s a rule that helps us understand all the others.

Because, usually, following the rules is what works best.

But not always.

So the next time you’re stuck, wondering if you should prologue or not. Wondering if you should tell or not. Wondering if you should throw in a random point of view or not. Ask yourself this one question:

Does it work?

And if the answer is yes, go for it.

Let’s Talk: How much of a rule-follower are you when it comes to writing? When it comes to life? Is there one rule you live by?removetweetmeme

Tips from Television

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I’m sort of amazed by the writers of Vampire Diaries.

I know. I know. Some of you are rolling your eyes. You’re not into vampires. You think it’s too much like Twilight (even though, technically, Vampire Diaries came first). It’s just another one of those soap-opera-like CW shows.

But seriously guys. It. is. awesome.

Every week, the episode blows me away. Something crazy happens that I did not see coming. I think to myself, they can’t possibly top this. This should have been the finale. Yet somehow, the writers stick their heads together and outdo themselves yet again.

And the whole time, I’m studying. Trying to figure out their secrets.

Because these writers are experts in rewarding their audience, something Vince Mooney talked about over on Seekerville in a post titled, How Making Your Reading Experience More Rewarding Can Spell Greater Success.

Here are three way this show rewards the audience and three ways we can do the same:

Give them what they want way sooner than they expect.
How many times have you read a book or watched a show and you’re dying to get this one answer, but you know you’re going to have to wait until the end to get it? It happens all the time. Because in the writing world, we talk a lot about prolonging tension. But what if, instead, you just give the reader what they want? What if, sometimes, it’s better not to drag something out? Do you know how satisfying that can be?

Answer the question then hook them with another. 
Some of you may be thinking, “Yeah, but if I give them what they want, then I’m going to diffuse the tension and there will be no reason to keep reading.” That’s very true. If you don’t have another hook waiting in your pocket. This show is the master in tension, release, tension, release, tension, release. Which means the audience is delighted, hooked, delighted, hooked, delighted, hooked. I don’t know about you, but that seems like a much better model than drawing out the tension to the point of frustration, even if the ending is really satisfying. Why not satisfy your audience multiple times? Hook them multiple times?

Embrace the shock-factor
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this show and thought, No way did that just happen! The writers throw in a giant, unexpected twist. They wrap something up so much sooner than expected. They kill somebody off that I thought for sure was safe. All which brings me to the edge of my seat, wanting more. Seriously, there is never a dull moment.

These three tips all share a common thread, and it’s this:

Don’t hold back.
Vampire Diaries brings it every time. It’s like watching season finale after season finale. They don’t wait to drop the big stuff until the end. They drop the bomb and find a way to come up with a bigger one.

I guarantee if we find a way to master this skill, we’ll write books readers can’t put down.

Let’s Talk: What writing tips have you learned from television?

P.S. These tips are all things I’ve learned from the show. I’ve never read the books.

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Push!

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

About two and a half years ago, Brogan was born. We were in the hospital and this kid was coming and I was in some major pain. Ryan’s rubbing my back, like a good husband, trying to ease my discomfort and I remember, clear as day, looking over at him and saying, “Could you please just not touch me?”

So he stops rubbing my back and starts giving me a pep talk. “You’re doing great, Kate. Keep it up. You can do this.” I’m huddled in the fetal position (not recommended by birthing instructors, but it worked for me) and I say, “Could you please just not talk?”

Poor hubby. He stood in the corner and handed me ice chips.

I’m ninety thousand words into my manuscript and instead of typing more words this morning, I’m avoiding. Because there’s this scene I need to write and I have no idea how to write it. It’s high emotion. My main character is beyond distraught, verging on hysterical. All the while, she’s trying to make this decision and to make matters worse (for me, not her) – the scene involves technology. And I know next to nothing about technology.

So basically, I’m majorly intimidated.

I keep typing a few sentences. Deleting them. Type. Delete. Type. Delete. Pull out hair. Type some more.

And the most frustrating part of all is that I know, once I get this scene written, the rest of the words will flow right out.

Sort of like when you’re in labor.

The hardest part is delivering the baby’s head. Push. Push. Push. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. But once that head comes out, man. The rest of the body is a piece of cake.

So, this post is mostly for me right now. Because I’m in big-time need of a pep talk. I’m convinced this dang baby is never going to come out and I need somebody to squeeze my hand and tell me, “You’re doing great. Just a little bit further. You’re almost there. Now dang it Katie, push!” Only this time I’m not going to make anyone stand in the corner in silence.

Three tips for writers who are closing in on The End:

Visualize. Close your eyes and picture the scene unfolding like a movie. Take some time to work it out in your head first. Let yourself feel the emotion of the character.

Focus. Focus on the goal. Focus on The End. Focus on the satisfaction of saying, “I did it!” I birthed another novel. It is quite a feeling. Breathe in focus. Breathe out anxiety. You can do this. Others have done it before you. Heck, you’ve even done it before. It is not impossible.

Push. Push past the fear. It’s there. That feeling of, “What if I seriously cannot do this?” But don’t let that stop you from pushing. It’s going to be messy. It’s not going to be pretty. That’s okay. It’s not supposed to be. You can go back and clean it up later. Just bear down and write.

Visualize. Focus. Push. You can do it.

Let’s Talk: Where are you in the writing process right now? Plotting? Starting a rough draft? Ending one? Editing? What kinds of things do you do to push through to the end?removetweetmeme