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Phases

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

My husband and I go through these weird phases. We get on some sort of kick and run with it for awhile, until we get so absolutely sick of it that one or both of us agrees to put it away for awhile. Here are some examples of Ganshert family phases:

There was a period of time in our life when we “called” everything. For example: I call you do the dishes. Or, I call you feed Bubba. Sort of like elementary school – only we weren’t calling “Not it!”. And for whatever reason, we went by this rule. This started leading to arguments. It was at this point we decided maybe there was a healthier way to assign chores.

We went through a very bizarre phase where we would go to the mall and set down different coins (like pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) and sit on a bench, and see if anybody would pick them up. We discovered nobody cared about anything less than a quarter. I can’t remember how this started – I think we were at the airport and our flight kept getting delayed, so this is what we resorted to for entertainment. We are easily amused.

We went through a phase where we stopped listening to the radio and would sing instead. This often led to hysterical laughter. If you heard either of us sing, you would understand why. It doesn’t help that Ryan always makes up his own lyrics to songs.

Our most recent phase originated from Ryan watching Donnie Brasco. Now, whenever I ask him a question or ask him to do something, his first response is, “Fah-get about it!” I have a feeling this phase will be leaving quite soon.

I go through phases is reading and writing too. I’ll get on one author and read all of his/her books . *cough* Francine Rivers *cough* Or I’ll get hooked on a certain genre and read all those books. Or, as a writer, I’ll fall in love with a word or a phrase or a character trait and find myself using them often in my writing. I have to be very careful here, since this can get repetitive.

Question to ponder: What phases have you gone through in life? If you’re a writer, what writing phases have your gone through?removetweetmeme

6 Elements of a Scene

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I am taking an online course through ACFW called “Unputdownable”. The course covers the elements that make a book impossible to put down. One of the lessons focused on scene writing.

When I read this lesson, a big light switch flipped on in my brain. It was definitely an AH-HA moment. Believe it or not, when I wrote novels in the past, I didn’t think in terms of scenes. Often, I’d just write whatever came to mind that day. But really, books are just like movies, and each scene needs to have a purpose. Each scene needs to drive the overall plot of the book forward.

My course instructor laid out 6 defining elements each scene should include:

1. Point of View (POV) character: each scene needs to be told from one – and only one – character’s point of view

2. Goal: this POV character needs to have a scene goal – there should be something this person wants to accomplish or prevent throughout this scene.

3. Motivation: there should be a logical reason why this character has such a goal.

4. Conflict: this is the tension – every scene should have it. What is preventing the POV character from reaching his/her goal?

5. Climax: the high point of the scene – the part where emotions are running the highest and the reader is most engaged

6. Resolution: how does the scene end – usually, the resolution should end with some sort of hook – something that makes the reader want to keep going.

My crit buddy thinks I am OCD – and I don’t question her assessment (she is a licensed therapist, after all) – but I actually went through Velvet Sky and made a document that outlines every single scene in my book. For every scene, I address each of the six elements.

It took FOR-EVER (Sandlot style) to do this. But now that I have it done, I feel very secure in the direction I am headed. Does that mean my characters won’t throw me for a loop every now and then and take my story in an unexpected direction? Of course not! But it does mean each scene I write from here on out will have a purpose. Each scene will drive the overall plot of my story forward, which feels good.

Here’s another bonus to my OCD behavior. Some writers have an overall word count quota they set out to accomplish each day. I’ve never been good at this. Now, instead of a word count quota, my goal is to write one scene a day. And what’s even better – I can pick and choose. If I’m having problems with motivation – I can skip to a high-intensity or fun scene and write away. If I’m particularly focused that day – I can choose a scene that I know is going to be painful or hard to write. So, regardless of the time and effort this outline took, I think I’m going to be doing it with every story I write from here on out.

Question to ponder: What has been an AH-HA moment in your writing journey? Have you ever read or heard something that just flipped on a light switch, and your writing is better because of it? Please share, as your AH-HA moments will probably teach me lots!!removetweetmeme

Walking in the Dark

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

 

When my brother and I were younger, we made up something called The Dark Game. When we had sleepovers with friends, we’d shut off all the lights in the basement. Everybody would hide while the seeker counted upstairs. When we were done hiding, the seeker would stumble down into the pitch black and grope and feel and listen for the hiders. Sometimes, for fun, we’d chuck pillows at the seeker. Or, if we were feeling reckless, we’d dart from one spot to another, discombobulating the seeker by making weird noises. If you got caught, you’d have to sit on the couch and stay there for the rest of the game, unless another brave hider decided to sneak over and free you. Our friends loved the dark game.
Sometimes, when I’m writing, I feel like I’m playing the dark game all over again. I feel like I’m groping in the dark, trying to find my characters, my scenes, my stories. And they’re darting around, chucking hints in my direction, but always out of reach.
My husband asked me yesterday if I ever stop thinking about my story. He asked this after I started talking to him about Bethany… again. I will be the first to admit that my stories consume me. But in my defense, they are nearly impossible to put away when the plot keeps growing and changing. Plotting out a story is such a frustratingly invigorating time. Invigorating because there are times a few of the players come into view, and I know I’m that much closer to reaching my goal. Frustrating because just when I think I’ve pinned down a scene, an idea sneaks up and frees it from the couch, and I have to start back at square one. I keep waiting for somebody to turn on the lights. The game would be so much easier. But then, what’s the fun in that?
Question to ponder: For nostalgia’s sake, what fun games did you make up as a child?

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