Category: Katie Ganshert

Scenes that Sizzle

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I love James Scott Bell’s advice on improving scenes in his amazingly awesome book, Revision and Self-Editing (a must-own for every novelist). He recommends going through your manuscript and identifying the ten weakest scenes, cutting number ten (the weakest), and doing the following to strengthen the remaining nine. But if you have the time, why not do the following for every single one of your scenes? Think how amazing your story would be.

First, every scene should have the three O’s, as JCB calls them:
1. An objective: the point of view character wants to accomplish something
2. An obstacle: something needs to get in the way of the objective
3. An outcome: the scene’s ending

So here’s what you do:

First, determined your character’s objective.

  • If there isn’t one, that should be a huge warning sign. Either get one or cut the scene.
  • Once you understand the objective, ask yourself if you can strengthen it. Can you make it more important? Can you reveal something that makes the objective even more crucial than your protagonist originally thought?
  • Or maybe your objective is lame. Start brainstorming! Write a list of ten alternative objectives. Think outside the box. Pick the most original one and revise the scene accordingly.

Second, examine your obstacle.

  • What’s stopping your character from getting what he or she wants? Is it another character? Is it the character himself? Is it a physical circumstance – like a disability or the weather or a traffic jam?
  • Once you’ve figured out the obstacle, ask yourself if you can strengthen it. Can you make it huge? Can you make it more immediate?
  • An excellent tool I like to utilize when it comes to intensifying my obstacles is the ticking time clock. Can you find a way to put a time limit on your character? So-and-so has to accomplish the scene objective in a certain amount of time or else? It does wonders for increasing tension.

Third, consider your outcome.

  • Does the character accomplish his goal? Why?
  • Have you considered ending with a disaster? Something that keeps the reader tense and the character away from his ultimate story goal. Because after all, it’s that tension which keeps your reader turning pages.
  • A disaster is usually the best way to end your scenes.. So ask yourself how you can make things worse.

There you go, courtesy of the amazing James Scott Bell. Some sure fire tips for making your scenes jump off the page. Hope they help!

Questions to Ponder: How do you make your scenes jump off the page? How do you decide if you’re going to keep them or ax them? What tips of the trade can you share with me when it comes to revisions?

For more help with scenes, check out 6 Elements of a Scene, Examining a Scene, and Scene and Sequel

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3 C’s – It’s Friday

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Cares:
I typed 11 pages of revision notes this week and jumped in. I know how to fix the bad parts and improve the good parts. I know who I want my characters to be and how to ramp up the conflict. It’ll be a lot of work and I’m not sure I’ll get it done before the conference, but I’m relieved to know everything is fixable.

Concerns:
School starts in a week. I’m trying not to get depressed about it.

Celebrations:
I’m completely in love with my story.

I talked to one of my friends on the phone about what makes us fall in love with certain literary heroes. Like what is it about Mr. Darcy that makes girls swoon? What is it about Edward that turns so many Twi-Mom’s into crazies? I’m not talking about the actors being good-looking either. I mean, what is it that truly makes these characters so memorable and gripping? We came up with a great list and I can’t wait to give my hero in A Broken Kind of Beautiful some of these traits!

God is so good. I felt deflated after reading my manuscript. Then I have a day like Monday where He shows up like only He can and all these ideas leap inside my head. Ideas on how to improve the story. Ideas that rekindled my excitement. Ideas that didn’t come from me, but from Him.

Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations today? What makes a literary hero memorable to you?removetweetmeme

Do Nonwriters Get It?

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Writers get other writers. We do. One of the reasons I loved going to the ACFW conference last year, and one of the reasons I’m excited to go again this year, is that everybody gets it. When I say something like, “I’m not published”, people don’t secretly think, “She must be lousy.” Because writers understand seeking publication is often a two-step-forward-1.99-step-back endeavor.

Or if I say, “I have to sacrifice time with friends, sometimes family, and even sleep, in order to get my writing in” people don’t secretly think, “Why is she giving up important things for a hobby?”. Because writers understand that our pursuit involves sacrifice, and while those sacrifices aren’t easy, they’re ultimately worth it.

I love talking about writing with other writers. But in the real world, where I hear and touch and converse, how often am I with other writers? I’d say about once a year, for three days. So what do I do with those other 362 days of the year? Do I keep my writing to myself?

Last Monday, Heather asked:
Do you often talk to your family about the writing process? I’m just curious how other family members connect to your struggles/successes as an author.

Here’s my answer:
Yes, I do talk to my family and friends about the writing process. Not all of them and certainly not all the time, but there are a select few I share with. Like Heather said in her comment, my husband hears the bulk of it. He truly gets it. He understands. In fact, I’ve heard him on the phone before, with his family or friends and he’ll say something like, “No, she’s not published, but she has an agent, which is huge and getting published is super hard. Plus, the industry is moving slow…” Makes me smile. Makes me think there should be a writing retreat for our spouses, so they can get together and commiserate, because they get what it means to be married to a writer.

He’s not the only one I talk to though. Other family members and friends ask questions, and I do my best to answer them. I don’t start conversations about it, but if they ask, I attempt to share my struggles and successes. Some get it. Some don’t. When I told people I got an agent, not everybody understood. Some smiled when they should have screamed. Some patted me on the back when they should have grabbed me around the waist and jumped up and down. Some blinked at me and said something like, “Do you have to pay her with your own money?” I could tell they worried I’d fallen prey to an online scam. Those responses aren’t wrong, they just showcase the lack of understanding.

But, I do have these two friends. These two amazing women who are not writers, but for some God-blessed reason, totally get it. They got super excited when I left for my first conference. They wanted to hear all about it when I got back. They jumped and squealed and hugged me when I told them about getting an agent. Both of them could tell you about the importance of an agent, what the agent does, the chain of hands my manuscript passes through before it reaches Pub Board, and how Pub Board is the make-it-or-break it meeting. They’ve read all my books and can’t wait for me to finish my 5th. I’m 100% positive God put these two women in my life to encourage and uplift me when the whole pursuit has me feeling discouraged and alone. Both of these women know, with a confidence so much greater than my own, that it isn’t a matter of if I get published, but when.

I realize I’m completely blessed. It’s hard to come by people like this. A lot of it we can’t control. It comes down to chemistry, and timing, and personalities meshing.

But here’s one thing I do know:
I would have completely missed the blessing if I wouldn’t have taken that first frightening step and told them I’m a writer to begin with. That simple admission opened the door for the relationship we have now. So don’t be afraid to tell people you’re a writer. Don’t be afraid to answer their questions, even if 95% of the people you tell, won’t get it. The 5% that do make up for the rest.

Questions to Ponder: Do you share your writing struggles/successes with friends and family? Do they get it?

*Thanks to Melissa and Susan, my two blessings, and the others (you know who you are) who’ve supported and encouraged me along the way.removetweetmeme