Category: writing

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

I Never Finaled in the Genesis Contest

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

The semi-finalist results for the annual Genesis contest came out on Friday. Which means two things: Some people were super excited. Some people were feeling pretty deflated.

It also means there are going to be lots of posts flying around the blogosphere congratulating the semi-finalists. And there absolutely should be. Semi-finaling in the Genesis is a great accomplishment. One worthy of celebration.
 
But I also know reading those posts will be hard on the people who didn’t final.

So as happy as I am for those who got a phone call on Friday (one being my fabulous critique partner, Jeannie Campbell, who is an incredibly talented writer and an all-around amazing woman), I want to speak to the second group today.
 
I want to offer some encouragement.
 
Some hope.
 
A silver lining.
 
Last year, I read an email on the ACFW loop from a contestant who didn’t final. It went something like this: I hear a lot of stories about people who final in the Genesis contest and go to be published. I’d like to know if there’s anybody who has NOT finaled in the Genesis contest but went on to get published.
 
I could hear this woman’s desperation. She didn’t final and she wanted to know. Can this still happen for me?
 
At the time, I couldn’t answer. Because I wasn’t that person.
 
But this year is different. This year, I get to respond to that woman. And I have good news to share.
 
Here’s my story.
 
I entered the Genesis contest in 2009. Okay, let me clarify. I didn’t just enter. I entered three manuscripts. Yes, three. I remember secretly hoping all three would final. But May rolled around and I didn’t get a phone call. Not a single one.
 
I went to the 2009 ACFW conference, surrounded by people wearing those shiny Genesis Finalist badges on their name tags. I remember feeling inadequate. How would I ever snag an agent or editor’s attention without one of those shiny badges?
 
But two months later, I got a phone call from Rachelle Gardner and all of a sudden, I had an agent. I didn’t final, but I had an agent.
 
I decided to enter the Genesis again in 2010. This time, with incredible trepidation. Because this time, I had an agent. I don’t know if you know this or not, but a very real fear by most agented authors who don’t have a contract is losing their agent because their work won’t sell. Not finaling in the contest would do nothing but exacerbate that fear.
 
Guess what?
 
I didn’t final.
 
Enter humiliation.
 
Lots and lots of humiliation.
 
And an exacerbated fear.
 
I went to the 2010 ACFW conference. I still didn’t get to wear one of those fancy badges.
 
But two months later, I got another phone call from Rachelle. With news I desperately wanted to hear. Waterbrook Multnomah offered me a two-book deal.
 
My first book is scheduled for release in May, 2012. It’s a book I entered twice in the Genesis. It’s a book that never finaled.
 
So for those of you out there wondering. Can this can still happen for me?
 
It can.
 
I’m proof.
 
Take the feedback. Use the good stuff. Ditch the crazy stuff. Improve your manuscript. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep putting yourself out there. And trust that God has a plan and a purpose for your words.
 
Let’s Talk: How are you feeling post-Genesis results?

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