Happy belated New Year to everyone! My poor blog has been so forgotten this past year and I know I must get back into the habit of creating blogs and updating this poor thing.
So... Here we go.. What has been happening since November??
Edits! Edits! And, you guess it, more edits! Luckily that process is behind me and my lovely editor, Lea, and the novella - Dragon's Grace - moved forward. So much that I have a tag and blurb to share with all of you and a cover!! OMG! This cover is fabulous! Ever so sexy, but not forgetting my beloved dragon. I hope that you all will love the story of Callum and Lauri as much as I've enjoyed writing them. They've been through a lot, but love will still find a way to hold on.
In between edits, holidays, and work - I've been working on the next book in the MacDrakken series. Tentatively it's called Dragon's Sanity. It has a new hero and heroine not seen in earlier book, but questions risen within the first book will begin to find answers here. Plus, I'm adding more information about the wonderful world of the dragon warriors and guardians.
I have another short story with Samhain - a group of sexy cougars in the Northwest.
Okay, I think I have everything for now. My next post will be the fantabulous cover and blurb for Dragon's Grace! Hopefully it will be up and ready for sale in April 2010!
Hugs and purrs to all!
Monday, January 18, 2010
New Year Updates n News!
Happy belated New Year to everyone! My poor blog has been so forgotten this past year and I know I must get back into the habit of creating blogs and updating this poor thing.
So... Here we go.. What has been happening since November??
Edits! Edits! And, you guess it, more edits! Luckily that process is behind me and my lovely editor, Lea, and the novella - Dragon's Grace - moved forward. So much that I have a tag and blurb to share with all of you and a cover!! OMG! This cover is fabulous! Ever so sexy, but not forgetting my beloved dragon. I hope that you all will love the story of Callum and Lauri as much as I've enjoyed writing them. They've been through a lot, but love will still find a way to hold on.
In between edits, holidays, and work - I've been working on the next book in the MacDrakken series. Tentatively it's called Dragon's Sanity. It has a new hero and heroine not seen in earlier book, but questions risen within the first book will begin to find answers here. Plus, I'm adding more information about the wonderful world of the dragon warriors and guardians.
I have another short story with Samhain - a group of sexy cougars in the Northwest.
Okay, I think I have everything for now. My next post will be the fantabulous cover and blurb for Dragon's Grace! Hopefully it will be up and ready for sale in April 2010!
Hugs and purrs to all!
So... Here we go.. What has been happening since November??
Edits! Edits! And, you guess it, more edits! Luckily that process is behind me and my lovely editor, Lea, and the novella - Dragon's Grace - moved forward. So much that I have a tag and blurb to share with all of you and a cover!! OMG! This cover is fabulous! Ever so sexy, but not forgetting my beloved dragon. I hope that you all will love the story of Callum and Lauri as much as I've enjoyed writing them. They've been through a lot, but love will still find a way to hold on.
In between edits, holidays, and work - I've been working on the next book in the MacDrakken series. Tentatively it's called Dragon's Sanity. It has a new hero and heroine not seen in earlier book, but questions risen within the first book will begin to find answers here. Plus, I'm adding more information about the wonderful world of the dragon warriors and guardians.
I have another short story with Samhain - a group of sexy cougars in the Northwest.
Okay, I think I have everything for now. My next post will be the fantabulous cover and blurb for Dragon's Grace! Hopefully it will be up and ready for sale in April 2010!
Hugs and purrs to all!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
NaNo Time & New Contract
So much to say.. so far behind.
It is day 10 of NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org). For those who haven't heard of this wonderful site, you sign up (for free) to write a 50,000 word novel from midnight Nov 1st to Midnight Nov 30th. One complete novel. This doesn't mean writing one word 50,000 times. Uhuh.. You need to figure out characters, plot, action, dialogue and all that is around it within this steadfast deadline that looms ahead of you.
Me.. I'm 15,925 words in my new YA fantasy novel. I wasn't planning on writing a YA. I wanted to work on a new paranormal romance, but it didn't happen that way. I wasn't sure what to write up until Nov 1st hit me. Then a few days before, these young characters came forward and started talking to me.
First, a young man captured and held during the time of the Holocaust started telling me his story. Then came another young lady who bound herself in special ribbons to hold back her magic. Slowly, seven teens in all, from various paranormal races and historical times, came forward to combine into one team. Leading them is a powerful sorcerer called Alistair.
Their powers are only beginning to be understood. Two characters have yet to appear in the story. The evil they are facing is still a very BIG unknown. Not sure what they will face, if they even face it in this beginning story... Though, it's something I could see being publish when it's cleaned up and better organized. I can see these teens coming together, each one coming forward in a story their own, but adding to the team, not taking over.
We'll see as NaNo continues on and the words keep adding up to the final count. That's the beauty of NaNo, you never know what it'll throw at you and your pesky muse.
As for the new contract... Well.. I'm still in complete and utter awe of this. My novella, Dragon's Grace, was accepted by Lyrical Press, Inc. I found this wonderful email in my inbox when I woke up on Nov 1st, all ready to begin NaNo. Instead this email made me stop, cry in glee when I read those wonderful words, and dance around my apartment. I even made the titillating news announcement to my parents and grandparents when I saw them later for dinner.
Sigh.. A first true novella with my name on the cover. As more news comes along, I will pass it on.
Until then, happy dreams. Happy writing.
It is day 10 of NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org). For those who haven't heard of this wonderful site, you sign up (for free) to write a 50,000 word novel from midnight Nov 1st to Midnight Nov 30th. One complete novel. This doesn't mean writing one word 50,000 times. Uhuh.. You need to figure out characters, plot, action, dialogue and all that is around it within this steadfast deadline that looms ahead of you.
Me.. I'm 15,925 words in my new YA fantasy novel. I wasn't planning on writing a YA. I wanted to work on a new paranormal romance, but it didn't happen that way. I wasn't sure what to write up until Nov 1st hit me. Then a few days before, these young characters came forward and started talking to me.
First, a young man captured and held during the time of the Holocaust started telling me his story. Then came another young lady who bound herself in special ribbons to hold back her magic. Slowly, seven teens in all, from various paranormal races and historical times, came forward to combine into one team. Leading them is a powerful sorcerer called Alistair.
Their powers are only beginning to be understood. Two characters have yet to appear in the story. The evil they are facing is still a very BIG unknown. Not sure what they will face, if they even face it in this beginning story... Though, it's something I could see being publish when it's cleaned up and better organized. I can see these teens coming together, each one coming forward in a story their own, but adding to the team, not taking over.
We'll see as NaNo continues on and the words keep adding up to the final count. That's the beauty of NaNo, you never know what it'll throw at you and your pesky muse.
As for the new contract... Well.. I'm still in complete and utter awe of this. My novella, Dragon's Grace, was accepted by Lyrical Press, Inc. I found this wonderful email in my inbox when I woke up on Nov 1st, all ready to begin NaNo. Instead this email made me stop, cry in glee when I read those wonderful words, and dance around my apartment. I even made the titillating news announcement to my parents and grandparents when I saw them later for dinner.
Sigh.. A first true novella with my name on the cover. As more news comes along, I will pass it on.
Until then, happy dreams. Happy writing.
NaNo Time & New Contract
So much to say.. so far behind.
It is day 10 of NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org). For those who haven't heard of this wonderful site, you sign up (for free) to write a 50,000 word novel from midnight Nov 1st to Midnight Nov 30th. One complete novel. This doesn't mean writing one word 50,000 times. Uhuh.. You need to figure out characters, plot, action, dialogue and all that is around it within this steadfast deadline that looms ahead of you.
Me.. I'm 15,925 words in my new YA fantasy novel. I wasn't planning on writing a YA. I wanted to work on a new paranormal romance, but it didn't happen that way. I wasn't sure what to write up until Nov 1st hit me. Then a few days before, these young characters came forward and started talking to me.
First, a young man captured and held during the time of the Holocaust started telling me his story. Then came another young lady who bound herself in special ribbons to hold back her magic. Slowly, seven teens in all, from various paranormal races and historical times, came forward to combine into one team. Leading them is a powerful sorcerer called Alistair.
Their powers are only beginning to be understood. Two characters have yet to appear in the story. The evil they are facing is still a very BIG unknown. Not sure what they will face, if they even face it in this beginning story... Though, it's something I could see being publish when it's cleaned up and better organized. I can see these teens coming together, each one coming forward in a story their own, but adding to the team, not taking over.
We'll see as NaNo continues on and the words keep adding up to the final count. That's the beauty of NaNo, you never know what it'll throw at you and your pesky muse.
As for the new contract... Well.. I'm still in complete and utter awe of this. My novella, Dragon's Grace, was accepted by Lyrical Press, Inc. I found this wonderful email in my inbox when I woke up on Nov 1st, all ready to begin NaNo. Instead this email made me stop, cry in glee when I read those wonderful words, and dance around my apartment. I even made the titillating news announcement to my parents and grandparents when I saw them later for dinner.
Sigh.. A first true novella with my name on the cover. As more news comes along, I will pass it on.
Until then, happy dreams. Happy writing.
It is day 10 of NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org). For those who haven't heard of this wonderful site, you sign up (for free) to write a 50,000 word novel from midnight Nov 1st to Midnight Nov 30th. One complete novel. This doesn't mean writing one word 50,000 times. Uhuh.. You need to figure out characters, plot, action, dialogue and all that is around it within this steadfast deadline that looms ahead of you.
Me.. I'm 15,925 words in my new YA fantasy novel. I wasn't planning on writing a YA. I wanted to work on a new paranormal romance, but it didn't happen that way. I wasn't sure what to write up until Nov 1st hit me. Then a few days before, these young characters came forward and started talking to me.
First, a young man captured and held during the time of the Holocaust started telling me his story. Then came another young lady who bound herself in special ribbons to hold back her magic. Slowly, seven teens in all, from various paranormal races and historical times, came forward to combine into one team. Leading them is a powerful sorcerer called Alistair.
Their powers are only beginning to be understood. Two characters have yet to appear in the story. The evil they are facing is still a very BIG unknown. Not sure what they will face, if they even face it in this beginning story... Though, it's something I could see being publish when it's cleaned up and better organized. I can see these teens coming together, each one coming forward in a story their own, but adding to the team, not taking over.
We'll see as NaNo continues on and the words keep adding up to the final count. That's the beauty of NaNo, you never know what it'll throw at you and your pesky muse.
As for the new contract... Well.. I'm still in complete and utter awe of this. My novella, Dragon's Grace, was accepted by Lyrical Press, Inc. I found this wonderful email in my inbox when I woke up on Nov 1st, all ready to begin NaNo. Instead this email made me stop, cry in glee when I read those wonderful words, and dance around my apartment. I even made the titillating news announcement to my parents and grandparents when I saw them later for dinner.
Sigh.. A first true novella with my name on the cover. As more news comes along, I will pass it on.
Until then, happy dreams. Happy writing.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A simple update
For a writer, I have no trouble coming up with ideas for a new story. I often have multiple ideas coming up in my crazy mind. Almost any time I get the need to write, I pull up different wips to add too depending on what I want to work on. Unless there is one particular story I'm working on to get out as a submission, then I knuckle down and concentrate just on that.
So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::
Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.
Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.
WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..
Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.
Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.
Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.
Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.
Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.
Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.
So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::
Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.
Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.
WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..
Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.
Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.
Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.
Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.
Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.
Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.
A simple update
For a writer, I have no trouble coming up with ideas for a new story. I often have multiple ideas coming up in my crazy mind. Almost any time I get the need to write, I pull up different wips to add too depending on what I want to work on. Unless there is one particular story I'm working on to get out as a submission, then I knuckle down and concentrate just on that.
So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::
Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.
Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.
WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..
Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.
Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.
Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.
Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.
Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.
Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.
So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::
Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.
Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.
WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..
Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.
Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.
Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.
Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.
Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.
Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Lowdown on Info-Dumping
Exposition. Information dumping. Overlong narration.
What is all of this??
There are all types of ways for writers to convey information to their readers about the plot, character, setting, and theme of their story.
Still, how much exposition/info-dumping is too much?
Most writers know that too much info-dumping can bog down the drama, the plot, and just kill the momentum and your reader’s attention. More importantly, it could be a big part whether the editor decides to send you another R letter to be pasted on your wall or that glorious Acceptance letter and ‘we want to buy your story’ call that we all wish to hear.
So… What do we do about it? How much dumping can we do before it is overkill and derail your story? It’s that fine balance we must deal with while weaving our storyline, plots, and characters together, all the while walking on that thin wire between glorious narration and dumping.
There are ways to give information without imparting a lot of information to your readers and your poor, over-worked, over-wrought editor but still give everyone the background they need to enjoy the story. Besides, we all know that paragraphs and paragraphs of long narrative are skipped by most readers (I do it at times. I’m sure you’ve done it a time or too). This break of attention upsets your immersion into the story, you are so busy skipping long narrative sections that you (or your editor) aren’t diving deep in the story.
Bad. Bad. Bad.
This isn’t good because we often miss a key piece of information that is lying there within all that narrative for you to find and realize how important it is to the entire plot. Umm.. Yikes! That’s not a good thing for you as the writer or you as the reader.
After a bit of searching, I found some strategies for handling info dumping and gently giving this needed and vital information to your reader (and editor) in a better fashion that encourages them to stay with the story. I found this first series from the website of ‘The Rth Dimension – Fiction Writing (http://www.therthdimension.org/FictionWriting/fiction_writing.htm):
Deductive Introspection-- Character puts two and two together in his head as the reader "watches"
Introspective Reminiscing--One or more characters reminisce about past events crucial for the reader to understand what's happening.
Flashbacks
"Stranger in a Strange Land"--Person or alien in an new environment has to ask questions; reader gets educated as the plot develops
"The Briefing"--Character in a new situation is briefed by a more knowledgeable person or persons; the reader listens in
"The Bard"-- Poetry at the start or in the interior of a chapter telling us something about the situation and/or characters (as in JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS or Mike Resnick's SANTIAGO)
"Media Blurbs"--Encyclopedic, newspaper, newscasts, e-mail messages or book excerpts at the start or inside a chapter that conveys info (as in Asimov's FOUNDATION TRILOGY; Van Vogt's THE WEAPON SHOPS OF ISHER; Vernor Vinge's A FIRE UPON THE DEEP)
"Strategic Character"--Character specifically chosen by the author so that she's always at the right place at the right time to see something the main character can't
"The Dr. Watson"--the sidekick approach (as in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES)
"Strategic Debate" --two or more characters argue; during the argument, important information is brought out.
There is another technique used in Fantasy and Paranormal stories with world building. It is called “Incluing” which is a technique where the reader will gradually be exposed to the background information about the world – the setting, the history behind a group of shapeshifters/vampires/fae/etc. As a writer, you will clue the readers to the world you’re building without them really being aware that this is what you’re doing.
In essence, this incluing is the opposite of pure dumping. How can this be accomplished. Well here are a couple of more ways (probably duplicates of the above list):
Info is giving out during a conversation between various characters – gotta love the dialogue.
Back ground details are wonderful to be parsed throughout the story
Establish a scene where a character is followed through a daily routine or life
Then the offhand mention of something behind an open door can also establish familiarity to the world and doesn’t call attention to the happening by the reader.
Whether incluing or using some of the other above techniques, just be sure to scatter these wonderful tidbits of information seamlessly through the test. Make sure they don’t bring the plot/drama to a complete and utter halt.
Let everything naturally flow within the narrative and dialogue and the situation will not jar the poor reader/editor out of their immersion into your story.
When in doubt of how to do this, set aside your story, pick up a few books and check out how other authors handle this necessary lesson of writing.
No matter what… Happy writing!!
What is all of this??
There are all types of ways for writers to convey information to their readers about the plot, character, setting, and theme of their story.
Still, how much exposition/info-dumping is too much?
Most writers know that too much info-dumping can bog down the drama, the plot, and just kill the momentum and your reader’s attention. More importantly, it could be a big part whether the editor decides to send you another R letter to be pasted on your wall or that glorious Acceptance letter and ‘we want to buy your story’ call that we all wish to hear.
So… What do we do about it? How much dumping can we do before it is overkill and derail your story? It’s that fine balance we must deal with while weaving our storyline, plots, and characters together, all the while walking on that thin wire between glorious narration and dumping.
There are ways to give information without imparting a lot of information to your readers and your poor, over-worked, over-wrought editor but still give everyone the background they need to enjoy the story. Besides, we all know that paragraphs and paragraphs of long narrative are skipped by most readers (I do it at times. I’m sure you’ve done it a time or too). This break of attention upsets your immersion into the story, you are so busy skipping long narrative sections that you (or your editor) aren’t diving deep in the story.
Bad. Bad. Bad.
This isn’t good because we often miss a key piece of information that is lying there within all that narrative for you to find and realize how important it is to the entire plot. Umm.. Yikes! That’s not a good thing for you as the writer or you as the reader.
After a bit of searching, I found some strategies for handling info dumping and gently giving this needed and vital information to your reader (and editor) in a better fashion that encourages them to stay with the story. I found this first series from the website of ‘The Rth Dimension – Fiction Writing (http://www.therthdimension.org/FictionWriting/fiction_writing.htm):
Deductive Introspection-- Character puts two and two together in his head as the reader "watches"
Introspective Reminiscing--One or more characters reminisce about past events crucial for the reader to understand what's happening.
Flashbacks
"Stranger in a Strange Land"--Person or alien in an new environment has to ask questions; reader gets educated as the plot develops
"The Briefing"--Character in a new situation is briefed by a more knowledgeable person or persons; the reader listens in
"The Bard"-- Poetry at the start or in the interior of a chapter telling us something about the situation and/or characters (as in JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS or Mike Resnick's SANTIAGO)
"Media Blurbs"--Encyclopedic, newspaper, newscasts, e-mail messages or book excerpts at the start or inside a chapter that conveys info (as in Asimov's FOUNDATION TRILOGY; Van Vogt's THE WEAPON SHOPS OF ISHER; Vernor Vinge's A FIRE UPON THE DEEP)
"Strategic Character"--Character specifically chosen by the author so that she's always at the right place at the right time to see something the main character can't
"The Dr. Watson"--the sidekick approach (as in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES)
"Strategic Debate" --two or more characters argue; during the argument, important information is brought out.
There is another technique used in Fantasy and Paranormal stories with world building. It is called “Incluing” which is a technique where the reader will gradually be exposed to the background information about the world – the setting, the history behind a group of shapeshifters/vampires/fae/etc. As a writer, you will clue the readers to the world you’re building without them really being aware that this is what you’re doing.
In essence, this incluing is the opposite of pure dumping. How can this be accomplished. Well here are a couple of more ways (probably duplicates of the above list):
Info is giving out during a conversation between various characters – gotta love the dialogue.
Back ground details are wonderful to be parsed throughout the story
Establish a scene where a character is followed through a daily routine or life
Then the offhand mention of something behind an open door can also establish familiarity to the world and doesn’t call attention to the happening by the reader.
Whether incluing or using some of the other above techniques, just be sure to scatter these wonderful tidbits of information seamlessly through the test. Make sure they don’t bring the plot/drama to a complete and utter halt.
Let everything naturally flow within the narrative and dialogue and the situation will not jar the poor reader/editor out of their immersion into your story.
When in doubt of how to do this, set aside your story, pick up a few books and check out how other authors handle this necessary lesson of writing.
No matter what… Happy writing!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)