Disney's much hyped adaptation of Beauty and the Beast was released at the weekend. The film broke box office records with an estimated $170 million, making it the seventh largest opening weekend of all time. It's a story that engages your emotions and keeps you hooked to the end. I was discussing the film with someone today who … Continue reading What we can learn from Beauty and the Beast About Plot, Tension and Obstacles
Category: Plot
The more I write, the more I am aware of the variety of elements involved in creating a compelling story. These elements are all individual parts but they have to be pulled together to work effectively. Alone, each part would sound musical, lyrical, but together they create a depth of sound which cannot be created … Continue reading What Do Authors Have in Common with Orchestra Conductors?
Long before the first word of a novel is written down, there is an original seed, a thought, a scene which plants itself in the author's mind. Once there, it grows and evolves into possibly a longer scene, a chain of ideas, a few characters and events, and maybe a whole novel. The question is … Continue reading Sewing the Seeds of an Idea: When to Start Planting
“Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.” ― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing Character description is crucial to a good story that is both readable and convincing. For a reader … Continue reading Creating Believable Characters
Following on from my last post about writing styles, plot and structure, I have been wrestling with my next novel. I am 6,000 words into the manuscript but last week I hit a wall. The story refuses to be written in a linear style. It refuses. I have several key scenes in my mind and have … Continue reading Permission To Not Write In A Linear Fashion?
