I’m sure everyone’s out running around for last minute gifts today (umm, or snowed in…) so I’ll keep this short.
But since it’s the season of lists (shopping lists, resolution lists…) – I thought I’d talk about another kind of list.
In my writing workshops and blog, I stress over and over and over again the usefulness of making lists. Specific, personalized, Top Ten lists.
I am pretty sure there is no story problem that cannot be solved by stopping the hair-pulling and gnashing of teeth, breathing a bit, and then sitting calmly down to make a list of examples of the way great storytellers (YOUR favorite storytellers) have dealt with the particular problem that you are tearing your hair out and grinding your teeth over.
Can’t figure out a great opening? List your Top Ten favorite or most striking opening images.
Your villain isn’t villainous enough? Make a Top Ten Villains list, and take some time to really break down why those bad boys, or girls, turn YOU on. (More here….)
Your story isn’t hot enough? Have some real fun and list your top ten steamiest sex scenes – and/or best kisses. (Warning: try to have some loved one close at hand for later… better yet, make a night of it – rent the movies and… analyze… those particular scenes together. Don’t you just love research?)
Not enough suspense? List your top ten most thrilling suspense scenes. (More here.)
Top Ten Character Introductions. Top Ten Climaxes (story climaxes, I mean now). Top Ten Heroes and Heroines. Top Ten Inciting Incidents. Top Ten Calls to Adventure. Top Ten Crossing the Threshold/Into the Special World scenes. Top Ten Image Systems.
Are you starting to get how incredibly useful – and fun – this can be?
Make the lists. You’ll be unstuck and on to a whole new level of writing before you know it.
Happy holidays and the best writing year yet – to all.
- Alex
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SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS WORKSHOP
I will be teaching an online Screenwriting Tricks for Authors workshop through the Yellow Rose Romance Writers, Jan. 1 through Jan. 18.
These online workshops are a fantastic deal, just $25 for two weeks, and here’s where you can get one-on-one feedback on these techniques as they apply to your own story. Don’t let the “romance” scare you – all genres welcome!
Good tip, Alexandra. I seem to have evolved into much more of a list-maker than I used to be, so these would fit right in.
Good on ya, too, for the often thankless task of posting on a day like Christmas Eve.