Day Nineteen

I’m at the part of my story where the pace of the book automatically goes faster. In the middle of a book, going forward to the end, the pace of a book will increase. The dilemma that’s mentioned in the beginning of my novel has been given, then fleshed out so any reader has a firm understanding of what’s happening, but I have to write those chapters in a way that although they understand what’s going on, they’re unsure of what will actually happen next.

My characters, at this point, should not be the same people they were at the start of the novel. The reason they shouldn’t be the same is because the issues they have faced has shaped them. It makes them see their inner strength. It makes them see the world differently. My character’s dilemmas have opened his or her eyes. The good thing about fiction is, their understanding of what’s happening to them can lead in many directions, because all people are different with different personalities. We can all face the same situation, but have a different reaction and a different outlook. It is this part of fiction when the author uses his or her talents to make the story as compelling as possible. BUT, at the same time, we must continue to make the characters believable.

What I mean by this is, no matter how my character reacts, even if it’s in an unconventional way, as long as it stays in line with their personality and the reader can understand WHY they reacted like they did, I am doing things right. This part of the book can be a challenge, because authors have wild imaginations. We get all of these new ideas throughout the process of writing a new novel. We have to make certain to add only the ideas that keep the novel within the plot. I can’t introduce something so new to the novel that readers get halfway through the book and have a feeling like the book has made a turn in a different direction. The reader, by this point, has been sold on the original idea and concept of the book. I can’t disappoint them halfway through the book by changing the original concept.

I have set up the stage. I have introduced the book’s theme. I have taken my character out of their routine life and placed them in a life they don’t want, but can’t get out of. Now my character has reached his or her limits. I use my next reference a lot, because many of us have read the book or seen the movie. In the “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy meets the wizard, but instead of him granting her wish, he sends her off to kill the Wicked Witch. She doesn’t want to do it, but her desperation to return to her former life gives her the motivation. But does things happen the way she wants them to when she reaches the Witch’s location? Of course not, because in fiction, conflict always makes a better read.

Can you remember when Dorothy reaches her last straw? Yes! It’s when the Witch threatens the last part of Dorothy’s former world, her dog, Toto. This is why readers love this novel. Whenever a reader can imagine themselves as the character, whenever they can put themselves in the character’s shoes, this makes for what I call a crossover bestselling novel. It means regardless of the genre, if I can get as many readers to put their feet in my character’s shoes, they will buy the book because it offers them a thrilling ride, and even if they don’t buy that particular genre, they will if the book is written with dilemmas they can identify with. All of us can understand how Dorothy felt. You have been forced away from the farm your family lives on. All you have taken with you is your beloved dog. You find yourself in a strange, new world. You're scared, terrified; all you want is to go back home, but it seems like everyone is trying to stop you. You agree to do something you don't want to, only to discover you have put your beloved dog's life in danger. What would you do???? Give in or stop everyone that's trying to stop you?

This is my focus today, as I continue to write. Once I grab the reader by the hand and say, “Come with me on this journey,” I don’t want to let go of their hand until the end. I need to keep them engaged. I need to keep them motivated to keep reading. I can only do this if all three parts of my book is written well: the beginning, middle and the end.

So what is Edouard and the rest of the Jennings family is going to do? One of them wants to kill one of their family members. Will this make the rest of them want to kill? How much will this family be ripped apart? What can make them close to whole again? How can I write the story so readers can put themselves in my characters’ shoes?

These things are what writing is truly about and what an author should focus on. It’s what I focused on today. The first book is this novel is still doing well in sales. Readers have reached out to contact me, asking me when the next book is going to be released. If that’s what you want after writing your book, then let me leave you with this. Writing is more than putting your heart and soul into the pages you write. It’s understanding what constitutes a good book and how to write what you’re writing about in a way readers want to read it then talk about it to their family, friends, coworkers and loved ones.

Until next time, keep writing! Start that new book today, even if it’s a novella. If you’re not sure where to start or feel you may need some help, try checking out my book "Anyone Can Write," You can find it on the home page. Or keep coming back to check out my online courses, which will be available soon online at a truly affordable price that won’t break your budget and will include enough details to get you motivated to do what you always wanted to do: become an author.