Have you ever read a book that fell flat? It's sometimes hard to determine exactly what went wrong (maybe because all four reasons outlined below were at work). Well, per The 101 Habits, here are a few explanations:
- It's a repeat of another story or a derivative that doesn't veer far enough off. It's clichéd, boring, done before. BE ORIGINAL, UNIQUE. SURPRISE YOUR READER.
- It's lacking . . . something. IT'S CALLED LACK OF EMOTIONS. THE READER CONNECTS VIA EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO THE AUTHOR'S WORDS. ADD SCENES THAT CONJURE UP SADNESS, JOY, ANGER, REVENGE, ETC.
- It has no conflict and/or the motivation or goal is not clearly defined. UP THE DRAMA AND OBSTACLES. BE PRECISE, CLEAR, COMMUNICATE WITH THE READER.
- It's flat. I feel nothing for the main character. THE AUTHOR'S WORDS CAME TOO MUCH FROM HER HEAD AND NOT ENOUGH FROM HER HEART. SAVE THE BRAIN ACTIVITY FOR PLOTTING BEFOREHAND AND REVISING/EDITING AFTERWARD. USE THE HEART FOR DRAFTING FEELINGS VIA THE APPROPRIATE SCENES.
I'll have more good stuff to share from this book in a later post.
"If your vocation
isn’t a vacation, then quit, leap, change careers."
Denise Barker, Author, Blogger, Copy Editor
Books that Build Character(s)
Denise Barker, Author, Blogger, Copy Editor
Books that Build Character(s)
What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in
comparison to what lies inside of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you give someone a book, you don’t give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life. Christopher Morley
The best inheritance you can leave your kids is an example of how to live a full and meaningful life. Dan Zadra
When you give someone a book, you don’t give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life. Christopher Morley
The best inheritance you can leave your kids is an example of how to live a full and meaningful life. Dan Zadra
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