Point of Change
No, not spare change. Not changing diapers, although, half the time when I hear that word that’s what I think of. I’m talking about the point of change in my hero and heroine’s lives.
I sent in my partial for the Frenchman and I got some very complimentary feedback: Good writing, snappy dialogue, good pacing. But…(there’s always a but. 😉 ) it lacked urgency. It lacked that conflict, that intensity that makes a reader NEED to keep turning the pages.
My heroine is coming off of the highest moment in her life. A show at Paris Fashion week for her clothing line. She’s at the top of her game, she’s in control, the press are all clamoring for interviews.
And that’s when Blaise walks in and pulls the rug out from under her.
Unfortunately, as it stands, he’s only walked in and tugged the metaphorical rug about a quarter inch to the side and said ‘there, now your metaphorical rug is askew!’
There needs to be more.
The beginning of the book marks a point of change for both Blaise and Ella. For Blaise, it’s the acquisition of Ella’s business loan. For Ella…well, it’s Blaise’s acquisition of her business loan. Their lives have been disrupted by this one thing. It’s that beginning ripple in the water that just keeps expanding and growing.
But in order to get the reader to stick around to see all those ripples grow, I need that initial impact to be powerful enough. They have to believe that this is a huge turning point, for better or for worse, in the lives of my characters so that they’ll keep on reading to find out what happens next.
So, over the next I will be revising and trying to add in that extra punch. 🙂 Then I’ll be writing the rest of the book and trying to maintain that impact until the end.
Generally, I start a book in the middle of a scene, a conversation, action. How to you start your books?
Comments
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You know I’m dying to read this, right?
Ivy
x
Hehe! Thank you, Ivy! I’m DYING to write it. I love it when I feel like that. Hubby is gone for the week, so I’ll be working only at night, but hopefully I can really get stuck into it!
Maisey, I love in-your-face, reunion beginnings. Within the first page when H sees H and everything they knew/belived/hoped to forget/ignore/can’t hide-comes slamming back right at them!
Can’t wait to read Blaise and Ella’s story! ms
*note to self* write a reunion story that is EVERYTHING Margie just said.
Now that’s intensity from page one!
And thank you re Blaise and Ella, they appreciate it, even in their unfinished, un-punchified state.
Had to laugh! Note to, Maisey: don’t take any notice of me-I’m still experimenting!
Just keep on doing what you’re already doing-it’s working!
ms
aahhh Maisey, the notes you pass to us from your editor are fan-tab-ulous.
‘Initial impact has to be powerful enough to make the readers stick around’. Yep. That’s going on a bright pink post-it note and will be stuck somewhere prominent (amidst the other VERY important notes to self that surround my computer screen).
Thank you… and I’m looking forward to seeing this story of yours take shape. I’m sure you’ll find a brilliant way to deliver that whump of impact your editor wants.
margie, but it sounds like fun! *pouts*
Jo, thank you! Yeah, I must say, my editor is a star. And is also brilliant. And a great dancer, though she might not appreciate that comment so much. 😛
And the thing is, she really was right. I was enjoying my characters so much I hadn’t noticed I didn’t have much impact. But that impact, that thing that draws the reader in, is SO important!
LOL on the sticky notes!
Yep. I start my stories right smack in the middle of the action. I think that’s the best way to snag the reader.
Abbi 🙂
I think so too! It also just let’s me start at the point that caught MY attention and go from there. Sometimes I just start with a line of dialogue and see where it goes…
Finding a starting point is really hard. In my medical romance I think I changed the starting point three or four times.
Yes! Wendy, it IS hard. I find I rewrite those first three chapters TONS.
Congrats again, BTW! SO thrilled for you!
Oh god the metaphorical rug comment has destroyed me. I’m going to be useless for the rest of the day.
Lacey, is it wrong that I’m somewhat gratified by this?? I’m hoping now though, that the metaphorical rug is well and truly pulled out from under her sexy designer boots…