Monday, October 21, 2024

How to Master Story Rhythm by Sue Coletta

 

Every story has a rhythm. A pulse, if you will. Disrupt this rhythm with intent, and readers will perk up and take note. Lose it entirely, and you’ll risk losing the reader.

Think about the melody of your story in terms of music. A romcom might have an upbeat tempo, light and fun. A cozy mystery might have a similar rhythm but quickened when trouble arises. A thriller should have a dark and ominous beat like the opening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Horror often has a creep factor pulsing beneath every scene. The music in the Halloween movies is the perfect example.

How do we create music with words?

Multiple factors create the pace and flow of a story. There’s a cadence to language — one that reflects the setting, mood, and genre. It takes time to find your storytelling cadence. As a reader, I’m attracted to certain authors because of the rhythm of their words. Though it may fluctuate a bit from book to book, there’s no question who wrote the story. Mastering rhythm is a critical step in refining your voice.

After a while, you’ll develop a sixth sense of when a one syllable word disrupts your flow, and you should use a two-syllable word instead. You’ll hear it when a sentence feels too choppy and needs to connect with another sentence to maintain the rhythm of the paragraph.

Please don’t read as I’m a fan of semicolons in fiction. I am not. Some writers use a comma to connect sentences, others use an em dash. Grammar-fanatic editors might not agree with this type of comma usage, but the good ones understand rhythm and pace trumps an intentional run-on sentence. I once counted 100 words in a sentence written by Patricia Cornwell. Exhausting to read, but no can deny her success. For you and me, it’s best to keep run-on sentences to a minimum. J Or use a grammatically correct em dash instead.​

v Sentence Structure

Short or staccato sentences speed up the pace, while long sentences slow it down.

Ø  Hard -ed words or one-word sentences act like bullets firing.

§  Staccato — Italian word meaning “detached” — is a form of musical articulation that signifies a note of shortened duration that precedes dead silence. Everyone freezes when a gunshot rips through the air. A staccato sentence should have the same effect, thereby quickening the reader’s heartbeat.

Footsteps approached. Slow. Methodical. Direct.

Ø  Gerunds (-ing words) give a more relaxed feel. Gerunds get a bad rap, but they’re useful to strum the correct chord. Too many may litter your manuscript, so be careful not to overdo it.

Ø  If you mix the two, you create a rhythm that either keeps the reader off balance or shows the action is continuing.

His gaze flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, the blue lights of the dash cascading down the bridge of his nose to the soft V of his upper lip. 

See how you can envision the blue lights actively trailing down his face? If I used “cascaded” instead of the gerund, it wouldn’t have the same effect.

v Intentional Repetition

The repetition of words in the same paragraph creates a melody. Example from MARRED (feels like I wrote that novel a lifetime ago):

I used to believe people were inherently good, if only at their core. I saw the brokenness of the homeless. I respected the overachiever in the football star, hoping for Daddy’s approval even if he’d never get it. I saw the heart of sinners, the souls of lovers. Shattered dreams of an abandoned child. I saw good in evil, spirit in the unholy. I understood the complexities of love, marriage, life. Hell, I welcomed the challenge. I had hopes, dreams, and affirmations. I did. Then, that all changed. My views shattered, or my eyes finally opened.

The repetition of “I” added to the melodic nature of Chapter One’s opening paragraph. If I continued the repetition any longer, I’d lose the effect. It’d become monotonous and irritating to the reader. You really need to be intentional when using repetition. It can backfire if you’re not careful.

v Punctuation

Commas and em dashes help maintain story rhythm.

After three never-ending years and umpteen hours of counseling, one small reminder—scars from the knife—and I relived that night in Boston.

The em dash is one of the most versatile punctuation marks at a writer’s disposal, but that flexibility can also lead to overuse or plain misuse. Some writers use two dashes to indicate an em dash. Do yourself a favor and create a keyboard shortcut for the em dash. The real punctuation mark looks much more polished and professional.

An em dash creates a break in the sentence. Used as bookends, em dashes allow us to add a quick explanation for the reader (see example in MARRED excerpt) or insert a different thought entirely. It can also replace its ugly cousins — the semi-colon and parentheses.

Used as a bridge, an em dash emphasizes whatever comes after it.

Silence hung between us like a branding iron—scorching hot and ready to burn.

Don’t include spaces around em dashes in your manuscript. On blogs, it’s clearer to include space(s). Hence my use of both in this article.

v Transitions

Maintaining a story’s rhythm is also about the transitions between movements. Transitions must be fluid. Fluidity pulls the reader along without them even noticing. They’re trapped in the current we’ve created.

The best way to ensure the narrative doesn’t hit speed bumps is to read the manuscript out loud. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but it’s also fun and easier to hear the rhythm. Sometimes you’ll find unnecessary words or fillers. Other times the rhythm sounds right but the character isn’t singing the same tune. They’re behaving in ways that don’t feel authentic. Or they don’t sound like themselves. If the characterization isn’t right, we’ll lose the fluidity. The drumbeat stops.

Ø  Part of finding the beat to your story means how we jump from scene to scene. Think about your favorite movie. We don’t need to stay in the bedroom for a character to sleep eight hours or endure a long drive where nothing happens.

“Start late, end early.” ~ James Scott Bell           

Enter the scene when something interesting is happening or about to happen. End before the conflict is resolved or in the middle of a new action or disturbance.

In Closing

Whether it’s our heartbeat or the motion of the sun, moon, and planets, we’re embedded within a rhythmic world. Hence why rhythm has such enormous power. It’s built into who we are.

You are the conductor of your story. Pick up the pace, slow it down, increase the intensity, or lower the volume. Zoom in, zoom out. The choice is yours. Once you master story rhythm, your stories will sing!

 


Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs at the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers") and StoryEmpire (Positive Writer's "Top 50 Writing Blogs") and is a former Resident Coach at Writers Helping Writers. Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and writes two psychological/environmental thriller series, Mayhem Series (Crow Talons Publishing) and Grafton County Series (Tirgearr Publishing) and true crime/narrative nonfiction (Rowman & Littlefield Group). 

Sue's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery.

Learn more about Sue Coletta at https://suecoletta.com.

Monday, October 7, 2024

Your Beta Reader Options

 

Thinking about enlisting beta readers for your manuscript? Great ideabut let’s clear up a common misconception: Beta reading isn’t a watered-down substitute for editing. In fact, it’s an entirely different step in a book’s development.

Beta readers and editors each bring unique insights to your work, playing distinct roles in your book’s evolution. Understanding the differences is key to making the most of each process.

Think of developmental editors as literary coaches. Where copyeditors strive to correct and polish the writing, developmental editors steer you toward clarifying and enriching the content. As analysts by trade, they address content issues in the story and craft issues in the way the story’s told: story structure, character arcs, scene technique, genre, and more. Rather than fixing the issues for you, they recommend alternative techniques or approaches and guide you toward creative solutions.

Beta readers, on the other hand, aren’t writing or publishing professionals. They’re avid readersand that’s the point. Beta readers bring the average reader’s perspective to your book. They’ll tell you where they put the book down and where they couldn’t stop turning pages. They’ll tell you which characters they disliked and which ones they wanted more of. They’ll spot holes in the plot and ask hard questions about how and why.

Beta feedback isn’t merely less analytical or deep than feedback from an editor. It’s qualitatively different. Writer Brad Pauquette characterizes the distinction like this:

·        Beta readers answer the question If I published today, what would my Amazon reviews look like?

·        Developmental editors answer the question What steps should I take to comprehensively improve this manuscript?

Should you hire a pro?

The emerging trend of paid beta reading as a service offered by professional editors strikes many writers as a smart option. Why not get a read-through from someone who knows all about how stories work, right?

The risk, however, is that the genuine reader’s perspective will be missed. Professional beta readers may prioritize craft and technique over genuine reader concerns such as relatability, pacing, and genre expectations. They may frown upon nontraditional narrative choices rather than engaging with them at face value.

That’s not to say a professional beta reader couldn’t contribute insightful feedback. But feedback from amateur betasgenuine readersprovides a number of unique advantages.

Nonprofessional beta readers represent your target audience. Free from the influence of publishing industry and market trends, amateur betas offer a typical reader's perspective on your book.

Amateur beta readers are enthusiasm-driven. As fans of your genre or even your own work, they bring genuine excitement to the process—crucial support for manuscripts still under development.

Nonprofessional beta readers are less prescriptive. They’re less likely to push industry trends or infringe upon your story vision or creative voice.

Amateur beta readers can often be more accommodating to individual author deadlines, lines of inquiry, and reading expectations.

Nonprofessional readers build your community of readers. Using amateur readers fosters relationships among your followers and supporters, potentially gaining you loyal fans.

Amateur beta readers bring a broader scope and diversity of perspectives to their reading and feedback. A group of volunteer betas usually offers a wider range of perspectives than a single professional.

Volunteer readers are typically free, making them ideal for authors on a tight budget.

Nonprofessional beta readers help you stave off premature editing. By offering you early feedback on high-level issues, they keep you outside the professional ecosystem until you’ve more thoroughly revised at the story level, allowing you to refine your book before paying for professional time and services.

Remember, beta reading isn’t a budget-friendly version of editing; it’s an entirely different beast. By embracing the process for what it truly is, a gut check on how your book connects with actual readers, you’ll gain a powerful tool to refine your manuscript while staying true to your vision and connecting with your audience.

 


Lisa Poisso is a story coach and editor working with independent authors and new authors seeking representation. She helps emerging authors tune their manuscripts to publishing industry standards and craft commercial fiction that resonates with readers.

Website: https://www.lisapoisso.com/   

The Writes of Fiction newsletter & community coaching: https://lisapoisso.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LisaPoisso

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaPoissoEditorial

X: @LisaPoisso, https://twitter.com/LisaPoisso

 

Article photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/reader-reading-garden-book-8211917/

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Ghost in The IWSG Day Machine

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. 

And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 2nd posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional!

October 2 Question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine. 

Got any favorite ghostly tales? I'm trying to think if I do. Does Ghostbusters count?

Ones based on "real" life I tend to find interesting. Whether that is interesting in an eye roll worthy way or in a creepy way, I guess that all depends on the tale.

The Mothman is one that just popped into my head. Not really creepy, as he/she/it was never truly evil by the retellings. Poor Mothman was just there to try to warn people.

Think of any good ghost stories yet? Ever hear of The Mothman? Maybe it is related to Bigfoot and Nessie. You think?