Megan Manzano

Another trick to keep the pace and narration interesting is vary that sentence structure!

Short sentences to long sentences to character introspection can refresh the scene as well as pull emotional threads.

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #ontheporch

If we're in the mind of a main narrator, the reader assumes we're experiencing the world through them.

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #ontheporch

In a similar category is keeping an eye out for distancing language.

Instead of she saw the forest in the distance, try "Over the ridge was the forest."

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #ontheporch

I see this problem fairly often and one easy thing to do is cut dowm on filler. Words like "just, then, so," etc add a surprising amount of words to your MS and can break flow.

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #ontheporch

Alright #writers - let's strap in for a thread on how to keep your story well paced without lacking description!

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #ontheporch

And if you really love those scenes/characters, copy them into an alternative file so you can read them at any time.

#writingcommunity #writetip #pubtip

The next blog post in my Now What series by @TopdjianC tackles how to find/learn more about editors once you're on submission.

#writingcommunity #pubtip

meganmanzano129.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/now…

The good news is: this is a normal part of writing. As writers, you can't always see what readers may not understand because you're so tied to the world.

The extra good news is: another set of eyes can bridge the gap.

#writetip #pubtip #ontheporch #writingcommunity

I've seen several examples in the past few months while editing where I have to do a double take because information is missing for me to see the larger picture of the world or a character's arc.

#writetip #pubtip #ontheporch #writingcommunity

When you write a story and revise, you've likely been with the story for weeks, months, sometimes years. It's a huge part of your brain which is why you may not see information that is clear to you but NOT CLEAR to readers.

#writetip #pubtip #ontheporch #writingcommunity

It's important to make sure everything leading up to your main event matters/builds it up. Otherwise, you can end up with unfulfilled character arcs, plot holes, or pacing that feels off.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

In the too slow category, the main event may not hit the audience as hard because we've been dragged through a lot of events that either may not need to be there or lessen the effect of the main event.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

In the too fast category, there's not enough of a foundation to support the main event. We're kind of stumbling to pick up the pieces of how we got to where we are.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

A plot is made up of smaller building blocks that get us to the main event. If the main event happens too fast or too late, it can come across unsatisfying to readers.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

I know the #GameOfThonesFinale has been talked about A LOT, but it's a fantastic example of a plot building and building only to suddenly stop far short of its goal.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

I'm going to talk briefly about why momentum is important in sustaining a plot and helping it move from beginning to end.

#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch

What can we take away from this?

Make sure you're giving your character enough time - whether on page or on screen - to change. Show us how their initial motivations/beliefs are being challenged and what they do because of it.

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

I'm all for dark villains and stupid decisions, but without the right pacing, without the right dialogue, without an understanding of one's actions, you can unravel an arc instantly.

#WritingCommunity #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

The problem with GOT is not the foreshadowing or that any of these arcs are implausible. It's the fact they built up characters for eight seasons and made a lot of them pivot/revert to their beginning selves in mere episodes.

#writingcommunity #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

To stick the landing of a character arc, we have to be able to trace where the character began and what pushed them to change. They don't NEED to be the same character by the end. Most likely, they won't.

#writingcommunity #writetip #pubtip #amwriting