“Writing a good story is like painting a picture — the writer starts with a basic sketch and as she writes adds the color.”
Finding Courage in the Pursuit of a Dream
I wrote this blog for The One Million Project — a collection of 24 stories and artwork contributed by 14 writers to help raise funds for charity. OMP is a non-profit whose goal is to raise £1,000,000 for Cancer Research UK and EMMAUS.
I am a child of the 60’s and 70’s. I grew up with the Cold War, Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Liberation Movement, Haight-Ashbury, and Woodstock. I listened to the Beatles, the Stones…
Source: Finding Courage in the Pursuit of a Dream
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Building Suspense
I love a good mystery or thriller. Throw in the FBI, CIA and a few Navy Seals and I’m a happy camper. The genre of my current series is Romantic Suspense, and one of the challenges of this genre is building suspense and keeping the story moving without giving too much away.
The allure of the mystery/suspense story is trying to solve the puzzle before the characters in the story. When I was young, I was always trying to out-sleuth Trixie Belden or Hercule Poirot. A writer’s task involves dropping some hints and using dialogue and plot points to advance the story. Just when the reader is positive they know who the villain is — insert a plot twist.
“What is it?”
“It’s a tracker. Someone placed it on your vehicle, so they could follow your movements…” ~ Dave Cartwright to Clare in Exodus
Don’t you love the feeling you get when you’re at a critical juncture in a scene? The suspense has been building and building. I know something major is about to happen. My heart starts to beat a little faster, and my eyes fly over the words reading rapidly. I am anticipating what the next scene will reveal. Boom! Your theories just got blown out of the water. One of the best compliments I have received from readers is “I thought I had it figured out, but you had me second-guessing myself through the whole book”.
Secrets can be revealed along the way to advance the plot and to throw some red herrings into the mix. But the final solution or climax should remain a mystery until the last couple of chapters; otherwise, you lose your readers once they solved it.
Here’s a caveat — some thrillers and mysteries use the antagonist’s point of view to unveil their plot. These stories build suspense through the unpredictability of the villain’s next actions. The key is to have certain elements of the story remain in the dark.
I like to give my characters some flaws. Is the “good guy” telling the truth or acting out of character? The writer instills doubt with an unexpected action or a sudden change in temperament, for example.
A good story brings the reader along for the ride. A book is an alternate universe and the reader is wanting to immerse themselves in it. Whether it’s falling in love with the handsome detective or holding their breath during a chase scene, the reader needs to feel the tenderness and the heartache along with the fear and confusion. If the writer can involve the reader and get an emotional response from them, you’ve done your job.
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Book Giveaway on Goodreads
Check out this giveaway by my friend, author Rachel E. Wollaston
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/205160-kingdom-a-ya-fantasy-novel
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Quote – Winter’s Icy Caress
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‘Newtown’ Film
If you have read one of my earlier posts – Books and Life – I wrote about a summer I spent in Newtown, CT. My cousins grew up in Newtown. My aunt taught in an area elementary school for many years. Newtown is an important part of my families’ history. The pain of Sandy Hook is their pain, as well.
The events of that horrendous day made the nation weep. It is important for us to remember and to bring change, so we won’t have to continue to watch other communities and families torn apart.
In early October, ‘Newtown’ will be released in theaters. I’m going to see it so I can acknowledge the bravery, sacrifice and heartache felt by this small community. I hope you will join me in supporting this documentary film.
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Quote From Exodus By Kate McGinn
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Autumn Sojourn
The town where I grew up has an awesome apple orchard. There is a gift shop, restaurant, children’s activities and of course, delicious apples! Each year, my out-of-town siblings and I travel back home for “Scarecrow” soup and warm apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. It is a tradition that we look forward to each fall.
My husband and I ventured to the orchard today. It was foggy and cool out. Hardly anyone was in the store and restaurant. We were able to browse the assorted jams, jellies, and other tasty food items without fighting the crowds. There are many wonderful orchards across the country, but I think of this one as being ‘ours.’ It has been the scene of many family gatherings over the years.
The sun made an appearance later in the day, so I took my husband to the lake. It’s a small lake with a golf course, located adjacent to it. The same course where I played golf in my high school and college years. The temperature was pleasant in the mid-sixties, and the sun shone brightly. Few people were out and about, although the day was one of the dwindling warm days left before winter blasts us. Children ran down the hill towards the lake while their parents called for them to return to the picnic table. A small boat with some fishermen could be seen slowly moving near the shore. Geese were parading on the beach while others floated on the surface of the lake. Across the way, the Veteran’s Memorial sits high on the hill. I mentally made a note to take my husband there in the future.
For me, autumn is a sensory delight. I look forward to the vibrant colors of the turning leaves and the crunch of those same leaves underfoot. I long for the smell of baking pies and the unique scent of firewood burning in the hearth. I can’t wait to dig out my sweaters and soft scarves. The roar of the crowd cheering at the high school football game takes me back to my youth. As I watch the little children running from one home to the next yelling “Trick or Treat,” I see my sons’ joy during those special Halloween nights.
Autumn provides not only fond memories but opportunities to create new ones.
Enjoy your autumn days!
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Cancer Research UK
As a registered nurse for over 30 years, I saw the positive changes in survival rates for certain types of cancer. It is likely each of us will experience the heartbreak of finding out a loved one, or even ourselves, will encounter due to a diagnosis of cancer. Help support Cancer Research.
One of the fantastic charities we are raising funds for is Cancer Research UK. One of the most recognised charities in Britain, this cause has a vision to increase the survival rate of cancer victims to 75% within the next twenty years.
The charity as it is today has been around since 2002, and currently supports the work of over 4,000 doctors, scientists, and nurses throughout the UK. With the money they raise, they are able to fund these developments and they hold fundraising events to help even more people.
So far, the charity has funded major breakthroughs in a wide range of areas. Not only do they focus on finding out more about each cancer type individually, but they also explore other areas such as cancer biology, cancer drugs, clinical trials, radiotherapy, and the cancer prevention, just to name a few.
Nowadays, more than half the people who are…
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Kate McGinn - Storyteller 