3T Writing Tidbit - End on a Bang?

 I have a two-inch stack of notecards filled with bits and bytes I've learned over the years. Today in reviewing them I came across one that reads

Prologue needs to end on a bang.

So, part of that is because prologues are out of fashion. Readers want to be immersed in the story as close as possible to the moment the story engine starts. If you're going to flout that, you'd better have the hook to end all hooks at the conclusion to make sure they read on (basically they're starting over again with Chapter One, why are you doing that to your poor reader)?

Really, we're taught to end every section with a bang, aren't we? Sequel structure is: Character has a Goal and makes a Plan to get the Goal. Okay, here we go! Scene is: Character executes Plan. Plan goes off the rails, and Character does not get the Goal. Sometimes Character not only doesn't get the Goal, Something Worse Happens.

Chapters traditionally end with Something Worse, which is often Oh No What Will Happen Now!! or what my husband calls the wha-wha whaaaa moment (think of a melodrama music just before the ads break).

Example: I crept up to the sleeping man who held all the answers to my missing parents. Gently I shook his shoulder to wake him. He rolled onto his back, mouth agape.

He was dead.

Wha-wha whaaaa!

Example: Chloe walked into the bar, angrily searching out her cheating boyfriend. When she got hold of the him and whatever skank he was two-timing her with... she saw him in the back corner. Some cheap blonde was all over him. Chloe stalked toward the couple, readying her scathing words. Her boyfriend saw her, his eyes widening. The blonde must've sensed his stiffening because she turned. Chloe stopped in recognition.

It was her sister.

Wha-wha whaaaa!

As much as we as writers should strive to hook the reader and offer surprises and turns of fortune to keep them reading...

Don't go full melodrama. Don't end your scene, chapter, or even prologue with a wha-wha whaaaa.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits. 

2T Repeat Performance - Edie and the CEO

 

I've done a number of blog tours over the years, posting on different sites. Now I'm bringing them to you!

Originally published February 13, 2013 for My Odd Little World

Thank you, Nancy, for having me back!

This seems to be a new road for you. why the different direction?

 Actually, the first novel I wrote, titled Novel 1 (which is now Hot Chips and SandI’ve come a long way :) ) was a contemporary romantic comedy. In some ways I’m just coming back to my roots. I’ve also been wanting to write something I can send to my husband’s family for Christmas. I just couldn’t picture my mother-in-law reading some of my Biting Love sex scenes. Lol.

Will this be a series, or just a one off?

I have another unconnected contemporary romantic comedy started about a media superstar, his supermodel ex-girlfriend and her twin sister, a woman who’s had a crush on the man for years and who tries to fit into his world with not much success, tentatively titled A Billionaire for the Wrong Sister. I’m really having fun, putting the heroine into fancy dress and having her stumble on her unfamiliar high heels into the hero’s lap.

Where did the idea for this come from; can you share?

Sure! One of the lines from my five-line pitch is “Edie’s passionate about workers’ rights, which gets her in trouble with sexy CEO Everett Kirk.” The story is my own experience as a child of the 60s finding a job in the 80sthe humorous clash of hippies meeting the material world. When I was living through it, it was difficult, personally facing the struggle of my grassroots ideals versus feeding my family and getting ahead in my career. Just as Edie does in the story, I had to go through a lot of conflict to find the right balance. But looking back I can see just how funny some of it was, and I used that in to spur the bickering banter between Edie and Everett.

 What is your definition of Romance-what does that bring to your mind?

 Eek. I was lousy at definitions in school. Lol. I know that, for a lot of people, romance is that first flush of giddy attraction. I’m a head-hand-heart sort of woman, and I approach life by trying to balance my reason, physical needs, and emotion. So for me, romance should be with someone I can talk with, be physically attracted to, and trust with my heart.

 Unfortunately my heart grabbed me and slammed me to the mat and said “This guy.” Fortunately, the rest followed, although it took a lot of work. ☺

 When I write paranormal romance it’s from an ideal perspectivethe hero and heroine are soul mates whose careers and minds mesh perfectly, kept apart by outside forces or their pasts. With contemporary I have more leeway.  I can have them be attracted but not instantly soul mates, so it’s more a story of their coming together.

What is one secret you can reveal that no one knows about you?

Ooh. Dark secret or light secret? Dark secret (at least I don’t talk about it much on the Web), my mom died when I was 16 and it’s colored my entire life. Light secret, I dye my hair. Not because I have gray, but because it’s a guy’s gray and I have f**ing wings. How embarrassing is that?

 

Hugs!
Mary