WEBVTT
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.960
Welcome to the Write for Reason podcast.
00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.560
My name is Janet Wilson.
00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.240
I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with Dernier Publishing.
00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:24.879
If you're a Christian and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips, and actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.160
Today we're going to have a look at some basic essentials.
00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:34.560
There are many elements we need to get right with our stories, but there are some things that will really make or break your novel.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.920
Getting your characters right is number one.
00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.640
It is definitely a basic essential.
00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:46.240
You must make sure your characters are engaging and that your readers will love to spend time with them.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:51.759
Protagonists, antagonists, secondary characters, they all need thought.
00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.000
Do you think you've got your characters right?
00:00:54.240 --> 00:01:01.359
If you're not sure, why not have a long, hard think about each of your characters and make sure that they are just right for your target readers?
00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.079
And why not join a writers group to get some feedback?
00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.920
We have a Writers for a Reason Unite group, which is really brilliant.
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:09.519
I'd love for you to come and join us.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.319
You can find that on WrightforReason.com.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.799
So have fun with your characters, thinking them through, making sure you've got them right.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.719
Okay, back to basics number two, your plot.
00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:24.959
So now you've got your characters sorted out, let's move on to your plot.
00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.439
This is a basic essential to get right.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:29.920
Do you have a gripping beginning?
00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.120
Do you have an exciting middle with lots of conflicts?
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:39.040
And do you have a fabulously satisfying ending that will leave your readers sighing with pleasure or wanting more?
00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:42.400
If not, what could you do to improve your plot?
00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.400
Take some time to think through your plot, about your beginning, your conflicts, and your ending.
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.519
Are they long enough?
00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:50.640
Are they short enough?
00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:53.840
If you're not sure about your plot, why not have a good hard think?
00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.760
Have you got everything that you need there?
00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:00.400
Is there anything else that your target readers would really need to make it exciting?
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.079
Okay, back to basics number three, your narrative voice.
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.199
Once you've got your character sorted and your plot perfect, what else is essential?
00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:10.960
Your narrative voice certainly is.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.199
Some writers instinctively get this right, but others need to work quite hard on it.
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.960
Every story has a narrator, of course, so who is narrating your story?
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.520
Are you writing in the first or third person?
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:27.360
Is your viewpoint omniscient or is the narrator telling your story through the eyes of just one character?
00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.120
How much does the narrator know?
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.479
These things are important.
00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:37.039
And here's the key once you've picked your narrative voice, be consistent all the way through your novel.
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.439
Back to basics number four, pace.
00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.919
So you can have great characters, a wonderful plot, and the perfect narrative voice.
00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:47.039
But if you don't have the right pace, you could lose your readers.
00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.879
If the pace is too slow, readers might put your book down and do something else.
00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:55.919
And sadly, in this age of distraction and poor focus, this is a very real issue.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.280
Conversely, if your pace is too fast, it could confuse your readers.
00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.360
They might need to read a bit again to check what went on, and that can be annoying.
00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.439
So getting your pace right is essential.
00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.319
This will vary through your novel like a wave.
00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:16.800
You'll have a fast bit, then slow down again as a conflict is resolved, but generally you need to make sure the story is always moving forward at a good pace.
00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.879
Cut those unnecessary scenes.
00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.719
Trim down descriptions if you need to, or add some in if there aren't enough.
00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:27.520
So why not step back and take a long hard look at the pace of your novel?
00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.759
Is it too slow in the beginning, too fast at the end, or even a bit slow in the middle?
00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.560
Or perhaps the final conflict ends too quickly.
00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:36.560
Pace is tricky to get right.
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.120
Why not get some beta readers to help you?
00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:41.919
Or join a writer's group to get some honest feedback.
00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:46.400
Right, back to basics 5 weaving in your theme.
00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:50.000
As Christian writers, we have a very special reason to write.
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:53.840
We want to share the good news of Jesus in some way with our readers.
00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.719
For us, this is a basic essential.
00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.520
So what is your theme or your message?
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.719
Do you want your readers to know that God is only a prayer away?
00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:06.560
Do you want them to know that every child is precious in the Lord's sight?
00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.199
Do you want them to know that whatever they're going through, he's with them?
00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.120
Whatever your theme is, consider how best you can weave it through your story.
00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.839
Perhaps your characters are learning precisely this issue as they make their way through the desert.
00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:23.920
Have a running with bullies, search for the treasure, or whatever it is that you have in your story.
00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:31.360
Take time this week to consider how well you're weaving in your theme, always keeping your target audience in mind, of course.
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.199
Are you being too heavy-handed?
00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.519
Or perhaps you're leaving it a bit too vague.
00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:37.439
And that's it, my friends.
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:39.600
These are five basic essentials.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.920
I'm sure you'll agree that they're all very important.
00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.560
So step back and have a look at all these things.
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:51.519
And this week I would like to give you a very special opportunity to join the Right for a Reason Academy for a special price.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:58.000
For the first 10 readers to join up with the coupon code podcast, I will give you 25% off.
00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:00.879
So why not treat yourself to this fun course?
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.639
Invest in your writing.
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.199
You'll have so much fun, and your readers certainly deserve the very best.
00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.959
So that's it for today.
00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:16.560
If you'd like lots more free creative writing tips, hop on over to rightforreason.com where you can also join the Rightful Reason Academy.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:19.120
We also have a membership group that I mentioned.
00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:20.480
We'd love to have you.
00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.839
So don't put it off.
00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.240
Today is a gift to use wisely.
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:30.399
Only you can write your book, and if you've been called to write, someone is waiting for it.
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.960
Welcome to the Write for Reason podcast.
00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.560
My name is Janet Wilson.
00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.240
I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with Dernier Publishing.
00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:24.879
If you're a Christian and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips, and actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.160
Today we're going to have a look at some basic essentials.
00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:34.560
There are many elements we need to get right with our stories, but there are some things that will really make or break your novel.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.920
Getting your characters right is number one.
00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.640
It is definitely a basic essential.
00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:46.240
You must make sure your characters are engaging and that your readers will love to spend time with them.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:51.759
Protagonists, antagonists, secondary characters, they all need thought.
00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.000
Do you think you've got your characters right?
00:00:54.240 --> 00:01:01.359
If you're not sure, why not have a long, hard think about each of your characters and make sure that they are just right for your target readers?
00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.079
And why not join a writers group to get some feedback?
00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.920
We have a Writers for a Reason Unite group, which is really brilliant.
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:09.519
I'd love for you to come and join us.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.319
You can find that on WrightforReason.com.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.799
So have fun with your characters, thinking them through, making sure you've got them right.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.719
Okay, back to basics number two, your plot.
00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:24.959
So now you've got your characters sorted out, let's move on to your plot.
00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.439
This is a basic essential to get right.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:29.920
Do you have a gripping beginning?
00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.120
Do you have an exciting middle with lots of conflicts?
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:39.040
And do you have a fabulously satisfying ending that will leave your readers sighing with pleasure or wanting more?
00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:42.400
If not, what could you do to improve your plot?
00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.400
Take some time to think through your plot, about your beginning, your conflicts, and your ending.
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.519
Are they long enough?
00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:50.640
Are they short enough?
00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:53.840
If you're not sure about your plot, why not have a good hard think?
00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.760
Have you got everything that you need there?
00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:00.400
Is there anything else that your target readers would really need to make it exciting?
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.079
Okay, back to basics number three, your narrative voice.
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.199
Once you've got your character sorted and your plot perfect, what else is essential?
00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:10.960
Your narrative voice certainly is.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.199
Some writers instinctively get this right, but others need to work quite hard on it.
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.960
Every story has a narrator, of course, so who is narrating your story?
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.520
Are you writing in the first or third person?
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:27.360
Is your viewpoint omniscient or is the narrator telling your story through the eyes of just one character?
00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.120
How much does the narrator know?
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.479
These things are important.
00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:37.039
And here's the key once you've picked your narrative voice, be consistent all the way through your novel.
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.439
Back to basics number four, pace.
00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.919
So you can have great characters, a wonderful plot, and the perfect narrative voice.
00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:47.039
But if you don't have the right pace, you could lose your readers.
00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.879
If the pace is too slow, readers might put your book down and do something else.
00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:55.919
And sadly, in this age of distraction and poor focus, this is a very real issue.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.280
Conversely, if your pace is too fast, it could confuse your readers.
00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.360
They might need to read a bit again to check what went on, and that can be annoying.
00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.439
So getting your pace right is essential.
00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.319
This will vary through your novel like a wave.
00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:16.800
You'll have a fast bit, then slow down again as a conflict is resolved, but generally you need to make sure the story is always moving forward at a good pace.
00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.879
Cut those unnecessary scenes.
00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.719
Trim down descriptions if you need to, or add some in if there aren't enough.
00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:27.520
So why not step back and take a long hard look at the pace of your novel?
00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.759
Is it too slow in the beginning, too fast at the end, or even a bit slow in the middle?
00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.560
Or perhaps the final conflict ends too quickly.
00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:36.560
Pace is tricky to get right.
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.120
Why not get some beta readers to help you?
00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:41.919
Or join a writer's group to get some honest feedback.
00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:46.400
Right, back to basics 5 weaving in your theme.
00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:50.000
As Christian writers, we have a very special reason to write.
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:53.840
We want to share the good news of Jesus in some way with our readers.
00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.719
For us, this is a basic essential.
00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.520
So what is your theme or your message?
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.719
Do you want your readers to know that God is only a prayer away?
00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:06.560
Do you want them to know that every child is precious in the Lord's sight?
00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.199
Do you want them to know that whatever they're going through, he's with them?
00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.120
Whatever your theme is, consider how best you can weave it through your story.
00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.839
Perhaps your characters are learning precisely this issue as they make their way through the desert.
00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:23.920
Have a running with bullies, search for the treasure, or whatever it is that you have in your story.
00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:31.360
Take time this week to consider how well you're weaving in your theme, always keeping your target audience in mind, of course.
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.199
Are you being too heavy-handed?
00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.519
Or perhaps you're leaving it a bit too vague.
00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:37.439
And that's it, my friends.
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:39.600
These are five basic essentials.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.920
I'm sure you'll agree that they're all very important.
00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.560
So step back and have a look at all these things.
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:51.519
And this week I would like to give you a very special opportunity to join the Right for a Reason Academy for a special price.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:58.000
For the first 10 readers to join up with the coupon code podcast, I will give you 25% off.
00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:00.879
So why not treat yourself to this fun course?
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.639
Invest in your writing.
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.199
You'll have so much fun, and your readers certainly deserve the very best.
00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.959
So that's it for today.
00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:16.560
If you'd like lots more free creative writing tips, hop on over to rightforreason.com where you can also join the Rightful Reason Academy.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:19.120
We also have a membership group that I mentioned.
00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:20.480
We'd love to have you.
00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.839
So don't put it off.
00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.240
Today is a gift to use wisely.
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:30.399
Only you can write your book, and if you've been called to write, someone is waiting for it.
