It’s a term I made up to describe a twist in fiction that can make the “black moment” more shocking to a reader. The black moment is a part of the basic structure of fiction that has been knocking around for centuries. The inciting incident. The mounting tension. Complications. Climax. The black moment. Denouement. There…
Tag: rogue agenda
Things I Hate to Admit to Myself
There’s nothing that turns me off of a keynote speech at any gathering of writers – be it conferences, workshops, retreats, whatever – more than when the speaker starts out by telling you how impossible it is for you to become a successful writer. When they say that less than 1% of all books submitted…
“The Idiot Plot”
I recently read a review of the new TV series based on Terry Brooks’ classic epic fantasy Elfstones of Shannara when I read the following precis that made me laugh: “The elves’ magical protective tree, the Ellcrys, is dying. Lethal demons are slipping back into the world. To banish them again, someone must take the…
GET YOUR HEAD RIGHT
I struggle most with writing when my head isn’t in the right place. What is the right place? For each person it’s different. For me, it’s when I feel good physically and when I feel good about myself, emotionally. Physically, it’s just hard to write when you’re not feeling well, when you’re coughing or blowing…
KEEP IT TO YOURSELF, SOMETIMES
I remember one of my first writers conferences. I pitched a project to one of the visiting agents or editors, and I remember being so thrilled when he asked to see the first three chapters. Later, one of the more seasoned conference attendees asked me how my pitch went and in my excitement I told…