Welcome to the first ever bonus episode of the podcast. As you can probably guess by the title, this is my first ever episode on Ask Me Anything on writing and story structure. In this episode, I will answer the top questions asked by my Blog Readers, Youtube Subscribers, Podcast Listeners, and through my Ask A Question form on my website.
Now, that I’m well into revising the first draft of Missing, I’ve decided to share with you the top 5 first draft mistakes I made as I wrote my first three thriller novels, Missing, Silence, and Immunity. Because apparently, I love to embarrass myself in front of an audience and openly point out my flaws. But, I’m not going to stop there. In the second part of this Behind the Scenes Podcast Diary episode, I will share with you five tips highlighting how to avoid making these mistakes in your own writing.
So, you’ve reached the climactic sequence, and you’re wondering how to make these final scenes the most dramatic part of your novel; the answer is simple, by including a hero at the mercy of the villain scene. At this point, you’ve probably got a few questions floating around your mind. What is the hero at the mercy of the villain scene? Where does this scene sit within the climactic sequence? And, is this scene appropriate for my story?
As I was writing the script for the episode on the climactic sequence, I realised that I need to talk about how to choose the right ending for your story before discussing the topic. I had planned on discussing story endings in season two but, in the final hour, I decided to bring this subject forward. So, how do you chose the right ending for your story?
Are you struggling to figure out how to write the rising action scenes in your novel? The scenes in the first half of the second act are referred to as the rising action or try/fail cycles. In this episode of the Indie Authorpreneur Podcast, I will discuss what needs to happen, the key scenes, and what not to do in the first half of the second act. And, I will share seven tips on how to write the rising action scenes.
So, how do you start a story? How do you hook the reader from the very first page? In the literary world, there is a lot of talk about how to write an inciting first line or paragraph. There’s a step you need to take before you put pen to paper. This step is outlining your story and structuring it in such a way that hooks the reader. And, how do you achieve this? By creating an irresistible story hook.
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
James, the chief editor of a small newspaper, returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Valentine has unexpectedly left. Later that morning, he fails to reallocate her story. To avoid blank space in the paper, James decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on… Excalibur is Missing, and his girlfriend has been kidnapped.
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70,483 of 80,000 Words
Right now, I’m preparing Book Two in the James Lalonde series, for a final round of revisions. The next step is to send the story off to my editor. I aim to have this eBook published on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid to late 2021. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of late 2021 or early 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in late 2021 or early 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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