So, you’ve created a great narrative hook and an ordinary world scene for your story and you’re thinking ‘what next?’ In this episode, I will share will you the important elements of the next plot point in the first act of your story. The next plot point in the first act is the inciting incident.
Are you struggling to figure out how to start your novel? Quite often we place much emphasis on the first sentence or paragraph and not to the large scene. In three-act structure, this scene is referred to as the ordinary world. In this episode, we are going to discuss why this scene is so important and I’ll share seven tips to help you write a great ordinary world scene.
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.
So, you’ve got a story idea that you can’t wait to write and you’re wondering; how do you write a good story? Is there a structure you should follow as you write a novel? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to writing a novel. If you’re just starting out, then I recommend using Three Act Structure. This type of story structure is a writing tool used by screenwriters. It was studying the craft of writing for screen, which I was introduced to the concept of structuring a story.
Are you struggling to decide whether you should plot or pants your novel? If you’ve been a writer for longer than a quick minute, then you already know the debate between plotting vs pantsing is fierce. Before you decide whether to plot or pants your novel, you need to consider how you learn. It’s important to understand why these options for work for some writers and not others. If you’ve ever wondered, how to decide whether to plot or pants your novel, then this is for you.
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.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.
Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he 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 a dead body is at the crime scene.
If you love gripping cloak and dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.
86,532 of 85,000 Words
Yesterday, I sent Duplicity off for proofreading. Yay! And I’ve set up preorders for this novel on Kobo, B&N, and Google Play with a release date of the 24th of November 2022. 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 mid 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 early 2023. 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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