Ask SD Tracy Harper #43

Ask SD Tracy Harper #43
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Q:  SD, Can you point me in the right direction to write something romantic?

A: You have got to be kidding me (just joking). Scripting something romantic is the easiest thing in the world (seriously joking). Romance in a story is highly depended on the characters, the situation, and the emotional results you’re hoping to highlight. The first thing you need to determine is the need. Do you need romance or something that is romantic? There is actually a difference. Romance is a show of affection where romantic is an event. Take for instance, holding hands, saying sweet words, and kissing. These shows of affection are examples of romance. Romantic is everything that leads up to romance. She noticed as he wipes his sweaty hands on his trousers. The way his voice squeaked when he said hi. The surprised look on his face when his thoughts didn’t match the words that came out of his mouth. Things like this are romantic.
     She wasn’t watching where she was going in her haste trying to make it to her next class and stumbled over the foot held out by the high school’s number one plastic princess. However, instead of planting a wet one the floor, she found her lips locked with the person who had saved her. She was kissing the best looking boy in school and her ex-boyfriend. His deep voice hand a hold on her just as firm as his large arms that held her protectively. “I hope you are alright. I was hoping you would go to the prom with me.” A first meeting is romantic, what they do with it make for a good romance. I hope this helps. SD

Q:  SD, I’m thinking about writing a mystery novel, any suggestions?

A:  I hope you enjoy second guessing yourself (I’m not joking). The one thing that all mysteries have in common, they always keep you guessing and yet has hints and distractions to the answer all over the place. My first suggestion is to think deeply about the level of difficulty you want your story to be and then try to stay at that level. If your story is too difficult then the surprise at the end won’t be believable. If it is too easy to solve, then there will be disappointment. My final bit of advice is to complete the story, then start planting your clues. First plant your clues starting from the end of the book, then work backwards to the beginning of your story. Once that is completed, then clean up the mess you had made by planting clues from the front of the book to the end. Once you are completely confused, then have a friend test read your story to see if they can pick out your clues. If they get all of them, then you had made it too easy. If they can’t find any of them, then you were too hard. I would say they should be able to pick out (on second reading) about sixty percent of the hints.  This should be a good enough mixture of confusion, Easter Eggs, and the reader’s involvement. In my humble opinion, as long as you always keep them guessing and waving the answer openly and in such a way that it is perceived as unlikely, you got something. I hope this helps. SD

Q:  SD, I’ve been told you have to have a goal for your characters from the very beginning of your story. Is this true?

A: Nothing is written in stone. Everyone has a different way of thinking and the styles in which they wish to tell their story. Although, there are different standards, genre formulas, and similarities, you are the one behind the wheel and have full control of the journey and the destination. For me, I would like to know who the heck are these people I’m going to get to know before we go on this adventure together. I’m not saying that the characters are more importing than the plot or the plot more important than the world you build. What I am saying is that the story itself , the people who are in the story, and the world (or environment) in which the story takes place are equal  as if they are legs of a three legged stool. This is also true for the three aspects of each leg. Characters  must have a starting point, they must show growth, and they must have a result of their experience that had changed them. the story must have a starting point, it must have a journey, and it must have a destination. The world must be believable, it must be a character that is a part of the story, and it must change constantly. You can bring awareness to the goal from the very beginning or to bring your characters are brought together because of a goal, and you can even change the goal at the end. The most important thing in all this is to have a goal and it doesn’t have to be perfect from the start or can’t change as your story come to life.  I hope this helps. SD

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