No house would be complete without a luxurious master bedroom and ours is a doozie! Imagine you’ve stepped into the bedroom of your dreams. A king-sized bed with exquisite bedding greets you. A large armoire frames one wall, a beautiful chest of drawers another.
Somewhere, a candle must be burning. The whole place smells of flowers. Or maybe it’s vanilla. Doesn’t matter. The whole thing is a sensory feast. You can’t wait to slip into your PJ’s and slide under the satin sheets.
Now think about your WIP. You’ve just entered the “bedroom” phase of your writing. This is the point where you honestly assess the entertainment value of your work. Is there a chance your reader will be bored with your story? (Be honest!) Will it put her to sleep or will she lie in that large comfy bed, biting her nails and turning pages?
Remember, even a “slow” story can be energized. Pace the action carefully. After all, there’s nothing worse than a boring story. “Z..z..z..z..z..z..z...”
- Things to Consider:
- An “inviting” book must keep the invitation coming from chapter to chapter. Don’t stop at the first chapter.
- Keep the “aroma” of the book strong (like the candles mentioned above). Don’t entice in the first chapter or two, then deviate from the comfortable invitation.
- Sensory elements keep the story alive “in the moment” for the reader.
Good plotting means incorporating conflict. On every page. Check your manuscript carefully to see if you’ve included adequate conflict (internal or external) that the reader can truly relate to.
The reader wants to lose sleep over your book. Don’t disappoint!
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