Now I’d like to lead you to the dining room of this beautiful writing house we’re building.
Imagine, if you will, a large space of grand design. Plenty of room for everyone, of course. A china cabinet frames the far wall, filled with exquisite wedding china. An impressive table fills much of the space – cherry wood with a dozen beautifully crafted chairs.
And what a spread. Each place setting offers something to appeal to both the eye and the stomach – a colorful place setting and tantalizing foods, to boot!
Now consider your WIP. Imagine you’ve just entered the ‘dining room’ phase of your writing. This is the time/place where you make absolutely sure you’ve tantalized the taste buds of the reader.
- Questions to Consider:
- Have you used active verbs effectively?
- Is the plot flowing smoothly?
- Are the characters too predictable, or has your writing offered the reader excitement?
- Does she crave seconds?
- At some point along the way, does she push her chair away from the table, content in the fact that she has eaten a good meal?
- On the other hand, does she feel “too full” perhaps? Was there too much material to take in all at once? A good book is often like a good meal. You want to offer just enough, but not too much.
This is the point where you seriously analyze your story to make sure you’ve “colored” it properly, but not necessarily with adverbs and adjectives. Make sure your sensory elements are in place, but don’t overload. Make sure your plotline isn’t predictable, but don’t complicate for the sake of complication. After all, balance is key in the dining room. If you don’t believe it, ask your tummy!
Things to Consider:
- What does it mean to tantalize?
- We’re often tantalized by sensory elements.
- The scent (and presentation) of a good meal are often as important as the meal itself.
