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Saturday, September 28, 2013

5 FREE TESTS TO SEE IF YOUR NOVEL IS READY TO FACE THE WORLD

Ratatoskr, the Asgardian squirrel, is happily ... ah, all right, not so happily reading my latest novel,
HER BONES ARE IN THE BADLANDS.

Being the laid-back subtle squirrel he is, Ratastoskr reminded me forcibly,

while guzzling suger-infused ice tea what FIVE tests I could give my book to see if it was ready to face the world.

1.) IS YOUR NOVEL "FEELING" ITS WAY THROUGH THE STORY?

  • Feeling reveals passive voice and generic narratives.  As in: smile, frown, face (as verb), glance, nod.

  • Replace these reactions/actions in between bits of dialogue with dynamic action and body language.

    Fix These Issues by:
    • Using dynamic language.
    • Inject more personality into your characters.
    • Change the character’s behavior
    • Change the entire scene – move the character around.
    2.) IS THERE A "BEFORE" AND "AFTER" TO THE ENDING?


    Your protagonist should change, undergoing an arc of growth, throughout the novel. 

    The hero has learned hard lessons, having some of the answers to the questions that puzzled him in the first chapter.

    Your heroine of the last chapter would respond differently to the situation(s) of the first chapter. 

    Remember:
    flaws help readers relate to your heroine even at the end of your novel.  Having grown doesn't mean becoming perfect.


    3.) IS THERE A RIVETING ENOUGH HOOK FOR YOUR NOVEL?





    Like the fox above, is your heroine/hero really in a tight situation?  Is it universal, primal and most importantly:

    IS IT UNIQUE IN ITS SPIN?


    4.) SAY AGAIN?


    Go from chapter to chapter reading the dialogue aloud. 

    Does each character speak in her or his voice. 

    Could you tell who a character was just from the words and the way she or he speaks?

    Does the give-and-take between characters stand out?  People talk differently to different persons in their lives. 

    The manner and attitude of Sally towards her mother is not the same as her dialogue to her best friend,

    her boy friend, her pet unicorn (just checking to see if you were paying attention!)


    5.) DO YOUR CHARACTERS LIVE IN A CARDBOARD WORLD?


    Each of your chapters should appeal to all 5 senses.  There is an ambiance to any place you happen to be.

    The air to the Badlands is so dry it cuts the insides of your nose and throat when you breathe. 

    The air you can wear in New Orleans is like a heavy, invisible moist blanket wrapping around your whole body. 

    And the smells of urine, rotting garbage, and stale beer in the early morning of Bourbon Street would tell you where you were even with your eyes closed.

    But in the spring air of early evening, while walking St. Louis garden,

    you will catch the throaty laughter of college co-eds as they begin their vacation adventure of exploring the wicked French Quarter.

    OTHER THOUGHTS:
     

    Of course, there is more. 

    Asking "How do I know my novel is ready?" is like asking "How do I know I'm in love?"

    You just know deep down.  It "feels" right.

    All your chapters end with a question that has to be answered, a life that has to be saved, or a mystery that pulls you into the next chapter. 

    You want to be one of those authors who keep their readers up all night reading.

    The ending, while perhaps surprising, is logical.  It springs naturally from the chapters that went before it.

    It answers the major questions of your story.  The best endings keep some things in the air, for that is the way of life. 

    Only half-hour sit-coms neatly tie up everything.


    5 comments:

    1. Perhaps that neat tie-up is why I don't like tv shows as much as movies. Life poses many questions. So should we.

      BTW - I took one of those 'I write like' analysis tests with three separate types of my writing to see if they would be the same. They were not: Suspense (like Neil Gaimon), Alternative history (like Dan Brown) and SciFi (like Arthur C. Clarke). All men. I'm probably okay then making my protags male.

      I did glean some info from the instant analysis: I write in language that may appeal to both sexes. Just as word clouds tell me if I'm overusing a word, everything I learn about my style of writing helps me improve what I write. I'd have no problem being the eternal student.

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    2. Very well put :). I think my novel's approaching 100%, although I'm not sure about number three. Plus I probably have a lot of "feels" to get rid of.

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    3. Interesting. I took one of those tests and found an author I am not familiar with...I write like
      Isaac Asimov... LOL...Guess I will have to check out his work. Say hi to my favorite squirrel :)

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    4. Good post, Roland. These are useful tips that do provide food for thought during the editing process.

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    5. D.G.:
      Been working all day and night so I am just now finding time to say HI. Hemingway said all good writers are eternal students. That test I write like H_ll. I think Ratatoskr rigged the test@!

      J E:
      Leave a few "feels" in there if the novel reads right to you. I wish the best on your novel!

      Siv:
      Ratatoskr said to apologize about your sugar bowl. Ah, he was passing by; you were sleeping, and he has this sweet tooth you know!

      Isaac Asimov was a prolific writer of science and science fiction. The man was a genius. Feel flattered! :-)

      J.L.:
      Ratatoskr takes all the credit -- and all my ice tea AND SUGAR, that scoundrel.

      I'm happy you got something useful out of my post. :-)

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