Comments on: How to Focus on Your Story's DNA

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 02:24:15 +0000

This is good at getting to the heart of things

By: Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 08-23-2018 | The Author Chronicles

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 13:08:29 +0000

[…] are many elements that go into making a story sparkle. Jenny Hansen tells us how to focus on your story’s DNA, Janice Hardy asks if you have a story with a twist or a twist that thinks it’s a story, and […]

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 02:25:43 +0000

In reply to Nathalie Daux. Nathalie, it is so easy! I get really buried under the minutia that shows up in the noveling process if I don't keep a focus on these things. It about kills me.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 02:24:31 +0000

In reply to Debbie Herbert. That whiteboard is a very cool idea, Debbie. How big is it? I keep thinking I need one myself. By the way, when I was at RWA, I heard the best bit of advice that your process would embrace. This one speaker said that after she finishes a chapter, she copies her favorite sentence from her chapter and finds a graphic to go with it. It keeps the story fresh in her mind and she has a bunch of branded marketing graphics to use later when the book launches. How cool is that, right?

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 02:20:30 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. It's an EXCELLENT goal. Personally, I think you should relax and let it come out through your fingers. It will, you know.

By: Nathalie Daux

Nathalie Daux — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 16:51:16 +0000

You bring up so many good points! As writers, I think it's easy to lose track of the DNA of our story. I have a whole journal of "necessary parts" to my story...or parts I'll most likely forget! Great post!

By: Debbie Herbert

Debbie Herbert — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 15:02:28 +0000

Great tips here! I sometimes call what I do "reverse plotting" because I have a whiteboard and AFTER each chapter I summarize it on the board. Somehow, it helps me keep organized and knowing where I'm headed.

By: How to Focus on Your Story’s DNA – From the Writers in the Storm Blog | Author Don Massenzio

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 13:45:03 +0000

[…] Read the rest of this post HERE. […]

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 06:47:25 +0000

You know I'm twitching after reading that, right, Jenny? I agree with all of it - I've even tried most of it . . . and my brain gives me the finger. The only saving grace is that, on some level, it absorbs the lesson, because it usually comes out in my fingers. That sounds wonderful, right? The problem is, I don't TRUST that it's going to. If I was more zen, I could write without the angst. It's a goal.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 00:05:19 +0000

In reply to Eldred Bird. Hahahahaha! I make flash cards of each of the five items and just make my notes to those. Keeps it simple. I'm thinking of a white board though. :-)