Comments on: Write a Better Fiction Story by Finding its Beating Heart

By: Donna Brathwaite

Donna Brathwaite — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:28:38 +0000

This was truly very enlightening.

By: Sandy Vaile

Sandy Vaile — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 01:30:51 +0000

In reply to Denise.

Too right, Denise.
The heart of your story comes from what your main character desires.

Happy writing.

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:50:34 +0000

The main characters need a purpose, too, a raison d'etre.

By: Sandy Vaile

Sandy Vaile — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:57:14 +0000

In reply to Barb DeLong. Brilliant, Barb! Good luck with your NaNo words.

By: Sandy Vaile

Sandy Vaile — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:56:11 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Oh, that sounds fantastic, Jenny. Giving characters something difficult to face and overcome is exactly how mean us authors have to be. LOL

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 16:27:53 +0000

In reply to Sandy Vaile. I'm so sorry to hear about your own sister story, Sandy. That is such a weight to carry. My story has a theme of shame running through it. Until everyone faces - and makes peace with - their shame,the grand finale reconciliation won't be able to happen.

By: Barb DeLong

Barb DeLong — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 15:29:59 +0000

In reply to Sandy Vaile. Thanks, Sandy! Yes, my planned ending is a soul-deep sacrifice that one of them is willing to make for the other. It proves his love for her. So maybe I'm not too far off. Digging back into NaNo. Tap tap tap

By: Sandy Vaile

Sandy Vaile — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 06:09:49 +0000

In reply to Barb DeLong. Hi Barb, Glad you enjoyed the article. You've done a fabulous job of giving your characters opposing desires, which creates immediate conflict. He needs to keep magic a secret, but she's intent on revealing it. Remember, there is no right or wrong beating heart, it's what you choose to explore through your characters. I'm getting the feeling that to be able to hold onto love these two will are going to have to put the needs of the other ahead of their own. (It will depend on their motivations.) I haven't used the word 'trust' but it would still be inherent in that scenario. Happy writing.

By: Barb DeLong

Barb DeLong — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 03:13:44 +0000

A keeper post! My fantasy romance WIP (book 2 in a series) revolves around trust. Both my protagonists circle each other, resisting falling in love because they don't trust each other--one, has a huge, world-busting secret. He's a witch and there's a world-wide secret witch society. She's an investigative reporter intent on proving to the world that magic is real. Who to trust is a thread running through the book. I'm struggling with my "beating heart" sentence. Maybe, "to truly love someone, you must put your trust in them." I don't know. I'm working on it.

By: Sandy Vaile

Sandy Vaile — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 00:45:20 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen.

Wow, Jenny, that sounds like a really tense situation to explore.
Great idea to put a deadline on their reconciliation too, with one sister possibly dying.

Knowing what is important in the story will really help you choose the right situations to put these sisters in.

I might just learn something from their outcome too, seeing as I'm estranged from my own sister!

Good luck.