Author Archives: Norm Benson

Limited conflict or attention I don’t want to talk about this. It could start a fight.

The character lacks yearning–the “hole in the soul” Every story is in some way a journey that moves the story’s hero from a place he is comfortable to one that is different from what he is accustomed. It is the trials and troubles that the hero deals with that allow him to see the holeContinue reading “Reason #4 – No Hole in the Soul”

Too far removed from the inciting incident Don’t spend time warming your engine. Start close to the point where the hero’s world starts to change. James N Frey says, “…beginning writers falsely believe they have to ‘set the stage’ and ‘inform the reader about past events’ before getting on with the story.” In his TopContinue reading “Reason #5 – Throat Clearing”

Beginning with a flashback or dream I am guilty of this, one of my first beginnings (yes, there was a previous and I’m on iteration seven) started with a FATS (Firearm Training Scenarios) scenario. Only, I didn’t reveal it wasn’t “real” (fictional reality) in the story. The jig was up when the proctor called anContinue reading “Reason #6 – Beginning with a flashback or dream”

Talking heads instead of narration According to Jack Bickham, author of Scene and Structure, there are four components to dialogue (CoD): • words that are spoken • attribution—so your readers don’t forget who’s talking • stage action—action, expression, and body language • internalization—thoughts and feelings Too often it’s just the words that are spoken andContinue reading “Reason #7 – Talking Heads”

Telling instead of showing “Show don’t tell” is an aphorism often heard in writer’s groups. Anton Chekhov wrote, ‘Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.’ Showing gives information that stands out and is more plausible. It allows us to feel, see, smell what the character isContinue reading “Reason #8 – Telling”

Here’s the next in the top ten of new novelist’s pitfalls: Setting and description delivered in large chunks Now you’re going to get my take and memories of what the items mean. The list of Top Ten Pitfalls was read and not handed out or displayed, so any confusion is mine and mine alone. Setting/DescriptionContinue reading “Reason #9 – Lacking Action”

I’m taking a community college novel writing course. I wrote down the instructor’s list of Top Ten Mistakes Newbie Novelists Make and thought I’d deliver it like Letterman. Number 10… Flat writing (passive sentences/weak verbs) Passive sentences and weak verbs drain life from writing. I’ve read (and written no doubt) stuff that lacks ‘zaz. EveryContinue reading “Reason #10 – Flat Writing”