Laptop Open--Chair Reclined...WHAT KEEPS A READER ENGAGED IN YOUR STORY?



http://www.maryconnealy.com

So I have this test I use on movies.

Think of it as my variation on the old Siskal and Ebert Thumb Up/Thumbs Down test.

When I watch a movie I either have a book open or my laptop open.

My Cowboy sleeps.

So I’ve developed this test for quality of movies.

If he doesn’t nap and I don’t check my email then it’s a good movie.

Instead of a thumb icon, I will use an open laptop and a reclined chair for bad movies and a closed laptop and a chair sitting straight up for good movies

Bad Movie

Good Movie

I tend to over-analyze movies/books/songs…anything that involves written entertainment. Occupational hazard.

But I'm always interested in................

WHAT KEEPS OUR EYES ON THE SCREEN? 

It’s not always what you’d think.

Henry Cavill-Superman Man of Steel...let's all just pause for a moment over this picture...not having much trouble keeping my eyes on him...................................in fact you'd think this would sustain me through the whole movie
.............my attention is still engaged......................................................okay moving on

I was struck by this while watching Man of Steel with the most gorgeous Superman EVER. (one woman's opinion!) It’s no problem watching Henry Cavill at any time!

But there is a fight near the end of the movie and it’s a classic example of fights in these types of movies, like Transformers, X-Men, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman, Spiderman. These fight scenes in mostly pretty good movies (and certainly expensive movies with top directors and huge budgets for special effects...movies that make big bucks) go on and on and on and on.

And honestly the 27^th time Superman rams Zod’s head into a row of high rise buildings in New York City, well, it just gets boring.

How many times, now think about it, have you seen the Statue of Liberty get blown in half. Then here comes Lady Liberty crashing, head first, into a taxi cab. Sometimes I wonder if they use the same footage from other movies!

I’ve never watched a Transformers movie (that I remember? I may have forgotten) but good grief Pirates of the Caribbean? The sword fights, quirky and funny, but they  just NEVER END. You’d think watching Johnny Depp sword fight while balancing on a huge rolling wheel would be fairly entertaining but at least to me, it’s just dead space, plenty of time to check my email or read a chapter, and know I won’t miss a thing.

Plenty of time for My Cowboy to sneak in a nap.

I’ve come to realize why these endless fight scenes don’t hold my interest.

HERE’S MY POINT IF YOU’RE STILL PAYING ATTENTION!

It’s because THEY AREN’T MOVING THE STORY FORWARD.

OFF TOPIC ALERT!
Because it's Spring (okay, it's February, shut up, let me pretend) it's time for my annual Spring Parade of Calves on Facebook. To follow along as the babies come check out http://www.facebook.com/maryconnealy

And this is also true in books, each scene has to advance the story in order to hold the reader's attention. Writing is such a balance between revealing character, deepening the conflict, bringing the romance along…but all this has to be done while TELLING YOUR STORY.

Telling the story is your first goal and weaving in love and character and faith is all part of telling a good story but you have to spin a good yarn, tell a good story. The characters that inhabit that story are just one part of it. Any action scenes, falling over a cliff, a running gunfight, an explosion, all has to be advancing the story.

I’ve told writers, for example in critique groups, what is the point of this scene? You don’t advance the story at all.

One response I remember was, “I thought it revealed more about my character.”

You know what? It does reveal your character but it stopped your story dead in it's tracks. You need to do that, reveal and develop your character, but it’s GOT TO BE DONE WHILE YOU’RE ADVANCING YOUR STORY.

So the next time you’re writing a scene, picture adorable Henry Cavill bringing down the fifth row of high rise buildings in New York City using Zod’s head and ask yourself, will my whole book be one speck different if I cut the whole thing. Can I do this while only smashing down ONE row of high rise buildings. CAN LADY LIBERTY BE ALLOWED TO STAY ON HER FEET?

Metaphorically, I mean.

The Homestead Brides Collection In Bookstores NOW!

Let's think about your work in progress. Do you have scenes, however interesting, charming, action packed that don't advance your story? Do you have the guts to cut them?

Let's talk about it.

Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of a book that’s got ME, RUTHY AND PAMMY IN IT.

How cool is that? There are other great authors too, but three Seekers at once? That’s more fun than can be contained within the covers of a book.

I am also giving away this T-Shirt. It says, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WOMAN WITH WRITING SKILLS

I HATE SELFIES, AT LEAST OF ME

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The Homestead Brides Collection released yesterday, February 1st: Through nine historical romance adventures, readers will journey along with pioneers ready to stake a claim and plant their dreams on a piece of the great American plains. While fighting land disputes, helping neighbors, and tackling the challenges of nature the homesteaders are placed in the path of other dreamers with whom romance sparks. And God has His hand in orchestrating each unique meeting.