The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Writing Skills

How Do Plot and Scene Work Together? Series Conclusion

by

Let’s connect the pieces of plot, scene, and sequel.

Plot at its most basic level is your lead character’s goal and the journey to reach that goal. That journey is played out in the scenes and sequels of your story.

Scenes show the reader the individual steps your character takes to reach his or her goal and the setbacks along the way. Sequels bridge your scenes and present the character’s reaction—emotions and thoughts—to the setbacks, and his or her subsequent decisions and renewed action toward the final goal.

In your WIP, can you identify:

  • The beginning, middle, and end of each scene?
  • How each scene moves your plot forward?
  • Your sequels?
  • How your sequels move your plot forward?

For practice, look for the scenes and sequels in your favorite novels. Does some aspect of your WIP have you stumped? Share below.

Debra L. Butterfield © 2013

Dealing with Time in Sequels, Part 5 of our series

by

Unlike the scene, which happens moment by moment, the passage of time in a sequel is flexible. Here you can move quickly through hours or days (even months) in your story. What took 158 words as a scene can be written in much fewer words. I’ll take our last example, a scene, and make it a sequel.

Example: Marta searched her Excel file for the next group of potential investors to contact. She made phone call after phone call as she identified names, her temper rising with every conversation. Ten calls, and ten “no’s.” The clock on the wall read 3:30. She shut down her laptop, stuffed it into her briefcase, and tromped out of the office. She’d start again tomorrow.

I have sufficiently covered several hours in her day vs. the few minutes of one phone call I used in a scene. We see her emotional and mental state, and her decision and action (all the elements of sequel).

Questions? Ask below in the comment section.

Debra L. Butterfield © 2013

Dealing with Time in Scenes, Part 4 of our series

by

Time is a story element with which many beginning writers struggle. Whether your novel occurs over a period of days or years, you must lead us through that time.

In scenes, time passes moment by moment. This means we see the action as it happens. Let’s pick up the action where Friday’s sequel left off (Marta had reached for the phone). [Read more…] about Dealing with Time in Scenes, Part 4 of our series

Are You Writing a Strong Query Letter?

by

As editor for CrossRiver Media Group, I receive submission queries that run the gamut from professional to spam. All too often, writers submit emails that don’t contain even the skeleton of a real query letter. Their email simply reads “here is XYZ for your review.”

Sometimes I responded to them, but often I don’t.

Increase your chances of editors reading your submission by learning to write a great query letter. Tweet this.

  • Address your query to a specific editor
  • Hook the editor with your idea in the first paragraph, then
  • Give a further description of the article and write it in the tone and style of the market you’re submitting to
  • Include the word count of your article (or anticipated count if you haven’t yet written it)
  • Include information about why you are the right person to write the article
  • Include your publication credits if you have them (if you don’t, then don’t mention it)
  • Tell them if this is a simultaneous submission (you have submitted this idea to other markets at the same time)

A proper query is as essential as following the publication’s submission guidelines (uh-oh, did you read those?).

There are whole books dedicated to how to write query letters. Grab one from the library and study it. The Writer’s Digest Writer’s Market includes a “Query Letter Clinic.”  It offers good and bad examples from which you can learn.  Or do a Google search on “query letter examples” and study several.  

Give the editor what he or she needs to catch your pitch, and you’re more likely to make a sale.