Better late (and disorganized) than never.
Suspense Across Genres
- If you're a pantser, still know what the last scene in your novel will be. This will keep you working in the right direction.
- Vary the pace and speed throughout the novel. Add mini-cliffhangers, character building, and backstory during non-action scenes.
- Tell a minimum of two stories. A character story and a world story are a good starting place.
- There should always be part of your story that happened in the past, and part that will happen in the future.
- Tropes are ok, it's good to start with one. But make sure there is something unique to add depth and interest.
- Characters are easier to care about, when they care about something themselves.
- Every character should have a flaw.
- Build your world through your character's eyes to prevent the dreaded info-dump.
- Your characters have a past, remember to put that into scenes as a way to build characters, build world and create suspense.
- But, don't add so much backstory that you take the reader out of the current scene.
Writing for Children
- Make sure that your writing is honest to the voice of a child, not what you'd want to tell a child as an adult.
- Making teacher materials, even if you are self published, is a nice touch.
- Don't write to teach a lesson. Kids will pick up on it immediately.
- Once your novel has been published it belongs to the readers, the children, and not you.
Misc
- Sid Field's 'How to Write a Screenplay' is a good tool for writers in all genres.
- The key to good editing, is distance. Make sure to take time between when you write something and when you edit it. The more time, the better. (for example - I edited this right away. sorry)
- Trust your reader when you're explaining things. Don't over explain or beat them to death with explanation. Readers are smart.
- Look up 'beats' and try and see them in your writing to keep forward momentum.
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