Full Circle

After putting together some tips together from my hero, Noah Lukeman, and allowing them to solidify in my mind, I have turned back to my writing. Again. (Page 63 of 240 with about 80 bazillion distractions ranging from more snow to computer breakdowns to treks to the snack cupboard. Sadly, not much in the way of email to keep me distracted.)

And so, I have discovered on this round of my never-ending edits that my paragraphs need help.

When it comes to nonfiction writing, I’ve got it down pat. Start with your statement, premise or fact, back it up and move on. (Basically.)

Well in fiction, I just popped the old ‘enter’ key whenever. Reckless abandon comes to mind as I look over my work. Okay, not that bad. But when the paragraphs would get long, sometimes I’d break it up before my thought was over.

So now I am going through with the focus on going full circle. I start a chapter with an idea and end a chapter echoing it (hopefully) or resolving it. But of course, with the all important hook to keep people reading on. I am also extending that idea to each chapter section, and each paragraph. And my paragraphs are getting a bit better, I think.

Plus, I am making sure that I am carrying my themes throughout my work. I got some advice from someone that isn’t fully sitting well. Yes, you have to carry the character through the story along with their quirks and characteristics, but I feel that there is a point where you have to let off for fear of insulting the reader. They don’t need to be constantly reminded on how the character frowns at everything or whatever their quirk is. That aside, it is fun trying to carry thoughts and ideas throughout the work. It is amazing where things pop up. No wonder it takes some writers so long to pump out their books. I finally understand. There are so many layers that it is impossible to add them all in on one or two sit downs.

This is the paragraph where I should be echoing the first paragraph, resolving it or coming full circle. But I’m not going to because this is a blog and I need to get back to applying the latest Lukeman tip to my never-ending round of edits before the glorious snow distracts me.