Yesterday, we talked about the use of Public and Private Stakes to raise the epic element of your suspense, and drive your reader through the story.  But that is only one part of the equation.  You need motivation as well. 

 You need to employ something I call the PUSH-PULL. 

 Let’s start at the beginning of the story:  Your character will need a motivation to start them on their journey.  Some Why and What do they want?    This is easy – you simply take a look at their greatest dreams and give them glimpse of hope that they can achieve them early on in the story. 

 But that’s when things get tough.  See, on every great journey, there is conflict – or obstacles along the way.  And your character will be tempted to give up.  They need to have a Push-Pull at the beginning of every scene to help them face that obstacle.  

Every scene has to have an emotional or physical push/pull (or combination thereof).   It’s the PUSH away from something negative, and the PULL toward something positive. 

Think of it this way – there has to be a reason for them to leave the current situation they are in.  It might be that the roof will cave in, or it might be emotional – saying “I love you” to someone before they walk away.  Whatever is a stronger Push out of their current situation is the key to building the motivation for that scene. 

There also must be a hint of why, of a reward on the other side of the obstacle.  A Pull.  Sometimes it’s simply a safer place where they are now.  Maybe it’s a hint of the happy ending.  Whatever it is, it’s the second half of the motivation equation. 

Yesterday I talked about the movie Unstoppable and how it needed personal stakes in the story.  It also could have used more Push-Pull.   Yes, I understood that the older railroad man wanted to prove that he wasn’t useless anymore, and that the younger conductor wanted to prove that he was worthy of his job, but as we drew closer to the obstacles, the push-pull waned, and only the public stakes kept the story moving forward.  

 The Push-Pull equation also helps develop a more heroic character.  Most of all, if you use the Push-Pull method, you’ll never have someone throwing your book across the room. 

 A great story requires a careful balance of rising story stakes and strengthening motivations not unlike the rhythm of the one–two punch. They work together to create a can’t-put-it-down novel.

Book Therapist questions:   

ü  What is at stake in your scene? 

ü  What is the motivation to overcome the stakes? 

ü  What is the Push-Pull?

 I have a rule of thumb: Every 50 pages, I raise the stakes. That’s about every 10,000-12,000 words. Or every three or four chapters. Using the plotting chart, and starting with the inciting incident, chart the rhythm of stakes and motivation in your story. Don’t forget to make your hero more heroic with each decision!

If you have questions, head over to the MBT Club Voices, www.mybooktherapy.ning.com and join in on the suspense discussion!

I’m headed to Florida for the Deep Thinker’s Retreat!  It’s 17 degrees where I live today.  Just sayin’

Keep warm!

Susie May