Extreme Book Makeover: Help! Why would someone pick up my story?

Make your reader care with the Story Question!

Why should someone pick up your story and read it – all the way to the end? We talked the last two weeks about having Story Stakes – or a reason your character should care about your story by giving your character something to lose. Last week we dissected the difference between High Concept and Low Concept stories (and how tell the difference), noting that High Concept stories are driven by high public & personal stakes, whereas Low Concept stories are fueled by the characters’ inner journeys, or the private stakes.

This week, we’re going to add another potent ingredient to the mix…the fuel for the inner journey of your character, the Story Question.

The Story Question is that question your character is asking as the book opens, ignited by the inciting incident and lingering in their mind throughout the second Act of the story. All the tidbits of truth your character discovers along the way contribute to the answer they discover at the Aha! Moment of the story, or the epiphany.

Through the Storm

I read something this week that gave me pause:

Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm.

I pondered that for quite some time. It permeated my heart because life has wonderful moments of peace, joy and rapture sandwiched between the storms of life. It’s easy to get caught up in the trial of the moment and miss out on the blessing of reaching out to help another human being in need.

Or even worse, instead of reaching out, you could lash out at others when they share their teenie tiny little challenge with you. Doesn’t it always seem that right at the second you get the fortieth rejection letter, your crit partner calls and fusses because they only got a four book deal when they just knew they’d get six?!

Rachel Hauck

What To Do When A Book IS HARD To Write

I hear you. “Rachel, what do you mean? Every book is hard to write.”

True.

But some books are harder than others.

I ran into a paralyzing premise book in “Dining with Joy” when I kept asking, “What IS that book about?”

What is “Dining with Joy.”

I ran into this same road block with “How To Catch A Prince.”

Just how does one catch a prince?

I’ve never had a book elude me so much. Never have doubts been higher.

But at the end of the day, books are not rewritten, they are rewritten.

What doesn’t work initially can be tweaked and fixed.

So, don’t get in too much of a wad — like I have — over a book that is hard to write.

My husband says when he doesn’t understand things or people he puts an “X” over it.

“Treasure buried here.”

One Thing Marketing: Pieces of a Marketing Plan – Part 1

It’s time to talk marketing plans!

And specifically, the marketing plan you’ll need to include in your proposal when you get ready to submit it to an agent or editor. I’ve seen marketing plans anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages. I tend to be in the two-page range myself. I think it’s important that we show agents and editors we understand the importance of building a platform and marketing our books.

For the next couple months in these “One Thing Marketing” posts, we’re going to look at the components of a marketing plan. By the time we’re done, if you follow along you should have a good start on your own marketing plan. Let’s get started…