Story blocking is key to giving readers a sense of time and place in a scene. Just where are the characters in relationship to each other and what are they doing?

Ever read a book where you know the protagonist went into the kitchen to talk to her mother but you never “see” what they are doing while talking, or where they are standing in relationship to each other?

Is the mother cooking? Is the protagonist sitting at the kitchen table or leaning against the counter? Does she fiddle with a napkin holder as the conversation goes on?

Maybe the characters are just walking through the woods or sitting on a beach. Do they reach for a low swinging branch? Scoop up a handful of sand and let it slip through their fingers?

Show the reader where the characters are in relationship to one another and any movements.

Now, we don’t want them jumping all over the place like Mexican jumping beans. But they aren’t card board either, all stiff and standing in place as they talk.

If the protagonist is sitting on the sofa talking to her husband, then you only need one or two movements to make the “setting” clear.

What exactly is blocking?

Blocking is a theatre term that refers to the precise movement and positioning of actors on a stage in order to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera. — wikipedia.org.

Readers need to see and know where your characters are on you book stage.

My first book came out in February of 2004. In fact, I had two books release that month.

A small romance from Heartsong Presents and an e-book from Writer’s Exchange.

In August, I left the corporate world to write full time.

And never looked back.

I was hopeful in August of 2004 for a budding writing career. I’d sold another Heartsong with a third on the horizon.

I’d also had interest in my chick lit from then Steeple Hill Cafe.

In September, two hurricane’s blew through our neck of the country. Frances then Jeanne.

While my husband cleaned up after Frances, I sat frantically writing the final chapters of Lambert’s Code in front of a fan, running on borrowed energy from our neighbor’s generator, and my hands were all sticky with dew and humidity.

But I finished that book.

You know, in some ways, every book faces it’s own opposition.

And we have to finish them anyway.

Now that I have a nine year perspective on publishing and full time novel writing, here are some things I’ve learned.