Did you know? Greek poet Thespis created the idea of
monologues and the character having a dialogue with the chorus. Aeschylus later introduced a second
actor, costumes and scenery. Sophocles added a third actor. Doesn’t sound
groundbreaking, but imagine a movie or a book if there was only one person and
a chorus?
Aristotle coined the phrases reversal of situation and
recognition. Reversal is when the plot twists around the opposite way.
Recognition is when the main character goes from ignorance to knowledge. All
great movies and great books have these 2 elements.
If the main character doesn’t grow, there is no character
arc, meaning there is no story. If the plot doesn’t twist, how can you keep
your viewers or readers engaged.
And as far back as the Greeks, sex and violence sold well.
Both can be metaphorical. The scenes give you a similar physical reaction as
you would get from sex and violence. For example, in Gone With the Wind, we
never actually see Scarlett and Rhett in bed, but the every time they are on
screen together it sizzles. Movies and books should make one feel more alive.
Otherwise, what is the point? Movies help the viewer escape reality. Books help
the reader do the same thing.
Each story works best in a 3-act structure. They all have a
beginning, a middle, and an end. The parts are by no means equal in length. In
the beginning the environment is established. The normal world you could call
it. The second act is about the conflict and the resolution of that conflict
both internal and external. The ending is about returning to the normal world,
albeit a changed character.
(This is an excerpt from a workshop: Lights! Camera!
Bestseller!)
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two
kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in
journalism. When she isn’t writing she works part time for her local hospital. Her
next book out is Blonde Demolition, a romantic suspense.
Blurb:
You just can't hide from the past...
Mallory
Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind
of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer
firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.
Former
partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes
they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't
have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.
Framed
for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run
and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory
has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And
time is running out.
You can purchase Blonde Demolition at Amazon, Smashwords and
Barnes and Noble beginning November 15.
Where you can find me on the web:
Thanks for having me today Ginger.
cmr
