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#Ammteasers TODAY'S THREAD
Getting readers emotionally VESTED in what happens to your MC
People read to be entertained. That’s foremost.
So you can't just have an MC who is merely *reacting* to outside factors. They must be *striving* for something
1/12
Getting readers emotionally VESTED in what happens to your MC
People read to be entertained. That’s foremost.
So you can't just have an MC who is merely *reacting* to outside factors. They must be *striving* for something
1/12
#AmmTeasers How can you keep from boring your reader?
Create an emotional draw that hooks in and strings them along throughout the story. TENSION
We want them to keep reading past their bedtime. To be unable to put a book down until they know how the tension will resolve
2/12
Create an emotional draw that hooks in and strings them along throughout the story. TENSION
We want them to keep reading past their bedtime. To be unable to put a book down until they know how the tension will resolve
2/12
#Ammteasers You've heard of GMC (goal, motivation, & conflict)
Your book needs each for a full story arc—(and again in each scene on a smaller level--later thread) so let's break it down because some subs were not making these obvious enough to grab attention
3/12
Your book needs each for a full story arc—(and again in each scene on a smaller level--later thread) so let's break it down because some subs were not making these obvious enough to grab attention
3/12
#Ammteasers
GOAL: what does your MC want? Sounds easy peasy. But nope--you need something concrete that a reader can sink their teeth into and it must be tangible in some way, even if it’s internal. Your reader should recognize this need, too.
4/12
GOAL: what does your MC want? Sounds easy peasy. But nope--you need something concrete that a reader can sink their teeth into and it must be tangible in some way, even if it’s internal. Your reader should recognize this need, too.
4/12
#ammteasers The GOAL should be evident so we can understand what we're looking for AND understand what *negative consequences* will happen if the goal isn't made
Read that last bit again.
It's got to be apparent and produce some kind of tension
5/12
Read that last bit again.
It's got to be apparent and produce some kind of tension
5/12
#ammteasers MOTIVATION: the why?
This often stems out of a need from one of the levels in Maslow's hierarchy, or it could come from an emotional wound
6/12
This often stems out of a need from one of the levels in Maslow's hierarchy, or it could come from an emotional wound
6/12
#ammteasers Emotional wounds: something that your MC has dealt w/in their lives that now inhibits them because they believe lies they created about the wound, usually as a protective measure.
Here's a SUPERB article explaining https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/11/dropping-breadcrumbs-for-readers-your-characters-emotional-wound/
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Here's a SUPERB article explaining https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/11/dropping-breadcrumbs-for-readers-your-characters-emotional-wound/
7/12
#ammteasers
Why do we want to do things that challenge us?
Myriad reasons such as: satisfaction, revenge, glory, love, etc etc
Make it clear WHY this is so important to your MC so we are along for the ride
8/12
Why do we want to do things that challenge us?
Myriad reasons such as: satisfaction, revenge, glory, love, etc etc
Make it clear WHY this is so important to your MC so we are along for the ride
8/12
#ammteasers
The CONFLICT makes achieving that goal difficult. It could be another character, or something internal influencing your MC.
Either way, it’s extra enticing if it pokes at their lie/wound, because we can experience the emotional roller coaster w/them!
9/12
The CONFLICT makes achieving that goal difficult. It could be another character, or something internal influencing your MC.
Either way, it’s extra enticing if it pokes at their lie/wound, because we can experience the emotional roller coaster w/them!
9/12
#Ammteasers And this is important too--it's OK if the reader has never experienced the conflict your MC is living through--that's your job; to include the reader by making your prose draw us in, make us feel as though we’re also feeling the same feels
10/12
10/12
#AMMTEASERS It's important (imo) that every scene you include lends itself to painting the character in a way that showcases their goals, motivations, and/or conflict (all 3 is the writer's goal).
If it doesn't, why is it included?
11/12
If it doesn't, why is it included?
11/12
#ammteasers
I'm going to end here because I could really go deep, but it would be 50 tweets and that's silly business. I want to do more threads (and have ideas) but feel free to ask for specifics!
PLEASE look into these concepts more deeply. So much info out there!
12/12
I'm going to end here because I could really go deep, but it would be 50 tweets and that's silly business. I want to do more threads (and have ideas) but feel free to ask for specifics!
PLEASE look into these concepts more deeply. So much info out there!
12/12
