Creating Stories by Hank Quense – Excerpt + Giveaway



It’s a pleasure to be participating in the Blog Tour for CREATING STORIES by Hank Quense through MC Book Tours.
Do you have a story in you? Do you know how to write it or how to tell it? Well, CREATING STORIES has the answers. In addition, Hank is offering a tour-wide giveaway featuring of five (5) eBooks of CREATING STORIES and three (3) print copies of the author’s MOXIE’S PROBLEM (U.S. entries only). See how you can enter to win below. If you don’t want to wait to win a copy of CREATINGSTORIES, Hank is offering a special ‘half price’ sale that will only be available during his tour (March 20 through April 14).

Hank, the author of more than twenty books, tells you how to write your story. He believes that stories come from the melding of three elements: getting ideas, story design, and story-telling. Ideas have to come from the author. CREATING STORIES covers the last two.


Creating Stories
by Hank Quense
  • Published by Strange World Publishing
  • AVAILABLE April 1, 2017
  • $8.99, 9947 KB, 105 Pages
  • Genre: Fiction Writing
  • ASIN:
    B01MZ6E3EM
         
The book concentrates on developing characters including such rarely discussed requirements such as a dominant reader emotion and the character’s biography.
         
Plots are also covered in depth and a number of graphics are included to illustrate complex points. Another topic discusses subplots and how to utilize them and how to nest them within the main plot.
         
A separate chapter discusses the relationship between the plot and the emotional arcs.
Other topics covered are character arcs, scene design, point-of-view, writing voice.


From Chapter 7 of Creating Stories

Subplots have a number of uses. Here is a list of the main ones.

Distract the reader from the main conflict.
Give the reader a break.
Stretch out the tension.
Build anticipation.
Explore and develop other characters.
Provide foreshadowing.

Let’s explore each one in more depth.

Distracting the reader is a device that can be used in many stories. While the reader is engrossed in the subplot, the sneaky main characters are off doing something that will surprise the reader when she finds out what they did.

Give the reader a break: If the plot is especially intense, the readers will appreciate a break. The subplot gives them a chance to catch their breath and cool off a bit before they plunge back into the main plot.

Stretch out the tension: The subplots also make the main plot seem longer, stretching out the tension.
Build anticipation: This stretching out with subplots will build the anticipation of the reader to reach the climax.

Explore and develop other characters: The subplots can be used to explore less important characters and give the readers insights into these characters.

Provide foreshadowing: A subplot can be used to show a development that seemingly is independent of the main plot, but is actually a crucial element in the climactic scenes.

Subplot example
Here is an example of a simple subplot suitable for a short story. Jim is the protagonist in the story and Harry is Jim’s sidekick After the story gets going and the reader is acquainted with both men, Jim says, “Harry, what’s up? You look like something is bothering you.”

“It’s my mother, Jim. She had a heart attack last night and she’s in intensive care.”

A scene or two later.

“How’s your mother doing?” Jim asked.

“Gonna have open heart surgery this afternoon,” Harry replied.

“Oh, man. I hope she comes through all right.”

Another scene or two passes.

“Is your mother okay?” Jim asked.

“She’s great.” Harry grinned at his friend. “The operation was a success. She’ll be home within a week.”

Harry and his mother’s problem is a full subplot even though we never meet the mother. It characterizes Harry by showing his concern for her health. It characterizes Jim by demonstrating his sympathy for Harry’s situation.

More subplot stuff

Subplots shouldn’t stop the main plot from going forward. By this I mean, don’t insert an entire five-thousand-word subplot in between two main plot scenes. The subplot scenes should be spaced out and interwoven with the main plot and other subplots. A complicated subplot can run for the entire length of the main plot or a simpler subplot can wrap up during a single part of the story.

The subplots can involve less important characters or they can involve the main characters. In this latter case, the protagonist will have two or even three problems to work on. This can lead to overload for the character and greatly increase the tension and his emotional upheaval.

Subplots must be handled in a way that interweaves them with the main plot. In many cases, the subplot will impact on the main plot’s development and either hinder or help that development.

If you have any questions or comments on this material, leave a note and I’ll respond.


Hank Quense writes humorous and satiric sci-fi and fantasy stories.
He also writes and lectures about fiction writing and self-publishing. He has published 19 books and 50 short stories along with dozens of articles. He often lectures on fiction writing and publishing and has a series of guides covering the basics on each subject. He is currently working on a third Moxie novel that takes place in the Camelot era.
He and his wife, Pat, usually vacation in another galaxy or parallel universe. They also time travel occasionally when Hank is searching for new story ideas.
You can
connect with Hank on his
Amazon Author Page. You can check out the schedule and follow Hank’s tour by clicking HERE.

This tour-wide giveaway is for five (5) eBooks of CREATING STORIES and three (3) print copies of the author’s MOXIE’S PROBLEM (U.S. entries only). The prizes are courtesy of the publisher. The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, April 18.
To enter, click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions.
Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to check out Hank’s book.

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5 comments / Add your comment below

  1. I SO like the principle of the Subplot. Where would Rogers and Hammerstein be without them!?
    Please enter me in giveaway. annfesATyahooDOTcom

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