Wednesday, October 16, 2013

WRITERLY WISDOM: Margot Finke








It's time once again for WRITERLY WISDOM where every Wednesday we will sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication. My next guest author might be, as she puts it, "an Aussie transplant", but she sure knows how to write for the children of the world! Today she writes about putting the right amount of action into your story. Take it away Margot...


Writing a Masterpiece Ain't Easy!


by Margot Finke


Like any other job or career, a writer must spend time learning the craft of writing - an apprenticeship if you will. The rules are available for those who take the time to learn them. And once you learn the rules, you can take an occasional deep breath. . . and break them with impunity.

Active and powerful words are a BIG Plus:

The creation of active and powerful plots is much the same whatever the age or the genre.  It is all in the words you choose, the dialogue you use, and the way you put it all together. Whether you are trying to appeal to adults, kids on the cusp of adolescence, or teens with raging hormones, success depends on HOOKING your reader.
If you plan to whip up an action packed book that will HOOK reader interest, here is a preview of the ingredients you’ll need to dig out of your imagination and your well-honed craft box.

·       Think out of the box.
·       Tight writing + action and pace
  • Active and powerful verbs.
  • A plot that’s cool and fast paced.
  • Characters alive with authenticity.
  • Dialogue that is true to the characters.
  • A background rich with possibilities or mystery.
  • Your own unique writing voice.
  • Hints and clues that are woven into the fabric of the plot, and tell of past history and things yet to come.
  • End of chapter HOOKS that keep readers turning the page.

·       A Thesaurus (either a book or Shift F7 in Word) is your best friend when looking to replace problem words.
·        For further clues regarding weak "Stuff" to cut from your chapters, visit my




When completed, your MG or YA masterpiece needs to be somewhere between 30,000 and 80,000 words. Yes, I know Jo Rowlings upped the ante with her succession of Harry Potter books, and if your plot and characters have the same appeal as her Harry, you too might get away with a bumper word count. However, first-time authors might be wise to err on the side of fewer words. Adult books can have a much higher word count. 

WARNING: there needs to be a pile of really good “meat” in the plot sandwich to make that larger word count worthwhile.

Action Rules:

Action does not have to be a gun fight, a car chase, or a fight to the death.  Great action means keeping your story moving along. Scenes that have good pace, great humor, or introduce intriguing clues also qualify as action. Your plot, characters and dialogue, must tease, lure, and draw the reader in. If your story keeps the reader turning the page, eager to discover more about the characters and the plot, then you have ACTION covered.

Lack of Action is when. . .

Stagnant “waffling on” does not move the plot along to the next cool scene.  You add long descriptions that interrupt the build up to a momentous scene. Lots of “telling,” rather than using actions and dialogue to show what happens.. If your book is billed as a mystery, a thriller, an adventure or the like, chapters that drag will turn off readers. NOTE: short punchy sentences build better pace and tension.

A Sample: 

From my latest young teen ghost mystery, the “Revenge of Thelma Hill.” Note the shorter sentences and the word choices.

Heavy rain clouds hid the moon, turning her room into a dark cave. Half awake, Frannie shivered.  Brrrr. . . Might as well sleep in the fridge. She tugged the comforter over her ears.  The prickle of goose bumps slid up and down her spine. The room had frostbite. Wow! Could this mean the return of the gray ghost?  Why didn’t I put that camera closer; like under the pillow?
Nervous excitement battled dread. Was the ghost there? The urge to know overwhelmed her. Pushing herself up on one elbow Frannie peered at the foot of the bed.
Frost covered her quilt, the dressing table and the curtains. Icicles dangled from her bedside lamp, their eerie white light shimmering over everything in the room. The Ghost hung in mid-air, swaying gently. A low moan escaped her. The gray spidery veils clung to her like a drowned woman’s gown.
Frannie gasped. Her breath went in just fine, but it refused to go out again. The camera lay on the bedside table, forgotten.


As a professional Critique Service Provider, here are snippets of advice, hot from my latest manuscript critiques.

Wordiness:  (Tight writing rules)


Nothing kills tension and fast pace quicker than wordiness. When fingers hit the keyboard, and their owner has a fresh document begging to be filled, many writers never know when to quit. I prune and trim acres of unnecessary words, sentences and paragraphs. Think of these words and sentences as frills on a fussy looking ball gown. Rip off those frills, and you have an elegant and exciting gown. Your writing needs to be like that gown – elegant and exciting. Sure to make an editor drool. Tight Writing keeps the pace and action moving along. It is also vital for tension building. A few short punchy sentences create tension far better than one long ramble.


Puny Verbs:


The writer who understands the value of verbs already has the battle half won. Great verbs, active verbs, and powerful verbs, they all have the same goal - pages and chapters that crackle with excitement, dynamic plot twists, and vibrant dialogue. Strong verbs create strong characters, memorable plots and evocative scenes. If your plot and characters read like a bowl of over-cooked noodles, look at your verbs. Your verb choices probably don’t deserve all the blame, but they definitely led the retreat into a big yawn!


Lack of Focus:


Focus is a juggling act. Everyone admires the way a juggler keeps all those balls in the air at the same time. He can do this because his focus never wavers. A good writer must also juggle. It our case, it involves juggling the plot, the subplot, the main character, and the lesser characters. While keeping these vital elements in place, a writer must also juggle word choices, character enrichment, pace, and the action. Lack of focus on one or more of these fundamentals, and your story loses momentum. The pace and action wanders, and other crucial elements scatter.

Having a really good critique group nit-pick your chapters will help a lot.  And picking the brains of the published and established members of the group is a bonus. Their advice and support will be invaluable.


"Stuff" That Only Adds to Your Word Count:


These I find in manuscripts everywhere: irritating tag-ons, and add-ons that waste space, yet offer zero in the way of plot enlightenment pace or action. Some are adverbs that snuggle up to weak verbs. Some are overused and tired adjectives. Others appear as twenty ho-hum words that need to be exchanged for 8 more evocative words that explode with meaning. Here are examples:

  • Prune the Fluff: very, some, just, like, that, and words ending in LY.
  • Verbs to Strengthen: Any verb preceded by WAS or ending in ING. Plus: ran, sat, looked, talk, ate, fell.
  • Adjectives That Need a Boost: pretty, happy, nice, good, big, small.
  • Unneeded Thoughts: it seemed, perhaps they will, maybe they can, he felt, they feel, would catch, would do etc.
  • Runaway Sentences and Descriptions: Put those long compound sentences under a microscope. Cut them in half. Do this by using more active and powerful verbs, and breaking it up into at least two shorter sentences that offer more punch and active content.

Your Competition:

Today, writers must compete with action heroes, action movies, and computer games that hemorrhage violent bloody battles. This is especially true for men and boys. These movies and games do not bother with good story lines – violent action rules! The trick is, for you to offer compelling stories that also have fast pace and action. Give them heroes and heroines they can root for and identify with, and you will HOOK your readers. Research your readership ( your niche market), and bring them characters and plots that have meaning to them. When done right, tension intrigue and action can effectively GRAB readership.


The Author’s  “Voice”:

And finally, it all comes down to the “Author’s Voice.”  The unique way you string sentences together: your word choices, verb choices, and the phraseology that makes a story YOURS.  Sometimes voice comes early. At other times it takes time, experience, and lots of rewrites.







Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant, now living in Oregon with her husband and family. She has 13 published books (PB to young teen), and runs a well known Manuscript Critique Service. 









*Website :
http://www.margotfinke.com
*BOOKS
: http://tinyurl.com/bg9dtxt
Latest: Kangaroo Clues
   -  The Revenge of Thelma Hill

*FREE “Sneak Peek” inside all her books:
http://tinyurl.com/9npjy9n
*SKYPE Author Visits (schools etc) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-LLo_eWdxk   




26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Patti! I'm glad you are enjoying this series. I hope you have been here from the beginning but if you haven't, you can always click on the link in the side bar to revisit any you might need...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. Great tips, Ms. Finke. Your post even moved along at a fast clip! Thank you.- Donna L Sadd

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    1. Hi Donna! I'm finding that I'm bookmarking and printing off a lot of these writerly wisdom posts for future reference...how about you? ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. Thank you so much Donna and Patti. I learned all this the HARD way!!
    And thanks to Donna Martin for giving me this chance to pass along what I have learned over many years of writing.

    May 2014 bring all three of you the best of writing success!

    Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
    http://www.margotfinke.com

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    1. Hi Margot!

      What a great addition to this already wonderful series! I'm so glad you were able to

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. I've been learning that perhaps the most difficult thing about writing is learning to make it look easy. As you say, sometimes "it takes time, experience, and lots of rewrites."
    I especially like your paragraph: "Stuff" That Only Adds to Your Word Count.

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    1. Hi Robb and welcome to my blog! I've spent the past three years realizing everything I THOUGHT I knew about writing is completely different from reality...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Replies
    1. Hi Susan and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoyed this post and if you missed some of the others this past year, you can always just click on the sidebar link for all of them in one place...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. Good stuff, as always, Margot! Keep up the good work.

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    1. Hi Penelope and welcome to my blog!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. Ladies, as usual you are terrific cheerleaders. I remember well how frustrated I felt when the ideas in my head did not read the way I imagined them. In my head they were smooth, evocative, and powerful. On paper they simply looked what they were - scribblings from someone learning the craft of writing. There are so many little tricks of the trade to store away, as you stumble along in the beginning of a writing career. Stick with it is my best advice. Talent is all very well, but often it is the writer who never gives up, and gets a little luck to boost her chances, that finally becomes successful. May we all have luck when we need it the most. . .!

    Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
    http://www.margotfnke.com

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  8. Thanks for sharing the great information! You are always so helpful, Margot, and as I've told you before, my grandsons love your books! You have learned some valuable things, and I appreciate your passing them along.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Connie! I like the fact Margot writes both fiction and non-fiction. If I'm lucky, one day I will have published stories like her...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. I would to love write a children's book but as you once said I am more of a Grimm than a Disney. My personal observations on life are perhaps to blame but I find it almost impossible to keep that hidden menace out of my writing. Revising my book for the YA audience is like wandering through thick fog, I am unsure where the boundaries lay and one step out of place will render the whole project worthless. I don't think I have read another blog that makes me think as much as yours and my direction is still uncertain. I promised myself I would take a year out to write as much as possible. If the books sell I have a career but if not at least I have put a large chunk of my life experience out there to help others understand more fully the devastating long-term affects of bullying and abuse. Sometimes I think I want to much but in essence if I achieve nothing else I have at least made a mark (or perhaps a littl blemish).

    Keep up the good work Donna, people like me need your blog. Thank you

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    1. Excuse the typos - I really should read over things before hitting the 'publish' button :)

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    2. Hi JP!

      When I said you were more like a "Grimm", I certainly didn't mean to imply that a "Disney" writer was in any way better than you. I simply meant you were probably more like a Stephen King writer in the respect that everything I've read from you so far has been of a "darker" vein. That doesn't mean you CAN'T write Disney...just that I haven't read it...yet.

      You also have to remember that being a "children's writer" encompasses everything from a concept board book all the way to a young adult murder mystery. You get to choose which audience you write for and you can even write for more than one...just look at what I do...;~)

      If there is only one thing I would caution you about, it would be about only allowing one year to make a go of writing. It has taken me THREE years just to learn the basics of writing a story strong enough to capture the interest of agents and publishers and I STILL have much to learn. The path to publication is VERY rocky and not for the faint of heart. I come across too many stories every day being published by people either impatient with the publishing process or unwilling to take the time to learn how to do it right in the first place. You have a wonderful storyteller's voice...please don't be so quick to sell yourself short when it comes to a potential writing career...

      Thank you for your kind words regarding my blog. There have been many wonderful people over these past two years to contribute to the success of this site and I have made many new friends along the way...with the holidays coming up I can't help but be thankful for this WRITERLY WISDOM series and all the new lessons in writing I have learn since January!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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    3. I wish I could give it longer Donna, unfortunately if my second book doesn't take off I will likely end up busking. Hopefully the first might gain a little attention and act as a fillip for it. I can't remember if I sent you e-book stubs. If I did they may become invalid when the revised edition is released on Nov 5. I appreciate the book in its rawest form may upset the sensibilities of a lot of people but once the YA edition is published I will send you replacements and other promo material I am accumulating.

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    4. JP, I'm getting the impression that you have forsaken everything to make a go at your writing. If this is the case, then I understand the "pressure" you have put on yourself to make a viable writing career within one year. I pray for your sake this comes to pass. I on the other hand work many long hours at a job I enjoy while trying to make writing a career. It may happen (God willing) or it may not but I am enjoying the journey and that means a lot to me!

      I have given your paperback copies to specific people I think will enjoy and appreciate it as much as I did and will continue to help spread the word as I can...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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    5. It is a risk I can afford to take atm Donna because I can easily change back, I just think a year is about the limit or my resources. It's not a big deal but I have to know or would have forever been wondering. Thank you for the mentions but I really am of the opinion that if it is good enough it will draw attention eventually. As stated the 2nd book is hopefully what will sell. I am happy to give the first away as it is a message I feel people should hear and a price cannot or should not be put on that.

      My question was about e-book stubs. I thought I had included a few. They are credit card sized, have a picture of the cover on one side and a code to download the book on the other. The books will keep but I think the e-book stubs will be void after I withdraw the original book from sale.

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    6. Yes, JP, you sent two e-book stubs. Thanks for the update...I will make sure I pass that info along...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  10. Great tips, Margot. Thanks! I'm printing this out and keeping it at hand.

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    1. Hi Rosi and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoyed Margot's post. I feel honored to have her as part of this series...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. Margot, exceptional children's writing tips, as usual. I shared the post.

    Donna, I'm a newbie here, lured in by Margot's post on G+! Social networking does work!

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    1. Hi Karen and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you found this series...hopefully you will check out some of the other author, agent, and illustrator posts that you can find on the right sidebar under WRITERLY WISDOM...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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