Techniques best-selling western novelist Stephen Bly uses when his stories are dragging:
- Shoot someone.
- Introduce an obnoxious character. Choose the person who would annoy your character the most?
- Go to the quirk (a quirk in a character).
- Lose something. Your adrenaline flows when you lose something.
- Embarrass your protagonist. What’s the most embarrassing thing that could happen?
- Have protagonist kiss the wrong person.
- Put your protagonist in a hopeless situation. Then get him out of it.
- Have someone crucial to the plot disappear.
- Start a rumor about your protagonist. Go to the attic.
- Uncover something mysterious about the past.
Check out Stephen’s books and ministry at at Bly books. He also has a fun book for writers. Check it out.
Still Lionhearted, Kat
4 thoughts on “When a Story Drags by Stephen Bly”
I love these, they got my thoughts going, thank you for posting! One quick question on #9…what does it mean, go to the attic? I get the first half of that one, just not sure of the attic reference. Thanks!
Thanks, Kat: Enjoyed seeing this!
Blessings,
Janet
Thanks for posting. I'll never forget Number 1 and Number 6!
Go to the attic … what's in your character's past that can explode some fresh plot twist in the present?
Blessings,
Janet Chester Bly