Young Beginner Writers (closed) discussion

Hello!

I'm writing a fantasy adventure, and things have gone from a lot of action to the calm before a storm. In this calm, I have a few chapters of very emotionally intense, wordy scenes. Nothing drags, but there isn't a lot of action. Do you think my readers will get bored? In case you were wondering, and if this helps, the chapters I'm worried about are chapters 45-49. There are two major scenes where the actual emotions are talked out, and I'm just worried it will feel out of place in a fantasy adventure.

Hi there, Elora! I understand what you are talking about, as I have attempted to write several fantasy adventures myself! I usually have the exact same problem; balancing out the action scenes with the calmer scenes.

Personally, I like reading emotional scenes just as much as I like reading action scenes. If the whole book is only action, the story doesn't really have that much opportunity to establish characters and a plot line. So, I think that in your "calm before the storm" there doesn't necessarily need to be that much action at all. As long as the writing is still compelling, I think your calm scenes will be perfectly fine :)

I agree with Petitcroissant. If there is too much action, the book can become repetitive and boring, and emotional scenes can be just as intense as action ones! In Harry Potter, there are a lot of emotional scenes mixed in with the action.
Also, that calm-before-the-storm can provide good suspense. If everything seems to be going well, it's a sure sign that something bad is going to happen that will be worse than anything they've previously faced in the book.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I agree with the above stated responses. :-) As long as the story is appropriately balanced, the slow scenes will compliment the action and provide a relief. Without a low point, there can be no high point. You have nothing to compare it to that makes it "high." You create dynamic contrast with the different tones in your writing. I would be cautious though in distributing the scenes. You mentioned being worried about clumping too much together at once. I would ask whether those scenes have to be together. Can you bounce back and forth to another set of characters and subplot to distract the reader and break up the monotony? This would also create an opportunity for cliff hangers, if you're into that. I personally don't think four chapters is too much, but I also don't know the size of those chapters. Four twenty-page chapters will probably not bode well for you, but four short chapters could be well placed. I would be more concerned about proper placement and balanced distribution than I would be worried about the content fitting into the genre. Good luck!!

Petitcroissant wrote: "Hi there, Elora! I understand what you are talking about, as I have attempted to write several fantasy adventures myself! I usually have the exact same problem; balancing out the action scenes with..."


Thank you for your input! :)

R. E. Banks wrote: "I agree with Petitcroissant. If there is too much action, the book can become repetitive and boring, and emotional scenes can be just as intense as action ones! In Harry Potter, there are a lot of ..."

Thank you! I'm glad so many people are agreeing that emotion is good :)

Coralie wrote: "Not to sound like a broken record, but I agree with the above stated responses. :-) As long as the story is appropriately balanced, the slow scenes will compliment the action and provide a relief. ..."

I like to keep my chapters short, personally. I'll find a natural break. My chapters are usually 1500 to 2000 words long :P thank you for your input! I'm very relieved to have people agreeing that emotion is perfectly fine in a story like this!

No worries, Elora! I hope your book goes well! :)

Elora wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Not to sound like a broken record, but I agree with the above stated responses. :-) As long as the story is appropriately balanced, the slow scenes will compliment the action and pr..."

No problem!! Hah, I tend to like short chapters too, so that will be perfect! And I know the feeling! It's nice to have backup when you need it and it's even nicer to have someone stop you before you goof up. Writing communities are just awesome!

Winter wrote: "Hey so random question... I kinda sorta maybe want to write a historical fiction but don't want to mess with the time line at all. Also, I need some good research sites for information. Does anyone..."

What era are you looking for specifically?

If you want to get an idea of how the 1890s functioned in England, you can just read Sherlock Holmes. :) I often find that books written in that time period are the most helpful as compared to general information on that period, because it shows how society functioned and what was considered appropriate and how people talked and dressed.

Winter wrote: "I was thinking 1890s but I have some others ideas as well."

Banks has a really good idea here, I think. The literature of that period can definitely give you an inside look into the era. Is there a specific location you were considering?

The author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott lived in the mid-18oos, so that might give you an idea of the culture at that time in the USA.

You can always use Google to find basic historical events, such as the Progressive Movement in the USA. Here's a link I found that has lots of key events, news info, etc.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1890t...

I hope that helps!

Winter {No Mourners No Funerals} wrote: "So. Hello. I'm here again. I'm writing a novel and I have a few questions for you guys, I would love some tips.

1. So I have fell into the Orphan Troupe. Most of my characters parents are either ..."

Well, I'm not sure about the amnesia question. I haven't really done much with it myself. As for the first question, I think that certainly makes things more interesting, though I think you might want to be careful going in that direction. It sounds like a great buildup to a cool climax, but you've got to be sure not to go flat at your climax if you do that. Not saying I believe you will, just that you should be aware. It could be built really well and totally knock your story out of the park, or it could just fall flat and confuse some of your readers. Do you have an idea of why she wouldn't know why she killed her parents? Think about how you would end it all and tie everything together before you decide. As for the third question, I, personally, like siblings who love each other. Not to be cliche or anything, but I have a soft spot for sibling relationships in stories.

Just make sure its interesting enough to captivate the reader. Pull them in with the emotions, let them feel it. As long as it still has to do with the story. I hate when there are chapters that has nothing to do with the story.

[I'm not part of this conversation. I saw Hamilton reference in username. I came.]

That depends, who's asking?
Oh well sure, sir, my name is Alexander Hamilton, I'm at your service, sir. I have been looking for you

I'm late, but anyways... xD
Leave the emotion scenes, characters are not robots, neither are us.
I personally don't like them to be too long, or to be pure character's thoughts.

Would enjoy reading this.