The Best Techniques Are The Simplest
By J.C. Hutchins | June 24, 2010 |
The best writing advice I ever received was from Brad Meltzer, one of my favorite novelists. He writes mostly political thrillers. I met him at a signing, told him I was writing my first novel, and was stuck in Act Two. “I’ve built a lot of momentum,” I said, “and I think I know where this is all eventually going — but how do move forward right now? What do I do?”
Meltzer replied, “Ask yourself, ‘What happens next?’.
I blinked, incredulous. He smiled and said, “I know it sounds too simple to work, but it does. Just ask, ‘What happens next?’
So I went home and asked myself What happens next? and it totally worked. The simplicity of the question forced me to focus on my immediate goal: getting through the next chapter — and not worrying about what would happen ten chapters from now.
I still use that technique, and always will.
J.C. Hutchins crafts award-winning transmedia narratives, screenplays and novels for companies such as 20th Century Fox, A&E, Cinemax, Discovery, FOX Broadcasting, Infiniti and Macmillan Publishers. His latest creative endeavor is The 33, a monthly episodic ebook series.
Haha, short, sweet, and brilliant. Just the way I like … many things. :P
Fantastic!!!
It makes sense!! Perfect delightful sense!!
Agreed. :)
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Always thought writer’s block was bunk. I like that question am using a variation on that as I rewrite and post my WIP. My favorite writing tool has always been Julia Cameron’s ‘morning pages’. If I just start moving the pen, the words come.
Thanks for the post
Perfect! I worry that what happens (logically) next isn’t the most compelling, action-packed thing; therefore, I’m constantly looking past it, perhaps too far forward.
This simple advice, coupled with the knowledge that I can always go back and cut stuff, should help bust through future writers blocks. Thanks Therese (and Brad)!
complex equals simple…agatha christie. spot on
We are all guilty of over thinking. Sometimes a little reminder to KISS is what we need. Thanks!
Such simple advice. I didn’t think moving forward could be quite so simple.
It makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing this gem.
Ahh, love it – really simple and so so true. I will try that tonight ! Thanks for sharing that insight :)I am stuck on my 4th draft of my 1st book so looking for direction on stringing the plot together in the parts that get a bit disjointed, so this could be a good technique for me, hopefully a revelation.
I actually discovered that marvelous truth not long ago, all on my own — after fifty years of writing! Lucky that you had a wise mentor. It absolutely works because we tend to start worrying about where we’re going vis-a-vis the whole story, and that can really make me freeze up. So . . . what happens exactly next? will keep you focused and moving, getting it down before it’s gone. Write on.
I do sort of the same thing. If I’ve run out of ideas (as I’m plotting), I sit down at the keyboard and write, “What if…” and start filling in the blanks. I keep What iffing until I know where the story needs to go.
Thanks!
Ha ha. Brilliant. And I clicked on the “comment” link, thinking there would be more.
I use a combination of that and a point form what has to happen. When I get stuck I ask myself what has to happen to get me where I wanted to go in the story. I write it in point form. That usually gets me moving again.
Keep it simple!