Aug 17, 2020
What is story arc to you?
There are authors that plan out their entire series before they start writing. They know how many books they want, how many words they want in each book, and the story line from beginning to end across the entire series. I’m not one of those authors.
When I wrote Wolves’ Pawn, I had no intention of making it into a series. The second book, Wolves’ Knight, came as a total shock when Tasha, the main character, forced her way into writing plans. Although the books share characters, they aren’t dependent on each other. You can read them in any order. The same is true for Wolves’ Gambit, the third book in the series.
But there are several underlying story lines in the series. However, I suspect not many readers see them, that they exist mainly in my head. I can see one of them developing into another book. I don’t know if I’ll ever write it, unless it’s for my own satisfaction, because the series didn’t sell well.
Then you have the mysteries. I knew before I completed the first draft of the first book that it had the potential to be a series. But I don’t believe in writing cliffhanger endings, so I made sure that I wrapped the story up nicely so readers would be satisfied.
And in Harmony’s case, the series is chronological. Although some of the books stand well on their own, I highly recommend they be read in order. There is a strong romantic subplot that evolves through each story. That, and Harmony’s personal growth is clearer. (She surprises me all the time!)
There’s no huge revolution in the mysteries. No overthrowing the evil king and saving the prince and the kingdom. No quest to return a ring to the forge where it was created. (Granted, there’s a minor revolution in the Free Wolves books.) Those aren’t requirements for a story arc, in my opinion.
All it takes is a continuing story. Harmony does more than move from one mystery to another. We get to share in her personal life—the changes in her jobs, her interactions with the police, overcoming her fears. The Harmony I’m dealing with in The Ranger’s Dogtags, my current work-in-progress, is not the same as she was in The Marquesa’s Necklace.
And I’m enjoying this improved version. She’s being forced into situations that make her uncomfortable, and she’s handling them like a pro. Everything she’s learned along the way come into play. Here’s a quick example.
Once upon a time and far away, we practiced yelling in the self-defense course. I drew on that memory now. Filled my lungs. And screamed.
My shout echoed in the night. His throw faltered. The light arched through the darkness. Bounced against the house. Landed in the juniper bushes that lined the front. He bolted towards the neighbor’s yard and beyond.
I had two choices. Chase after the arsonist. Put out the fire. The bushes were expendable. Eli’s home wasn’t. I dialed 911. And grabbed the garden hose.
Originally unplanned, I am bringing in additional characters from The Marquesa’s Necklace into this new book. I won’t tell you who. Not yet. But they will tie into the story I told in the first book.
And that’s story arc. It doesn’t even have to be across a series. It can (and should) happen within one book. There’s a challenge, attempts to solve the issue, and a resolution. The basics of any story.
Don’t forget to check out what the other authors on this hop have to say. (You can do that by clicking on the links below.) And, until next time, stay safe!
Aug 17, 2020
What is story arc to you?
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