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To Inspire, To Create: The Beginning, Middle, and End

Smashing Piggy Banks

Smash Your Piggy Bank

By David Akseizer

Hello Legend fans. I hope everyone is doing well and preparing to smash their piggy banks to fund the purchase of their very own copy of The Legend of Pearl Cave. Now, I know I promised the release of The Legend of Pearl Cave this summer, but with any project worth launching, there will be missed deadlines and unforeseen snags. No author or publisher intentionally goes out of his or her way to create delays, but issues arise which may slow down the process. These minor delays are only for the benefit of my fans and it is my fans I aim to please. Let it be said, I am working very hard to write this novel to perfection and my publisher will release this masterpiece when every magical word on every crisp white page is just so. When you read The Legend of Pearl Cave for the first time, it will not disappoint. I am very proud of this magnum opus and cannot wait until it is in your hands.

Last time we discussed the importance of the “hook”. By “hook” I’m referring to your opening line as well as the opening paragraph to a story. We reviewed the importance of making a good first impression and how the first few sentences of a story are the most crucial.

Lesson 4: The Beginning, Middle, and End

Every paragraph, every chapter, and every book has a beginning, middle, and end. These three parts make a story whole and worth reading. There are other pieces of the puzzle, like plot and character development, but every great book has a beginning, middle and end.

The beginning of a book, starting with the “hook”, is what captures the reader. The first section of your book should propose a problem, establish a theme, introduce a character or group of characters, and build a setting the reader can easily envision using their imagination.

The middle of a book is where the author writes most of the story. It is where all the details of the story are unveiled. The middle is written to hold the readers attention, get them thinking, and build questions in their minds they must have answers to when they reach the end of the story. Another element is the climax. Think of the climax as the most exciting point in a story. A good climax occurs when the conflict is resolved and appears toward the end of the middle of the book.

The end of a book is just that, it is where the story ends. To write a great ending, an author can wrap up their story with a happy ending, sad ending, or somewhere in-between. In some cases, the author will leave the reader hanging, but this always angers me, and seems unfair to the reader after all the time they invested reading a story. The end deserves a conclusion and a solution the problem the author posed in the beginning of the book.

Tune in next time when I’ll discuss the importance of plot.

If you have any questions, please visit www.davidakseizer.com and shoot me an email. You can also follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/akseizer and send me a message. Until then!

To Inspire, To Create: The Road Map

Road Map

Road Map

By David Akseizer

Whew! I just finished the last round of revisions for the upcoming release of The Legend of Pearl Cave and boy are my fingers tired. Rim shot (a little humor for my readers)! As I reach these final stages, I must have read and edited my novel a hundred times over. You will too when you get published. The good news is, that after all this time, I still enjoy reading The Legend of Pearl Cave. I can only imagine what great times my fans will have when they finally get their hands on a copy in just a few more months (end shameless book plug).

Last time we discussed the importance of developing a great idea, tapping into your creative side, and choosing to write a story that will leave your readers thirsting for more of your literary genius. Have you thought of that million-dollar idea yet? Oh you have. Well that’s great! Chances are you haven’t hashed out all the details of your novel just yet. Not to worry. I’m sure you’ve filled your notebooks with worthwhile scribbles and doodles that will take your work to the top of every bestseller list. Keep your fingers crossed.

Before we hit the open road, get a blank piece of paper, and with a pen or pencil, jot down a brief storyline or synopsis of your grand idea for a best selling novel. Go ahead… I’ll wait. Ready? Great let’s begin.

Lesson 2: The Outline

People rarely drive without a destination in mind or without knowing how to get to that destination. Every road trip requires planning on some level. Some people use a traditional map, while others use a GPS System to guide them accordingly. Road maps help reduce travel time, keep drivers from getting lost, and eliminate the need for guessing. This is also true for writers. Take the time to develop a road map or outline for your novel. An outline will keep you focused as you begin to develop each chapter and organize your thoughts. Outlines keep you grounded when you find yourself getting lost or straying from your original idea. I’ve been known to free write large portions of my work, but in the end, I always refer back to a detailed outline to stay on track and meet important deadlines.

An outline can be detailed or simple, and it is entirely up to you. To begin, write an overall summary of the book, followed by brief summaries of what you hope to accomplish in each chapter.

Example (based on a made up story):

Summary – A dying man John is alone on his deathbed. He is visited by an angel who takes John on a magical journey through his past. John relives and reflects on all the mistakes he made throughout his lifetime. This reflective journey has a profound effect on John’s emotions. He comes to see the wrong he had committed. John tries his best to make amends before he takes his last breath and the clock runs out of time.

Chapter 1- The Dying Man

John is lying in the hospital bed in horrific pain. He’s disgruntled, judgmental, and abusive to every nurse and physician that tries to tend to his dying needs. This chapter focuses on developing John’s character and explains his illness to the reader. John spends most of this chapter expressing his negative outlook on life and showing the reader why he is all alone in his final days on earth.

Chapter 2- The Visitor

It’s late at night and the support staff is down to just a few RN’s and covering Residents. The hospital is quiet and John abruptly wakes from his sleep. A visitor appears in his doorway. The visitor introduces himself as a spirit guide, an angel. The angel briefly explains his purpose to the dying man. He then sneaks John out of his room and proceeds to take him on a magical journey of self-discovery and self-reflection.

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Don’t stop here readers. Keep going. Finish up by completing your outline with a brief summary to each and every one of the chapters you intend to write. Once you’ve finished creating an outline, you will have a great roadmap to follow as you begin to write your story.

Tune in next time when I’ll discuss the best ways to capture the attention of a reader as you begin to write the first chapter of your novel.