This week, Kathryn brings Act I of her novel-in-progress to the Round Table for a workshopping session with Alida. Common problems with the first act include: how long should Act I be, how much to introduce and how to world build in a short space, making Act I exciting, showing character agency, and more!
Get Alida’s coaching services at www.WordEssential.com/editing.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What can workshopping your novel with an editor do for you as a writer? What are Kathryn’s issues with Act One? And what does your reader truly need to know about your world and characters? Make sure you zoom out and look at the big picture of what you are trying to achieve with Act One.
What we talked about:
What can workshopping do for you? (0:30)
Update on Alida’s life, and her goals for 2020. (2:43)
What is Kathryn’s issue with Act One? (5:55)
What is Act One? What do you need in Act One? (8:26)
What does the reader need to understand about the world? (9:35)
What does the reader need to know about your character? (16:05)
Utilize the characters around your protagonists as shorthand for the reader’s understanding. (18:48)
Zoom out! Look at the big picture! (21:49)
How should you introduce your characters flaw without hitting your readers over the head with it? (24:20)
What are common issues Alida sees in Act One? (29:48)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 011 Openings
SWRT 075 Story Structure