We don’t want our readers rolling their eyes with, “Yeah, I saw that coming.” Because then our book is closed in favor of another.
I know authors who make good use of the supernatural invading the natural. Without bordering on ridiculous, I enjoy circumstances which clearly point to the intervening hand of God.
In my debut, Call to Love, the hero (a law enforcement officer) received several text messages from his ex-wife that were legit. But he received a few mysterious texts from an unknown ID. . . Be compassionate, forgiving just as Christ forgave you.
Hackles raised, the hero called his ex and fired away with, “Where do you get off preaching to me about forgiveness?”.
But the thing was, she didn’t send them. Even investigations was unable to trace the source.
Hmmm. Were they (as his ex boldy suggested) from God? Or was my hero suffering from work fatigue?
I left this to the reader’s imagination.
Writers, let’s harness the endless creativity available to us and utilize the courage to write what readers won’t see coming. When our stories become cozy, common and predictable, our own motivation to write the next scene withering in yawn, let’s toss in any number of obstacles our readers (and we?) won’t see coming.
No one does this better than God. Hello, 2020? Who saw the pandemic coming? A world where a mask is required to enter a facility? One where we are no longer free to go and do as we please, our interaction with others separated by a screen?
God, the sovereign Author, saw this coming. And, boy, hasn't it captured our attention?
Although I squirm over the conundrum brought on by the pandemic, what a brilliant plot twist! And on its heels...rioting, devastating fires, a heated political vote on the horizon that holds incredible weight to top off the year.
Ah, the irony of 2020, a year where we expected to see things clearly and had a good handle on what might lie ahead.
Personally, I welcomed this year with a very different set of expectations than what has unfolded. Maybe you did too?
But I’m very engaged, turning the pages, as it were, to see where God will take us next. It’s created tension, made me want to know more, begging for a happily ever after.
God has given us what we didn’t see coming and brought much good from it.
And writers, this is the same reaction and result we want to offer our readers.
Working in unpredictable elements that increase stakes for our characters doesn't have to look like a world-wide virus, fires and political division. A simple text from unknown source might work.
But wherever you are in your story, take time to consider if you’re holding back and ask:
1) What is the worse thing that could happen?
2) What’s the best thing that could happen?
3) What might my reader never see coming?
Then write that.
When our stories become cozy, common and predictable, our own motivation to write the next scene withering in yawn, let’s toss in any number of obstacles our readers won’t see coming. @MaryAFelkins #seriouslywrite
In 2020, God has given us what we didn’t see coming and brought much good from it. And writers, this is the same reaction and result we want to offer our readers. @MaryAFelkins #seriouslywrite
Raised in Houston, Texas (and forever a Lone Star girl), Mary and her husband Bruce moved to Hickory, North Carolina in 1997. They have four young adult children. She can be lured from her writer's cave if presented with a large, unopened bag of Peanut M&Ms or to watch an episode of Fixer Upper. A surprise appearance by her teen idol, Donny Osmond, would also do the trick, although she’d likely pass out.
If, upon introduction, she likes your first or last name, expect to see it show up in one of her novels.
To receive Mary’s story-style devotions via email, along with quarterly author newsletter offering book-related giveaways, subscribe on her website: www.maryfelkins.com
