What Makes a Fiction Story Pop?
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Posted By: Carol Gosa-Summerville on February 28, 2018 Fiction writing is tricky because you have to introduce characters and create stories around them. The stories have to be compelling enough that readers care about them and cheer for their happy outcome. When I discuss "The Burden of Sweetberry" I'm surprised to find that many readers identify with her and aredisappointed that she didn't get to her happy ending. Originally, the story was going to end with one book. But there was so much interest in Sweetberry's happiness that I had to bring her back. My niece said, "Aunt Carol, I want Sweetberry to win." A member of one of the clubs said, "I just thought she and Deacon Hess were going to be together." Still another reader said, "Sweetberry deserves to be happy." I had to rethink the idea, especially after talking to a marketing specialist who said writing a series of books is a good way to build your reading audience. Why so much interest in Sweetberry's happiness? I concluded that it was because readers cared about her. She was flawed, but she had redeeming qualities. Also, many women saw themselves in her. She was spiritual, convicted and disciplined. She raised good children and she was an activist in the community. Her good outweighed her bad, and the readers bonded with her and cheered for her. So what makes a fiction story pop? It's finding ways of making readers care about the characters, to put themselves in their place and sympathize with them. It's characters that make them laugh, cry, dream dreams and think thoughts that are uniquely theirs. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Carol Gosa-Summerville
Teacher, Tuscaloosa City Schools Member Since February 2018 |
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