Tuesday 27 June 2017

My Harlequin Experience - Episodic Story– No Thanks or Yes Please?


Last week I mentioned the darkness of my first draft of A Perfect Caress. Along with the instruction to lighten the story, my editor (a true genius really because she saw the potential in me) told me that the novel was episodic. She said there wasn’t much going on beside a couple of hospital scenes, an anniversary party, and the trip to Italy.

My response was Huh? And then I had to go look up what episodic meant and I learned that my book consisted of episodes of things happening, like a television series. Clarity hit me then. I had not conflict in the story, nothing to drive the novel forward. To keep the reader interested to see what was going to happen. My GMCs (Goals, motivations, and conflict) didn’t really exist. 


Deep, heaving sigh and then a bit of hyperventilation.

Into the writing den for an intense revision. Out with the episodic (and dark), and in with the conflict to engage the reader into reading the whole book.

Be aware that episodic writing works for some writers. I read a book by Beverly Jenkins (Breathless – I loved it) recently where I kept waiting for the conflict to hit. It never did, but I still found the story to be amazing. Go figure.

Have you ever read an episodic book that you couldn’t put down? Or that you just had to put down because you felt there wasn’t a point?



7 comments:

  1. Alice in Wonderland is a prime example of episodic, and it has enthralled generations of readers.

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    1. Now you have me thinking. I thought there was an overarching theme to Alice in Wonderland. But then again, maybe there isn't. Thanks for pointing that out.

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  2. Oh I didn't know that term. Yes, I've read a few over the years that I enjoyed but I can see how it could be a hard sell as well especially when trying to engage a LOT of readers.

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    1. Unless the characters and dialogue are amazing, it's sometimes hard to push through a story with no true conflict.

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  3. For many, conflict drives a plot. In drama, conflict pays a major part, and the resolution of that conflict. Glad you were able to put that element in your work.

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  4. I learn something new everyday. While I've heard about goals, motivations, and conflicts, I don't think about them as I'm writing, and I should be aware of it. Being a pantser isn't always a good thing. I've learned by some very knowledgable authors (Nana) about adding these into my writing. Good Post, Nana!

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