"Outline a compelling cliff-hanger, something that leaves a big dangling question for readers. Be sure to build up tension to give your cliff-hanger dizzying height, for the reader to fall farther back into the story."
Oh plot. I suck at plot. (Yes, I know - this isn't the best weakness to have as a writer.) Will have to think on this (and watch one of the great videos* Cata sent me).
*By 'video' I of course mean online filmy thing.
(SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, AND VIDEO STILL NOT YET WATCHED....)
Ok, I will take something out of one of the ridiculous 'soap operas' I continuously make up in my head:
USA, slavery era, around the time of William Wilberforce in the UK. (I.e. people in the UK are campaigning to end the slave trade.)
2 men - 1 British, and one Southern USA, are standing, pistols at dawn.
Why? Flashback. The UK man is an anti-slavery campaigner. He is travelling the USA with his band, which includes former ex-slaves. They were performing in a pub when the USA man brought a gang to fight them. The UK guy scornfully shot USA man's horse through the open doorway and told him to fuck the hell off.
Next day there comes a challenge (for insult and damage to property, in the ye olde aristocratic way) and the UK guy, who (for other reasons which I can't be bothered to go into, but include what would now be PTSD from being in the army) doesn't care if he lives or dies accepts.
Back to the present - UK guy waits and lets the USA guy shoot him - the shot grazes off his left shoulder, and blood starts to slowly seep through his jacket, darkening the grey fabric and then slowly running down.
The USA guy shouts at him, "Come on then, take your shot."
UK guy says one word to one of the black members of his band, in that man's native language.
Then he raises his gun, and pulls back the hammer.
What did he say?
Oh plot. I suck at plot. (Yes, I know - this isn't the best weakness to have as a writer.) Will have to think on this (and watch one of the great videos* Cata sent me).
*By 'video' I of course mean online filmy thing.
(SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, AND VIDEO STILL NOT YET WATCHED....)
Ok, I will take something out of one of the ridiculous 'soap operas' I continuously make up in my head:
USA, slavery era, around the time of William Wilberforce in the UK. (I.e. people in the UK are campaigning to end the slave trade.)
2 men - 1 British, and one Southern USA, are standing, pistols at dawn.
Why? Flashback. The UK man is an anti-slavery campaigner. He is travelling the USA with his band, which includes former ex-slaves. They were performing in a pub when the USA man brought a gang to fight them. The UK guy scornfully shot USA man's horse through the open doorway and told him to fuck the hell off.
Next day there comes a challenge (for insult and damage to property, in the ye olde aristocratic way) and the UK guy, who (for other reasons which I can't be bothered to go into, but include what would now be PTSD from being in the army) doesn't care if he lives or dies accepts.
Back to the present - UK guy waits and lets the USA guy shoot him - the shot grazes off his left shoulder, and blood starts to slowly seep through his jacket, darkening the grey fabric and then slowly running down.
The USA guy shouts at him, "Come on then, take your shot."
UK guy says one word to one of the black members of his band, in that man's native language.
Then he raises his gun, and pulls back the hammer.
What did he say?
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