Originally Published: May 2014
by K. Marcus
Brett Wright, an associate editor at Bloomsbury Publishing, prefaced his May 13th SCBWI Professional Series talk with why books are abandoned. Wright shared some statistics from goodreads.com. (See link below).
“28% [of readers] stop reading within the first 50-100 pages. It is really important to grab the reader right away and keep them enthralled” and said “most of the story should be in place in the first 30 pages…everything and everyone should be introduced in the beginning otherwise it is like it came out of nowhere.”
Wright continued, “sometimes what you think is page 1, isn’t page 1.” The author should start the story with action and keep building upon it. The world that the author is creating should be “easily understood from the beginning.” Don’t “info dump” a lot of detail that can always be woven into the story later. “We want to see the world through the main character and them interacting in it.”
Wright “believes voice is the most important element of a story because it’s you,” [the author]. It should sound authentic to the characters and setting. This is where the author’s originality comes through. The point of view is a critical choice. “Sometimes it helps to take a chapter and write it in a different point of view. It’s more work but it can be beneficial,” said Wright.
He went on to say that “it is very important to be a reader and editor of your own work” and if something isn’t working to “think harder about things like imagining a character in a whole different scenario.” Main characters should change and grow throughout the story and minor characters “need to be as well rounded as the main characters” and “should always change the main character in some way.”
When revising it is necessary to have a balance between action and quieter moments in the manuscript. Wright said to, “check for repetitions” and “strike a balance between dialogue, narrative and inner monologue.” Chapters should also have “variety” in their endings. Every chapter does not have to end with a cliffhanger but they should “end on strong notes.” Wright added that subplots should “intertwine with the plot” and at the end of the story it is crucial to “tie up loose ends and answer questions.”
“At the end of the day, it needs to be a story worth telling,” said Wright. And when you are done, “give yourself a standing ovation.”
Brett Wright works on children’s books for all ages. For submission guidelines please go to http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/childrens/.
Book Suggestions:
Voice
Middle Grade: The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The Pricker Boy by Reade Scott Whinnem Young Adult:
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp Butter by Erin Jade Lange
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught
Characters
Middle Grade: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Young Adult:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
Plot/Subplot
Middle Grade: Holes by Louis Sachar
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Young Adult: Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Sean Griswold’s head by Lindsey Leavitt
World Building
Middle Grade: Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Young Adult: Graceling Series by Kristen Cashore
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Matched by Ally Condie
Every Day by David Levithan
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/424-what-makes-you-put-down-a-book
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K. Marcus is a children’s author currently working on a picture book about a very wet dog. You can find her at http://www.kmarcus.net
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