Book description
Effective storytelling stems from many elements, the most crucial of
which are unseen or blended in so unobtrusively that they are
difficult to spot and analyze. Still, they are necessary to the
wholeness and coherence of a story–to create a work that
lingers and resonates in the reader's imagination.
In
Between the Lines
, author and writing instructor Jessica Page Morrell shows you how to
craft a unified and layered novel or short story by mastering subtle
storytelling techniques, such as:
- Using emotional bombshells, surprises, and interruptions to
intensify cliffhangers
- Enlarging your story world through the use of layered subplots
- Building suspense one scene at a time to maximize the emotional payoff
- Anchoring your premise to your protagonist's character arc
- Transitioning into and out of flashbacks without interrupting the
mood of your story
Detailed instruction combined with examples from well-known authors
turn seemingly complex topics like subtext, revelations, misdirection,
and balance into comprehensible techniques that will elevate your
writing to the next level.
As a writing instructor for more than 15 years, Jessica
Morrell reaches thousands of writers through her popular Writing
Life Web site, her blog, and her monthly e-newsletter with 2,000
subscribers. In addition, she is a writing coach and developmental
editor, and writes a monthly column for the Willamette Writers
newsletter. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
