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Storytelling: Taking the Scenic Route

Photo by Mike Markov on Unsplash

This month, we celebrate “National Climb a Mountain Day” on July 30. I’ve never climbed a mountain, nor do I expect to accomplish this task in the near future. However, I’ve written a book, and that’s counts as climbing a mountain in my estimation.

When starting a novel, it seems insurmountable to achieve a desired word count. But you begin the climb nonetheless, working on one page or one scene at a time. Slowly, the pages build.

It’s good to take a breather in the middle to reassess your progress. This pause might affect which path we take next. Should we alter course? Is there a different way to the top than we’d anticipated?

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

When I began DREIDELS AND DEAD ENDS, my latest release and #19 in the Bad Hair Day mysteries, I’d only intended for it to be a holiday novella. But the story became more complicated as I jumped into Marla’s world and got entangled in her family situation, her salon business, and her latest mystery to solve. She wasn’t going to let me quit so easily.

Midway along, I realized I had enough material for a novel. It might be shorter than my recent books, but as long as I hit the required word count minimum, I’d be okay. I guess I just have a hard time writing shorter works.

When we pause along the mountain to reflect, our course might change, and that can be a good thing. A surprise clue, a new informant, or a revelation might alter our sleuth’s direction. Business issues, love interests, and family conflicts add to the personal threads. Weaving these elements together makes for a stronger story.

Slowly and steadily, we’ll climb the mountain until we reach the peak. Typing “The End” at the summit brings us ultimate satisfaction, and that’s the feeling we hope to give our readers when they turn the last page.

When you find yourself struggling to complete a task, what is your approach?

Want some new recipes for the last days of summer? Leave a comment below and enter to win an ebook copy of my award-winning collection of recipes, A Bad Hair Day Cookbook.

If you’d like to know more about our author Nancy J Cohen, visit her WEBSITE

Reminder: Booklover’s Bench next contest begins on August 1. Be sure to return to the site to enter after that date.

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