Word Count. Characters + Tension.

So I got to a point in the novel where I didn’t know what happened next.

I know how the story ends (sort of). And I’ve written the first 50% of the story.

What’s missing is the tension, the decisions that the characters make that cause you, the reader to say, “WHAT?” and then keep reading.

Great example: SA Cosby’s “King of Ashes.” Once I read the first chapter, I HAD to know what happened next and next and next until three days and a couple hundred pages later, book was finished. There was constant tension that just kept ratcheting up.

I pulled out index cards and returned to character: What are their motivations? What do they want? What’s in the way of what they want? How will they get on each other’s nerves?

Yes, I have to make my main character a little annoying. Who wants to read about a goody-two shoes? What flaws will my character have and why? To answer this question, I can imagine my character visiting a therapist, and working through all of their problems. What would she say?

I admit, I LOVE hitting my word count. The part of me that loves checking boxes is just thrilled when I get to my number.

But some writing days are about getting to know the characters even more, and giving myself a little grace in the process is an act of love.

Writing spirit, help me with building tension and complicating things for my characters in really interesting ways.

628 words (so far) today.