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Leave 'Em Hanging

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Morning Folks,

Yet another lovely day in my neck of the woods, although, going by the weather report it's supposed to get up into the latter 70's...darn. Was hoping it would stay chilly like my house is in the morning! I talked to my cousin's husband yesterday and he said up north it was in the 30's and 40's. Lucky ducks (okay I don't need the waist-high snow, but I'll take the colder weather) LOL.

Yesterday I was working on Chapter 3 of Conjure A Man and right in the middle of an argument between Delaney and Pierre I took a break. I told a friend of mine "Yep, I left them right in the middle of an argument." That means when I go back (or went back) I have an exciting part to start right off on--a place for my creativity to immediately wake up and get to work.

I heard about this method from either a published author or a book (I can't remember exactly where) but in any case it says to stop right at an exciting part (when choosing a place to stop for the day or for a break). Or put in a chapter break there, if it's long enough.

In this way you accomplish 1 of 2 things (or if it's a chapter break, 2 things):

1. You have a place to work from when you come back from break.

2. If it's a chapter break, your readers have to turn the page to find out what happens.

Both things can move your writing (and reading) along.

So what do you do to help ensure that you'll be able to get your creativity juices flowing and keep readers turning the page?

Have A Work-Write Wednesday!
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Comments

Tamika: said…
So funny you are mentioning this! I stopped right in the middle of a confrontation with the distinct purpose of exciting me to write today when I pick it back up.

It creates the energy for me, I hope it will create the same for the reader.
Wednesday, 04 November, 2009
Bethany said…
Tamika,

Awesome! Happy writing :-)
Wednesday, 04 November, 2009
Joshua McCune said…
I don't like stopping during the exciting parts b/c those are usually the easiest to write for me. It's the in-betweens where I need to take more breaks to allow my thoughts to percolate.
Wednesday, 04 November, 2009
Bethany said…
Bane,

That works, too, but for me sometimes I prefer to stop at an exciting part just in case I get stumped. Of course I don't always stop at an exciting part and it might not always work, but when it does, it's nice! :-)
Wednesday, 04 November, 2009
Unknown said…
I had a situation the other day when I started up and had no idea where I was going. Then in midconversation a voice screamed something in my head. I went with the idea and now everything I wanted to happen will. All because of that little voice. It makes everything come together. Thank goodness for those little voices!
Wednesday, 04 November, 2009
Stephanie Faris said…
I do often end what I'm writing mid-sentence or mid-conversation. I think I usually end wherever my mind starts to wander, though. Sometimes I'm mid-word. It's a little disturbing, actually!
Thursday, 05 November, 2009
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