My current WIP novel has a subplot of a chase, which is one of the 29 possible plot templates. Chase Plots are pretty straight forward. There’s a person chasing and a person being chased, the Chaser and the Victim. It’s an action plot, not a character plot (though always, character should be as strong as possible.)
The Chase plot has one major imperative: The Chaser must constantly catch sight of the Victim and the Victim always escapes by the narrowest margin. Otherwise, it’s boring. This subplot must tantalize the reader with the possibility of Chaser actually catching Victim.
My first draft of chapter one completely omitted the Chase subplot, so the first revision I did was to revisit the idea of a Chase Subplot. Yes, the story still needs it. Then, I had to decide how to add in the Chase subplot in an exciting way. What could I add that would give the Chaser a glimpse of her target? My twist on the Chase Plot is the Chaser doesn’t always recognize the Victim. So, I gave Chaser a smart phone app that identifies the Victim. Now, Chaser walks up to a table where Victim is sitting and the app starts to go off, but. . .Chaser is interrupted.
The Car Chase is a staple of Chase Plots. You can choose any form of chase, though, and still up the tension of your story.
Victim is almost caught and only escapes by chance. Because the story is in Victim’s point of view, this works because Victim realizes the danger he was in. Chaser is still clueless, of course, but that’s OK, because it’s not her POV.
Having a chance escape also works this initial time, because the scene introduces the rules of the Chase scene. But now, Victim KNOWS there’s a smart phone app and will have to use his ingenuity to stay out of range of that app. It will, of course, be easier said than done.
The whole scene has upped the stakes in the story as a whole. The other subplots are now free to carry on as needed, because at the right moments the Chase Subplot will be there to add to the story’s tension. Will Chaser actually CATCH Victim? Who know? Stay tuned!
What subplot(s) are you adding to you story to keep the tension high?
Chase Small Business Grant - I Applied
I’m sure you’ve been contacted by friends and acquaintances about this Chase, savvy marketing, small business grant.
Well, add me to the list. I know it’s short notice, since the process of garnering 250 votes to be eligible for the grant ends today, June 30th. But, as I always say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
So, if you don’t mind, please click on the link: https://www.missionsmallbusiness.comThen click on "Login and Support." They make it easy to use your Facebook account to log in.
Then, please put:
Karen Cioffi Writing Services in the SEARCH BOX and click search.
Next, simply scroll down just a bit and VOTE for my business.Just a note: You can vote for as many businesses as you like and I voted for those who asked my help.
I know it’s a long shot, since it’s late, but . . . I’d really appreciate your help. The grant is for $250,000.
And, I’m sorry for all the non-informational emails and posts lately. It seems one thing has been coming after another.
I thought about using Linkedin and other social media mass emails, but I already did that once this week. That’s enough.
If you’d be so kind to SHARE this post, I’d sure appreciate it.I'm really not crazy about companies making a grant process into a popularity contest, but it is a good marketing strategy on their part to get visitors to their site. Each applicant has to get 250 votes, that's a lot of people visiting Chase through Facebook.
If you’d like to know more about me before voting, please go to:
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/about-karen-cioffi/Thanks so much,
Karen
Bubble Girl is famous on the internet for getting herself into some dodgy situations. But, bless her, she always manages to turn the motor on and hightail it away from danger. Here’s a recent photo from her trip to Yellowstone. Grizzly bears don’t take kindly to folks stealing their honey. Mark that down as another lesson learned, Bubble Girl.
Halloween is getting closer, so here’s Boo Cow (Charlesbridge, 2010) — a fun, friendly, spooktacular mystery by Patricia Baehr to get you in the spirit of the season.
Chicken Noodle Farm has a fresh coat of pickle-green paint, 552 chickens and no eggs at all.
Mr. and Mrs. Noodleman, who own the farm, are beside themselves.
What are they doing wrong?
Will they ever have eggs for breakfast?
At first, they blame Boo Cow, the ghost of a cow named Molly who used to live on the farm. Surely she’s scaring the chickens. But as they dig further into the mystery, they discover another culprit altogether.
To find our more, let’s talk to Chase.
Today’s reviewer: Chase.
Age: 7
I like: Playing sports. My weiner dogs, Dexter and Daisy. Eating macaroni and cheese.
This book was about: A boo cow that the farmers thought was scaring their chickens. But the cow really loved the chickens.
The best part was when: Boo Cow scared Farmer Hackett as he was stealing chicken eggs. He said, “Mooo-ooo-ooo!”
I laughed when: Mrs. Noodleman used pink, fluffy nightgowns for the chickens’ beds.
I was worried when: The ghost cow said “Mooo-ooo-ooo” for the first time. They should have called Ghost-Busters. And, I was worried when the chickens didn’t lay any eggs.
I was surprised that: Farmer Hackett stole the eggs.
This book taught me: To buy nightgowns for chickens. And, to not judge people if you don’t know things for sure.
Other kids reading this book should watch for: Why the chickens weren’t laying any eggs.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Fun.” “Silly.” “Ghost.”
My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “A cowbell softly tolled. Clink-clunk! Clink-clunk.”
You should read this book because: It’s good. I was glad Boo Cow wasn’t stealing the eggs.
By the way, Chase says his favorite way to eat is scrambled with some cheese on top. And he’s going to be a football player for Halloween, although it would be fun to dress up as a chicken in a pink nightgown.
If you’d like to know more about author Patricia Baehr, read this blog post.
If you’d like to know more about illustrator Margot Apple, you can read this biography.
More Halloween book reviews are in store. Stay tuned! And there’s still time to comment on the question of the month:
What are YOUR favorite Halloween books?
“I was there once” I said to myself and wondered who said that.
“I know there are deer just beyond those trees” I can smell them, it’s old hat.
I hear words like “no” and I know there is something I shouldn’t do but why, I do not know.
They smell delicious, I would share and the chase would be a wonderful thing so let’s go.
He is telling me something that sounds like I will regret it but I know I won’t.
There they are just a short sprint over easy ground but here it is again “Don’t!”
I like him even if he is a pill! Why he even roasts perfectly wondrous raw kill.
Oh now I’m going no matter what it is he’s trying to say.
Look at them all dancing with excitement, what wonderful prey!
I could run forever mile after mile but I’ll go back and let him see my happy smile.
Hey what’s this ? no “atta boy” or “good boy you” ?
I will never understand that attitude after such a wonderful chase, where they all almost flew!
OH I see … I didn’t catch one to bring back with me.
Next time I’ll not ask, just go and bring back a present then perhaps he’ll be much more pleasant.
Disney 'Netpal' (as other toy companies focus on more affordable items, Disney debuts its first laptop for kids. Still, some say it's smart move) (Reuters) (everythingPR)
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I was finally able to finish this one up last week. Overall, I don't hate it. Is it the best in the series? Naw. Is it the worst, Naw. It's decent, and decent is good enough for me at the moment.
It was sort of an uneventful weekend for me. The wife and I didn't really do much. I've had to take a bit of a break from writing the book in order to get some other stuff done, but hopefully I'll be able to get back to it sometime this week. I'm at a point (somewhere in the middle of the story) that has me a bit stumped. I know how the story is going to end, but I've written myself into a bit of a corner and I'm having trouble getting over a hump. I had hoped that taking some time away from it would help me sort things out in my head, but it really hasn't worked.
Not exactly the most well thought out plan, I know.
I saw a really good movie called "Son of Rambow" over the weekend. A really sweet little story, well directed, funny, had everything really. It didn't change my life or anything, but without a doubt it was a good flick.
Steve~
WOW! Last week was about as busy a week as I've had in a long time, and the really weird thing about it is that I didn't do a single piece of illustration or design work. Not one!
This week is my wife's first back at school and it's a new school to boot. Because of that I spent all of last week moving everything from her old classroom that we had plopped down into storage, out of storage and into her new room...by myself.
You may not think that sounds like a whole heck of a lot, but this woman has collected a LOT of books in her twelve years of teaching and a lot of books mean a lot of heavy boxes. We actually had to rent a 16 foot U-Haul in order to move all this stuff.
After the moving was done I spent a good eight hours a day, every day, moving desks, moving tables, organizing papers, papering her walls, hanging stuff on those walls, creating more stuff to be hung on those walls, then hanging that created stuff up!
Toss in the fact that the air conditioning wasn't working because the school was still being built, and it was well over 100 outside and you've got a recipe for a tired and very stinky me.
Anyway, all is well that ends well I suppose, and her first day back went decently so I guess it was worth it.
She's going to owe me though...oh yes, she surly is...
Hopefully I can find some time this week to put the kibosh on this darn monster piece.
Steve~
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So I was at the movie theater about a month ago and I saw on the marquis the sign for the coming attraction, "SON OF RAMBOW" and so I go up to the pimply-faced 16 year old working the concession stands and I say, "Excuse me... but seriously? Rambo has been around for like a million years and you guys can't spell it right?! Seriously?"
And he looked at me and rolled his eyes and didn't even respond... and so all this time I thought HE was the one who was a total idiot...
You can't see me, but I am rolling my eyes in the exact same fashion as that kid.
Being openly mocked by sixteen year olds...good stuff.