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Plotting the end of TMC#3 and it's time for a craft thread! A lot of people have asked how I write books that are hard to put down. The answer is a lot, a lot, a LOT of preparation. I create extensive spreadsheets for each book, and I couldn't work without them.
IMO, there are two key elements needed to make a story addictive. First, it has to be immersive. That means the world feels real, fleshed-out, and interesting. This could be cool a sci-fi future, an enchanting fantasy world, or a nice house in a quirky town. This part is HARD.
If the world isn't immersive, the reader's mind will wander. You need to create a world they want to see more of and will slip into. This is why castles and sweet apartments and loot-able apocalypse towns are so popular. We *want* to stay there and keep reading.
But something has to happen! So secondly, you need the plot to be constantly surprising without becoming overwhelming. We like being surprised, but we also need to feel comfortable enough not to get jerked out of a story. This also HARD.
One well-known method to manage the plot is to close each chapter with a cliffhanger. But constant action or constant twists stop being surprising after a few in a row. So my spreadsheets are designed to not only manage my plot, but to make sure I'm varying my chapter closers.
My method is to structure my story around scenes that are either a Bombshell, a Promise, or a Peak. Every chapter ends with one of these. Bombshells drop information and twist the plot, but they're confusing and need to be spread out so the reader can absorb them.
Promises are tension-building scenes. You set foot in the abandoned warehouse. You realize you're falling for that person. Someone turns on you and you're going to have to fight. Promises are BRILLIANT but promises need to be kept. Which means they *must* lead to Peaks.
Peaks are the fun stuff. Things explode. You fight. You kiss. You do something that will make the reader gasp. They make your story exciting and THEY'D BETTER BE GOOD! If you make a lot of Promises and your Peaks suck, the reader will be underwhelmed. Finesse your Peaks!
But it's really the interplay between these elements that makes a story addictive. Peaks need Promises, Promises need Peaks, and the very best kind of Peak is one that uncovers a Bombshell in its aftermath. They need to be constantly varied, and that requires a LOT of planning.
So what does that planning look like? Right now I'm creating index cards with the LAST LINE of each chapter in Book 3. This is how I plot. Every time. I write every last line, varying my Peaks, Promises and Bombshells, and build each chapter backwards from there.
My method isn't perfect and I sacrifice depth & atmosphere sometimes, but that's the trade-off. I'm taking you on a ride, and the doors are locked until I say you can get out. There are many kinds of books, and if mine keeps you awake until 2am, it's done its dang job.
One final thought, which seems counter-intuitive but is CRUCIAL to understand is that Peaks and action represent a COMPLETE drop in tension. You're most likely to lose a reader AFTER the battle, explosion, or fight - unless they see something unexpected when the dust settles.
