Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-turning Fiction by Mike Klaassen (Spotlight and review)

Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-turning Fiction

by

Mike Klaassen

Blurb:

Are you thinking about writing fiction? Writing a novel? Trying to improve a manuscript? Then you need to know all about scenes and sequels. Scenes and sequels are the one-two punch of a story that make it page-turning fiction. If you don't know what they are and how they work, how can your tale reach its potential? Writing fiction isn't easy, but trying to write a novel without a solid understanding of scenes and sequels will fall flat. You can learn about scenes and sequels in three ways: (1) just start writing and hope you figure it out over time, (2) read lots of books and attend a bunch of seminars, or (3) study a book devoted entirely to the subject. Mike Klaassen has already read the books and attended the seminars. Combining his copious notes with his own writing experience, he's clarified and expanded the concepts of scenes and sequels. Save yourself a ton of time, money, and frustration with one comprehensive, concise book. Inside "Scenes and Sequels," you'll discover: practical definitions of scenes and sequels, the components of scenes and sequels, how scenes and sequels compare to other passages of writing, the nuances of using each, practical examples of how to use scenes and sequels, prototype scenes and sequels, how to control the pace of your fiction, how to troubleshoot a manuscript with scene-and-sequel analysis, and much, much more. Why spend countless hours doing your own research? "Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-Turning Fiction" is a treasure of straightforward, practical information that you can use immediately. Unlock your full writing potential with "Scenes and Sequels" today!



Amazon link


My review:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-Turning Fiction by Mike Klaassen is a non-fiction book that analyzes the elements of a chapter and what makes a story move along and keep a reader’s interest. The author breaks down what makes a scene and uses examples from various well-known fiction stories to explain how to give the character a goal and follow his or her attempts to achieve that goal, with the obstacles that prevent success. Balancing this with the exposition he terms sequels is what distinguishes a particular work. There are conventions and tweaking of those conventions that characterize a particular writer’s style.

The material presented is a bit dry and ponderous to read, but the basic premises are informative and will undoubtedly give a writer a guide to use when analyzing a manuscript. There are multiple citations and advice to delve more deeply into the concepts by reading guides that have become standards in the field but I was somewhat disconcerted by the amount of repetition of concepts and the way things are restated. It was entertaining to follow the analysis of a popular fairy tale that is retold and made more exciting, albeit ending very differently than the traditional tale. I think this book will give a framework for a writer to start with and provide the tools to identify problem areas and the impetus to consult other more in-depth books.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review