Friday, July 27, 2007

DA GUIDELINEZ #5

Don't lose the reader. Avoid unattributed pronouns at the start of a scene or chapter unless it is a story device. Do the who, what, where, when, and why check at the beginning of transitions so the reader isn't lost. This doesn't mean the five W's must be there, but don't assume anything about the reader's retention rate. And don't forget to set the scene goal. The novel may have put down for days or weeks. When a reader picks it up, some or all of the five W's can pull them back into the story.

2 comments:

Ruth L.~ said...

Please send this to my husband in a telegram, or email will do. Tell him these rules apply in conversation too, and not to be annoyed at thewife who "isn't following him."

Rick Bylina said...

I would but I don't have his email address. Click on the letter icon and you can send it yourself. :-)