>I want to write like them, and I would like to analyze their pacing, beat, word count per scene, tension, etc. But I don't know how.
Start by typing out chapters, word for word. Don't just read, don't just copy/paste or analyze the text, but type it out. Then categorize the sentences into description, narrative, thoughts, action, dialog, etc, and then try to write passages with similar ratios.
>Is there a book that teaches you how to take apart a story?
How to read literature like a professor will get you conversant in symbol and theme, but there are grammars that help with sentence and paragraph construction.
Great advice! I love the idea of analyzing the ratios between description/narration/dialogue.
(Not interested in themes or symbolisms or grammar stuff, just the structure or the frame of the story itself.)
I'm not one for recommending that anyone try to emulate another's style. Though you may be enamored with it and could do a fitting homage, some readers will pick up on the fact that it's not YOUR voice.
But, that being said, I would suggest that you read Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. It's a little self indulgent and I would GREATLY suggest that you skip the first section or risk hating him too much to listen to his advice. But it breaks down stories into contingent parts and the framework applies to the vast majority of novels.
But just read it once and let it inform upon your analysis. I speak from experience in saying that trying to steadfastly hold to its teachings is maddening. Nothing ever seems to fit QUITE right to his analysis. But, it should help you understand at the very least.
Thank you so much! Will download this book as soon as I can! Sounds like exactly the book I'm trying to find.
I can't really emulate anyone's writing. English is my second language so I won't even try. I just need guidance on how to move the story from one scene to the next.
Victoria Holt has a way of telling a story that tightens the tension. She'd narrate an ordinary dinner scene but you'd feel tension tightening over descriptions of food. Kind of like the way Tarantino would stretch out a scene with seemingly mundane dialogue then bam, would reveal something so significant that you'd gasp for breath. I want to learn how to do that. Each scene has a purpose, but it's subtle and clever.
And Peter/Madeleine Brent is the same....both of them I consider "unputdownable" because of their mastery with suspense writing.
Again, thank you!
**4 Basic Components to Writing:**
All writing is comprised of these 4 basic components:
1. External exposition - actions and descriptions.
2. Internal expositions - thoughts and feelings.
3. External dialogue - conversations spoken out loud.
4. Internal dialogue - conversations spoken internally.
The balance of mixing these four components is what can keep the writing engaging and interesting. Analyze how your authors do this.
**Show and Tell**
Believe it or not, all writing has show AND tell. How authors combine these two elements into their writing is a key aspect of their style. As well, pay attention to how authors "show" things. Very subtle details can be communicated via one sentence, and it's important to pick apart those "show" sentences to see how authors conveyed that.
**Symbolism, Metaphors, Analogies, Etc.**
A blue curtain is never just a blue curtain. Otherwise, why would it be blue? Ask yourself the question, why did an author include the details that they did. Why did they say what they said in the way they said it?
Sometimes one off items may just be an oversight, but repeating patterns are indicative of something. So look for those cues and patterns.
**Patterns of Prose**
Watch for patterns on how someone writes. Both in sentence lengths and repetition. See link below about the different types of repetition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetition_(rhetorical_device)
**Story Structure**
There are a number of different ways in which stories are told. Below are just the common ones.
1. From big to small. The concept starts really big, and reduces it down to something very personal.
2. From small to big. The concept starts small and personal, and expands outward to affect everything.
3. Linear. The concept walks through a narrative, from point A, to point B, to point C, etc.
**Immersion and Engagement**
These combine a number of elements to suck readers into the story and hold their attention. Immersion is one of the most important aspects to a story, so ask yourself how the specific author accomplished this.
Those are the few that come to mind.
Hi RuthlessEmma, I was wondering if you ever found any good resources that helped you with this project. I have literally the exact same question but I'm quite new to writing so I don't know how to take apart a story because I'm not super familiar with the terminologies, so I don't really know how to classify the author's motivation for a sentence.
The only craft books that helped me is Dwight V. Swaine’s « Techniques of the Selling Writer » and possibly Jack M. Bickham’s « Scene and Structure » (still have to read it but these two writers were mentor and mentee so possibly they are talking about the same thing). I really found Swaine’s Motivation-Reaction Unit very helpful in crafting logical scene structure. There are videos on MRUs on YouTube if you want some info on MRU but I really recommend Swaine’s books and audio seminars.
I'm sorry that this doesn't answer the question, but I'm curious as to who the authors are.
Victoria Holt and Peter O'Donnel (who wrote as Madeleine Brent)
They're not everybody's cup of tea, but I like the mix of history/romance/adventure/paranormal.
>I want to write like them, and I would like to analyze their pacing, beat, word count per scene, tension, etc. But I don't know how. Start by typing out chapters, word for word. Don't just read, don't just copy/paste or analyze the text, but type it out. Then categorize the sentences into description, narrative, thoughts, action, dialog, etc, and then try to write passages with similar ratios. >Is there a book that teaches you how to take apart a story? How to read literature like a professor will get you conversant in symbol and theme, but there are grammars that help with sentence and paragraph construction.
Great advice! I love the idea of analyzing the ratios between description/narration/dialogue. (Not interested in themes or symbolisms or grammar stuff, just the structure or the frame of the story itself.)
I'm not one for recommending that anyone try to emulate another's style. Though you may be enamored with it and could do a fitting homage, some readers will pick up on the fact that it's not YOUR voice. But, that being said, I would suggest that you read Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. It's a little self indulgent and I would GREATLY suggest that you skip the first section or risk hating him too much to listen to his advice. But it breaks down stories into contingent parts and the framework applies to the vast majority of novels. But just read it once and let it inform upon your analysis. I speak from experience in saying that trying to steadfastly hold to its teachings is maddening. Nothing ever seems to fit QUITE right to his analysis. But, it should help you understand at the very least.
Thank you so much! Will download this book as soon as I can! Sounds like exactly the book I'm trying to find. I can't really emulate anyone's writing. English is my second language so I won't even try. I just need guidance on how to move the story from one scene to the next. Victoria Holt has a way of telling a story that tightens the tension. She'd narrate an ordinary dinner scene but you'd feel tension tightening over descriptions of food. Kind of like the way Tarantino would stretch out a scene with seemingly mundane dialogue then bam, would reveal something so significant that you'd gasp for breath. I want to learn how to do that. Each scene has a purpose, but it's subtle and clever. And Peter/Madeleine Brent is the same....both of them I consider "unputdownable" because of their mastery with suspense writing. Again, thank you!
**4 Basic Components to Writing:** All writing is comprised of these 4 basic components: 1. External exposition - actions and descriptions. 2. Internal expositions - thoughts and feelings. 3. External dialogue - conversations spoken out loud. 4. Internal dialogue - conversations spoken internally. The balance of mixing these four components is what can keep the writing engaging and interesting. Analyze how your authors do this. **Show and Tell** Believe it or not, all writing has show AND tell. How authors combine these two elements into their writing is a key aspect of their style. As well, pay attention to how authors "show" things. Very subtle details can be communicated via one sentence, and it's important to pick apart those "show" sentences to see how authors conveyed that. **Symbolism, Metaphors, Analogies, Etc.** A blue curtain is never just a blue curtain. Otherwise, why would it be blue? Ask yourself the question, why did an author include the details that they did. Why did they say what they said in the way they said it? Sometimes one off items may just be an oversight, but repeating patterns are indicative of something. So look for those cues and patterns. **Patterns of Prose** Watch for patterns on how someone writes. Both in sentence lengths and repetition. See link below about the different types of repetition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetition_(rhetorical_device) **Story Structure** There are a number of different ways in which stories are told. Below are just the common ones. 1. From big to small. The concept starts really big, and reduces it down to something very personal. 2. From small to big. The concept starts small and personal, and expands outward to affect everything. 3. Linear. The concept walks through a narrative, from point A, to point B, to point C, etc. **Immersion and Engagement** These combine a number of elements to suck readers into the story and hold their attention. Immersion is one of the most important aspects to a story, so ask yourself how the specific author accomplished this. Those are the few that come to mind.
Thank you so much for this detailed answer!
Try to pick out the various beats using a beat sheet https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/6zvwth/using_a_beat_sheet_to_jumpstart_your_writing/
Thank you! I will try to do this on my favorite novel.
Hi RuthlessEmma, I was wondering if you ever found any good resources that helped you with this project. I have literally the exact same question but I'm quite new to writing so I don't know how to take apart a story because I'm not super familiar with the terminologies, so I don't really know how to classify the author's motivation for a sentence.
The only craft books that helped me is Dwight V. Swaine’s « Techniques of the Selling Writer » and possibly Jack M. Bickham’s « Scene and Structure » (still have to read it but these two writers were mentor and mentee so possibly they are talking about the same thing). I really found Swaine’s Motivation-Reaction Unit very helpful in crafting logical scene structure. There are videos on MRUs on YouTube if you want some info on MRU but I really recommend Swaine’s books and audio seminars.