In a post on the Killzone blog, James Scott Bell warns of three mistakes that can sink your novel.
- The Tiresome Lead. A quirky lead is no substitute for a good story. “Unless that character faces some trouble, and soon, I’m not likely to wait around,” Bell says. “Give a disturbance on the opening page, even a subtle one, to shake the Lead out of her placid existence. Then start to pile on the troubles.”
- The Distant Doorway. Your story doesn’t truly begin until your main character starts to take action that changes the story world. Bell recommends shoving your character out of the Doorway of No Return no later than 1/5 of the way into your book.
- Stakes Less Than Death. Death need not be physical to hold a reader’s attention. Psychological or even professional death can also be compelling, and you might find room for all three. Bell recommends brainstorming all three types, even (or especially) when your protagonist faces physical danger.
