- Joined
- Mar 23, 2017
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 1
Good morning! I'd like some perspective on an issue that's been driving me nuts since I started writing my ms. It started with an idea that came to me while I brushed my teeth. What if... a girl turned invisible because she needed to, desperately? Where did she get this ability? So, I worked all that out, and started on my story. Then I took an online class on writing novels, and the instructor said my MC HAD TO have a character flaw to overcome.
Well, I was just going to have her puzzle out where she got her powers, but all right... so I added a character flaw and a plotline about it. I really enjoyed developing both the story (the emotional, overcoming the character flaw part) and the plot (where more of the action/adventure lived).
My problem came when I finished it (hah- I'm on my millionth revision, but who's counting?) and started trying to write query letters. If I query the emotional arc - lonely little girl seeks new best friend - there's no hook, and it's been done a million times. If I query the hook (which begins on page one and builds but doesn't actually happen until page 50 of a 130-page ms) then the question is, what's the flaw, and how does the character grow?
Now, look out, because I'm going to use Harry Potter here - in HP1, Harry's learning all the wizardry stuff isn't his growth. It's his overcoming his lack of self-confidence. But I'm pretty sure JKR pitched the wizardry stuff. (Not that I'm putting me/mine in that league. It's just an example.)
So, what do I query? I've tried writing a query incorporating both the story and the plot, but it comes out so muddled! Any suggestions/insights?
Well, I was just going to have her puzzle out where she got her powers, but all right... so I added a character flaw and a plotline about it. I really enjoyed developing both the story (the emotional, overcoming the character flaw part) and the plot (where more of the action/adventure lived).
My problem came when I finished it (hah- I'm on my millionth revision, but who's counting?) and started trying to write query letters. If I query the emotional arc - lonely little girl seeks new best friend - there's no hook, and it's been done a million times. If I query the hook (which begins on page one and builds but doesn't actually happen until page 50 of a 130-page ms) then the question is, what's the flaw, and how does the character grow?
Now, look out, because I'm going to use Harry Potter here - in HP1, Harry's learning all the wizardry stuff isn't his growth. It's his overcoming his lack of self-confidence. But I'm pretty sure JKR pitched the wizardry stuff. (Not that I'm putting me/mine in that league. It's just an example.)
So, what do I query? I've tried writing a query incorporating both the story and the plot, but it comes out so muddled! Any suggestions/insights?