Escalation

It's offical. I'm a nerd.

I received my copy of Writer's Digest in the mail the other day. In this age of internet social networking, I practically dance with excitement whenever I get anything in the mail. Upon seeing Harlan Coben's half-smile (or is he frowning?) and shiny bald head on the cover, I reacted as if it were some long-lost relative. Two months is practically an eternity to wait between Writer's Digest installments. Indeed, I'm addicted. And a certified nerd. But I believe I've maintained healthy levels of nerdiness. Deep down, everyone hides their inner-dweeb. I'm just admitting that I let mine roam free. Occasionally.

While pouring over these sacred writerly pages, I had an "aha!" moment. To my great dismay.

Several weeks ago, I came to the depressing realization that my novel severely and utterly lacked that essential story element, known by the general public as "suspense". Now, after reading Steven James' "3 Secrets to Great Storytelling", I decided my story was also missing escalation.

No, no, not escalators, such as you might find in the department stores while Christmas shopping. I mean, escalation, as in, to heighten the suspense you (supposedly) already possess. It pains me to say it, but this blog has more escalating suspense than my book. I have a time limit and a climax. Will I finish in time? Will I not?

Steven James said, "The story needs to progress toward more and more conflict, with more intimate struggles and deeper tension. The plot must always thicken; it must never thin." My novel's "escalating suspense" ebbs and flows like a series of random waves. But, what I need instead is just one great big wave that, page by page, rises higher and higher, until my reader (in this scenario, a terrified and slightly high surfer) stands there staring in awe and waiting (like some sort of freakish adrenaline junkie) to see if it will just keep rising or will it crash eventually? Duuuuude!


Now, how to actually accomplish that...

I have not a clue.


Novel Update: Way too much to do...why am I still blogging?