Hey, y’all—

A full week of excavations in the subterranean foundations of a manuscript can wear down anyone, even someone as hooked on working with writers as I am. But compiling the weekend’s Writes of Fiction is always a pick-me-up. It’s energizing to hear fresh perspectives on the core fiction techniques that my authors grapple with day in and day out.

This week, we’re digging into some nitty-gritty areas that can make or break a story’s reader engagement. Character perspective and agency are crucial for a compelling narrative drive. If readers can’t get inside a character’s head and feel their motivations propelling the plot, they’re likely to lose interest fast.

But what happens when your protagonist gets knocked out cold? Talk about a character perspective and agency crisis! An unconscious hero can’t exactly reveal their inner mindset or make decisions to move the story forward. Let’s explore how to keep readers hooked even when your viewpoint character is down for the count.

Join me in exploring these strategies and more, in our practice of The Writes of Fiction.