Ethos, Pathos, Logos and Fiction Writing Part 1

Normally, when we hear the concept of Ethos, Pathos and Logos, we hear it with communications and argumentation. For the next three days, however, I want to extend this idea to your fiction writing. So, today is Part 1 - ETHOS.

Let me begin first with explaining the idea of Ethos, Pathos and Logos. This is an idea that comes from early philosophers and deals with the connection to the audience, the language used and the arguments used. In simple terms, effective argumentation or communications will balance the three of these elements depending on the situation. This does not mean that all are equal. There are times that one or two elements may be stronger, but they all have to be balanced and working together.

Ethos is the element that bridges the connection between the audience and the speaker. In fiction writing, this is connection between the author and the reader.

For an author, the biggest connection you can make with your reader is through the characters you created. The more of a connection you can make to the general public reading your story the better the chance people will have a "buy in" to your story.

I think a great example of this would be THE BREAKFAST CLUB. When the movie was first released, and even still today, many relate to the story simply because of the similarities of the at least one of the characters to each individual. Because we can relate to the characters, the emotional impact of the story becomes stronger.

I bring this up because there are a lot of stories I pass on because the author has created a story that is so extreme and so manufactured that readers would never make that connection. In other words, the author has created such an extreme back story that a reader will not be able to relate. Sure, some of the things that happened to the character might be similar, but when an author goes overboard, that connection is lost.

You can also look at how the characters act, behave and speak. These characters have to be real. Even the Vampires, Aliens and Fae characters need to have a human quality. Think of Elrond and Frodo from LORD OF THE RINGS. These characters react just the way we would in these situations. This is real.

So, think about your characters. Can people really relate to the characters? Is your plot over-riding the characters? You might want to make those changes.

Tomorrow - PATHOS.

Scott

You Lost Me At Hello - Why most queries don't make struggle

It must be that time of the year when I am just tired but I once again found myself struggling with a topic. But fortunately, my email in box with all of those submissions, (yes, I am still plugging my way through these) provided me a great suggestion. I figured this would also be a good topic considering the fact that I am assuming many of you have your query and submission ready to go when I re-open things later this month for submissions.

While we all talk about query letters, I think most of us spend more time with the format and the technical side of things with these little beauties. We have the arguments about where to put the basic information about your book (title, genre, word count). We talk about high concept. We cover how long they query should be. One thing we all tend to agree on is that there really isn't one right or wrong format.

The problem, however, with most query letters is the lack of the "sell." In other words, the author has included all of the necessary business, but in the end, the project simply doesn't sell itself. The hook of the story, the pitch the author throws at us simply just sits there instead of reaching up, taking us by the color and screams "read me!"

I think that many authors are feeling that the query is nothing more than a random cover letter that they slap on top of the manuscript. Why put work into the thing considering the fact that it's the story that the agents and editors are really interested in. That is true, but we have to get to it first and that query letter has to convince us it is worth the effort.

I have always said that a query letter is just another word for a cover letter or letter of application that you would include with a resume. It is a way to show the prospective employer, and in this case an editor or agent, that you are worth taking a risk on. The difference is that instead of having a resume to review, we have your story and synopsis.

So, what do I frequently see that doesn't sell?

• too much metaphorical lanugage that talks about generic themes but nothing about the story.
• too much simply telling me a plot
• too much simply telling me about two characters with no plot.
• no high concept to show me why your story is unique

As you look at your "pitch" try to figure out why someone would really want to buy this project. With the information you put into the query, if you saw this at a book store, and you didn't know the author or the story, would you really pick it up?

I should warn you, there is a danger here. You may find, and this is the worst case scenario, that it isn't the query at all, but the story. If that is the case, there might not be anything you can do. But let's think positively. Let's work on making that query letter sell!

One final note...

This will be a short week for the blog. I will be finally taking some time to breathe a little and focus on the family and not so much the work.

Scott

NaNoWriMo is the beginning of a VERY LONG process

I guess I have to say congratulations to those of you that participated in NaNoWriMo. Of course, from a prior blog of mine, you know my opinion on this.

At this point, you have a VERY, VERY long process ahead of you. The odds are this story that you created is going to require a serious over-haul. I am betting that you will have characters with changing points of view and personalities, plot holes bigger than the sink holes in Florida, and narratives that sound more like the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon.

The simple truth is your completed document (I'm not sure if I can call it a manuscript yet) is far from ready to see the public. This is in no way a product that is suitable to go to any editor or agent.

Honestly, I think you can really view this last month as a chance to learn several things. First, that if you need to meet a word count deadline, you can. And secondly, you can now learn how to create a true "free-write" activity.

I know other agents have said this in the last two days, but I am going to say it to. Please, don't go sending this story to me. My bet is you have at least a good year before you can even think about doing anything with this. Personally though, in that year, you could probably start from scratch on a project, plan it out properly, use the writing process effectively and end up with at least 2 quality projects.

It's entirely up to you on this one.

Scott

Where is all this "specific, niche" writing heading - A prediction

I am of the honest opinion that all of this niche writing we are seeing people doing is nothing more than a cathartic activity for writers. In other words, the market is simply purging itself to get to something bigger and better. What will that be?

IMHO...

...it will be a return to normalcy.

Sure, there is something fun about stories with vampires and Victorian women. Sure movies with cowboys and extraterrestrials may be a light shift from the depression of the real world. Yes, gambling zombies is certainly something new. I won't deny any of this.

But, with that said, like Chick lit, and yes, like Steampunk, there is only so far you can take the stories.

Really, if you think about a lot of the genres out there, we have seen a serious flexing of the muscles. When erotica hit, we saw all of the markets pushing the barrier as far as they could push it, and then what happened? The pendulum swung back.

This is what will happen to everything else out there.

We're already seeing that with the big push for the traditional regencies. Editors told me in August of their desire to see real contemporary stories with real people.

If you really want to be on the cutting edge. Return to normal. Write stories with real people, in real relationships, with real problems and let it ride. You might be amazed at what arises.

Scott

Show Me You Know Where You Are Going

One of the things I look for in submissions is whether or not the writer has a sense of their own direction in this business. In other words, does the writer know where they are now, and where they are going in the future. I want to see that, in some basic way, the writer has taken some time to determine what niche they want to carve for themself in this huge business.

Even if you are a new writer without a lot of books behind you, it is crucial that you see yourself doing something more than the book you are submitting to an agent. No, this does not mean that you have a 3 book series with these characters, but a sense of the voice you want to create for yourself and your readers. Remember, it is not the job of the agent to create that path for you. It is up to you.

One thing that always tells me I have a writer that doesn't have a clear path is when I see someone writing in a lot of different genres. This person is still trying to find themself and, unfortunately, really doesn't have that path figured out. As an agent, I want to be able to show a prospective editor that this person has a lot to offer beyond that single book. When a writer is all over the place, that leaves the agent with no where to turn.

So, what is your path? Do you know where you want to write and what your voice is? Can you clearly demonstrate that in a query? Figure that one out and you have something to really market to an agent or editor.

Scott