Why Do You Do What You Do?

When I read submissions, I often have to question the author's intentions with their stories. It seems that there are too many times that they will do things that seem so out of place, or simply do not fit with the story or the concept. But still, at some point in their writing process (or maybe a lack thereof) they did it.

In most cases,  many of these authors inserted that idea simply because someone told them to do so. They may have attended a workshop, read a blog like mine, read a craft book, or even had a critique partner tell them it was a great idea, so they did it. And they did so without thinking. Please understand, those people who were "helping" the authors out had all good intentions. They really did believe they were helping. In fact, those suggestions really did work in their books when they used them. But in the case of that individual case, it is not going to work. 

Remember, every book is different. Every author is different. Every approach is different. What works for one person may not work for someone else.

As an author, you have to know the "WHY" behind what you are doing in your story. You have to know, how inserting that plot device to that structural element in your story will effect other things in your story.

When successful authors write, they often don't sit down and think, "Oh I know, I will insert this plot device here." They just do it. The writing flows naturally because putting "that thing" in the story is just a natural thing that happens when they need it to happen. When they teach it to people at workshops, they are just explaining some of the things that they have done in their stories, but often, and mostly by accident, miss the part of saying that this is not an intentional move nine times out of ten. 

As an agent, and I am sure editors see the same thing, it doesn't take much to see the new authors and their writing when we read submissions. Within the first three chapters we can immediately see authors doing things with their writing because they felt that it was "what you are supposed to do" and not "what the story required." Let me give you a few examples:

• New Adult stories have to be written in 1st person, oh, add RomCon to this list too!
• Duel POV is the new thing even though they have no clue how to write it.
• Shifting to harsh and foul language in sex scenes just to make it "hot"
• Starting romantic suspense stories with an unnamed villain

Even if you aren't being told by someone to do something in your story, but you see another author doing something in your story, always take the time to ask yourself, does this belong in YOUR story. What impact will it have on YOUR plot or on YOUR character. It might not work here. You may be able to use it later. 

And also consider this. If you don't understand WHY the technique works or WHY you would use it, then don't. It is kind of like using tools in the garage, or kitchen utensils. If you don't know how to use it, you might end up getting hurt.