People talk like microtension began and now idles with Donald Maass. For Maass, microtension boils down to a conflict…a juxtaposition…a clashing of things, preferably emotions, but also ideas, concepts, anticipations, whatever–whatever’s available for contradiction in your story. But is there more? More guidance? Continue reading
Category Archives: hooks
Microtension: What is it and how do we get it onto the page?
Filed under Emotion, hooks, literary devices, Microtension, Voice
Hooks Big and Small–How the Masters Do It
We looked at hooks last week, both concept hooks that pique our initial interest in a story and in-story hooks that keep us engaged from start to finish. Today we’re looking at how a few New York Times bestsellers hook us. Continue reading
Filed under Concept, hooks, Microtension, One-Line Synopsis, Story Master Wednesday, Voice
Story Hooks: What are they?
In the last post, we discussed how the most important element in a logline is often the element that reveals the story’s hook(s). But what is a hook? Let’s find out. Continue reading
Filed under Concept, hooks, Microtension, Monday Tool Day, Voice
