Rhythm and Sequences: How Graeme Simsion does it

We've been looking at the rolling, mid-level rhythm of story, and how sequences might be the way to achieve that.  The Bestseller Code gave us a list of the top ten books with good rhythms (none of which were as good/steady as TDC and FSoG). The book I picked from the list to test the … Continue reading Rhythm and Sequences: How Graeme Simsion does it

Sequences: What are they?

Last post, I said I'd do a master storyteller post, or three, on Rhythm.  Well, I found that I needed more guidance. Determining page-by-page, scene, and overall-plot rhythms were easy enough, but determining that rolling mid-level rhythm, the one that spans 50 or so pages between crests/troughs--the one that seemed so important to The Bestseller … Continue reading Sequences: What are they?

Rhythm in Plotting: The Bestseller’s best-kept secret – Part 2

We're looking at how to create the regular, rhythmic beat that The Bestseller Code says exists in the top two bestselling adult books of all time, Fifty Shades of Gray and The Da Vinci Code. When we left off last week, we were wondering how, specifically, to create this rhythm. The goal is to alternate negative … Continue reading Rhythm in Plotting: The Bestseller’s best-kept secret – Part 2