How to Add a Spark to Your Story
A Few Words of Explanation
Last week I wrote an article about how writers can write about locations they have never visited. With the aid of the internet and our imaginations, it is quite possible to transport our readers to a town, and make that town come alive, even though we have never stepped foot on that location.
As an example, I wrote the introduction of a short story. Let me give you the opening paragraphs and then we’ll move forward with this lesson.
“He stepped off the bus at the Greyhound Station and set his eyes, for the first time, upon Franklin, Indiana. He was a southern California boy, blond hair, blue eyes, and dimples to die for. He was raised with palm trees and the smell of the ocean, as comfortable surfing as walking, but nowhere in Franklin would he find the golden beaches of his past. This was farming country, and the golden beaches were replaced by green fields and amber waves of grain.”
Later on in the intro, I told my readers that my main character was looking for work, and if he didn’t find it in Franklin he would be moving on soon. That is where I left everyone, and that is where this lesson continues. You can see the entire introduction by clicking on the insert to the right.
At this moment, all I have is a very short story, but what if I wanted to expand it and make it a novel? How can I take this opening scene and give it wings? How do I propel a very innocent opening scene through 100,000 more words?
We do this by adding sparks to the story. A spark is an event that challenges the main character and forces him to react. The average novel is about 100,000 words in length and again, on average, that means I’ll need a spark every 25,000 words or so.
Rather than ramble on about it, allow me, if you will, to teach by example. What follows is the first spark that will take my character on an adventure. The story picks up with my main character leaving a café, walking down the main street of Franklin, Indiana, in search of work.
You can find the introduction to this story here
- How To Write a Scene About a Place You Have Never Visited
Creative writers do not need to have visited a place to write about it. Use your imagination and the internet and you are all set to create magic.
The First Spark
The heat shimmered on the roadway as he trudged on. Perspiration dripped from his brow, and his blond, curly locks were soon damp and hung limp on his shoulders. A gentle breeze blew from the north and tall cumulus clouds dimpled the sky.
He covered the mile slowly, his strong gait hampered by the elements, and just when he was about to decide that Frankin held no interest for him, he came upon the Grange the waitress had mentioned. The parking lot was filled with Ford pickups and small tractors, and men in checkered shirts and ball caps stood in small groups discussing life, crops, prices and, of course, the weather. He nodded to them as he passed by and climbed the steps into the main office.
Behind the desk stood a tall drink of water with broad shoulders and a belly to match. He was busy writing in a ledger as the stranger approached.
“What can I do for ya?”
The visitor to Franklin figured he must look quite the sight, sweat-stained and dusty, like something the cat dragged in. There was no chance of getting hired, he figured, but he was here now so what the hell.
“I’m looking for work. The waitress in town suggested I check at the Grange to see if any farmers needed a hand.”
The big man put down his pen and reached out a hand. “My name is Bruce Fisher, and I’m the manager of this Grange. I didn’t catch your name, son.”
“I’m sorry, Mister. I plumb forgot to give it. I’m Cody Willis, from Malibu, California. I just got into town and, like I said, I’m looking for a job.”
As Cody spoke to the manager, he took note of his surroundings. Behind Fisher was a desk, and at that desk sat a matronly sort with beehive hair going seriously gray. She was carrying an extra fifty pounds and didn’t look too happy about it. She looked at Cody, closed a magazine she had been reading, hefted her extra weight up and left the room through a side door. Through the door glass she could be seen picking up the telephone and dialing a number.
“Well, Cody Willis, I don’t know of anything right now, but check back tomorrow and maybe something will have come up. You might try the Toyota plant across the road. I heard they might be hiring.”
Cody thanked the man and retraced his steps out the front door and back to the oven outside. As he walked across the parking lot a police car entered in a hurry and came to a stop ten feet from him. The driver and passenger doors flew open and two burly cops exited with guns drawn.
“Down on the ground, now!
It’s like being back in California, Cody thought. Too many times he had seen a similar situation back home. Gangbangers, druggies, pickpockets and shoplifters, spread out on the ground, arms yanked behind them, wrists cuffed. He never thought he’d see it in Frankly, Indiana, and he certainly didn’t expect to be the object of so much negative attention. He complied and sprawled on the pavement.
“What did I do, officer?”
“There was a young woman murdered three blocks from here. You match the description of a suspect seen fleeing the murder scene. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney……..”
And We Are off and Running
The first spark has been provided, and that spark, the arrest, will propel the story for the next 25,000 words. When that spark has died it will be time to add a new one, and then another, and another, until my target total of 100,000 words has been reached.
And that’s all there is to it, he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
The good news is it gets easier with practice. The bad news is it’s never really easy. Great writers make it look easy, but even the greats struggle with storyline and pace. Even the greats will hit mental roadblocks, and watch as the spark dwindles and threatens to disappear.
If writing were easy everyone would do it and do it well.
Various Schools of Thought
There are writers who will outline a novel, and the sparks are known before they ever sit down to write that first page. I’m not one of those writers. I let my characters tell the story, and my sparks generally come from my characters and from my own personal muse. I wait until they all whisper in my ear and direct me to the next spark. I don’t know of any other way to describe the process.
I mentioned earlier that there should be a spark every 25,000 words. Is that etched in stone? No way, but what is etched in stone is the need for sparks throughout the book. Very few novels can flow properly without fuel of some sort. It is the writer’s job to provide that fuel.
I hope that helps you as you prepare for the adventure of novel-writing. As always, if you are still confused, or need further explanation, you can contact me at your convenience.
Happy Writing!
2015 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Comments
Sparks in stories come so much easier than they do in our own lives, which is really the best. I don't know if I'd want THAT much excitement in my life. Great topic.
Now I want to read more Bill! I try to add spark with my little brief stories at the beginning, but more with my photos. Sort of the same idea...
I think Mary summed up our appreciation of this article very well -- another valuable tool for our writer's toolbox. Long ago, I created a special folder with all of your articles, bookmarked. I often go back and re-read your advice. Thank you! :-)
Thanks for more great advice, Bill! One of the most important parts of the story is how much life is in it.
Excellent advice. I can apply that lesson to my nonfiction writing too. Of course we are friends and I read all (at least I try to read all) of your posts, but I read them for another reason too. I don't write fiction but reading your advice to fiction writers helps me thing out about my genre. I am able to be more creative, which leads to better writing. This is advice I can really sink my teeth into. Thank you, Bill,
Hi billybuc;
Well, now I have this Cody stuck in my mind; it helps me stir up, my writers block; I seem to be having troubles getting past, that's one reason my hubs is written down so much, and the length is very short. How do you get past your writers block episodes?
Enjoyed your post; well done, as always.
Swing and a miss. I didn't see that curve ball coming. Not this soon anyway. Never mind. I can work with this twist. You don't mind if I add my two cents do you? ;)
Hey I love a bit of spark. So easy to write without thinking of the eventual reader and how to captivate them. Also thinking of a sort of novel I have tucked away - fairly boring - might go back and murder someone. They deserve it. Need to sparkle...
Very nice to be reading you once again, Billybuc. Your writing has grown so much over time and I'm so jealous. I still have to do the second chapter of my novel! Encouragement and inspiration are your trademarks, and your lesson about sparks is telling me what to do with chapter 2. Now comes the hard part....writing it:(. Thank you so much. For a while I had forgotten that there is a gracious man in Hub pages named Billybuc. Today is a good day.
Isn't that just like you, Bill? You spark and run!!!! Of course now I have to finish the story in my head..what happened next??
100,000 words...O my....I may never get that many down, with or without sparks. My friends would laugh if they heard me say that as I am not exactly a person who is at a loss for words :D
Take care of you all. Hugs and blessings and many Angels are on the way once again to you all. ps
Yet another tool for our writers toolbox. I must say your example reads like an excerpt from a book.
I am carefully paying attention to every lesson you give us and do so appreciate them.
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
Wonderful lesson here Bill. I can see how "sparks" are needed throughout a novel. I have not yet written a story that has 25,000 words but even short stories need a "spark" or two. Your example story is great and now you have to continue it so we fin out what happens to Cody...you made it too darn gripping to stop there.
Informative and so interesting to take in.
As always, it's so awesome. Very useful and beautiful tips for writing a story. But it is not so easy a job. Thanks for sharing.
"If writing were easy everyone would do it and do it well." - so true.
Great, useful, educational hub.
Love from the sky~
Thanks for the cute story. Seems we may be cut from the same cloth... only my characters usually don't whisper... they scream!!! Actually I like it better that way as its too easy to ignore the whispers... incidentally... that's why sometimes I get a hot poker after them... they need it when that spark threatens to go out!!! Hahaha TFS ;)
I like reading about the unfolding method. I'm such an organized person (generally so) at heart that it intrigues me not to have something generally planned out.
But do you have an end in mind, billy?
Yes, I'm sure it helps, although I may not write a novel either. You're a great teacher and some of your ideas are transferable or adaptable from one genre to the other.
Hi Bill. You continue to show us the way with your knowledge and expertise. Thank you for the education.
I’m not planning to write a novel. But I read your hub out of curiosity. It never hurts to learn something new, even if it’s not presently needed. And “learn” I did, from you.
The thing I found most interesting is your way of letting the characters guide the progress of the story. I think that anyone who wants to write a novel, but is hesitant because they don’t know how to start, should take heed of your lesson.
It definitely makes it easier to go with the flow, adding those sparks every so often, especially if one doesn’t have the entire storyline all worked out in one’s head to begin with.
You didn’t say it, but what I got from your explanation is that our brain can develop the story as we continue writing. For that matter, isn’t that how much of our writing is conceived?
Actually Franklin, Indiana is just 30 miles south of Indianapolis and is not nearly as rural as you describe. How important is the geographical accuracy of your stories? Is it better to set them in fictional towns such as the TV show "The Middle"? It is obviously in Southern Indiana, somewhere near Indiana University, Terre Haute and not too far from Indianapolis, but does not give a town name or exact location. What are the advantages to being in an actual town unless set in a big city like Boston or LA?
"Plumb forgot"?
This is great and you read along and sudden jolt for sure. I always say it is easier to be an artist than a writer . When you paint a picture it is love or hate..However you have to keep a reader spellbound for hours.
That would be great, billybuc. Thank you!
Billybuc, I have a question and wasn't sure where to leave it. How do you manage many projects at once? I have three projects going plus the HubPages. I am reading or writing all day. So my basic question is, how do you balance everything you do without your mind exploding?
(Here I am, buried under this haystack!)
Ah, that's better. Now where was I? Not a lot of people will know thus, but that character in the grey hat in the picture above looks like he's taking a leak. Are you sure you wanted to use it?
That wasn't it, though. Seriously.
You never know where your character will take you. One minute he's after a job, next minute he's Public Enemy No.1. Food for thought.
Or he might be riding through woodland with his friends, and next he's almost surrounded by Norman cavalry with lances. How do you get him out of that? Bowmen amongst the trees is the answer, but not before your hero or one of his friends has been wounded by their 'pgstickers' in a sensitive place and the nearest he can get for medical care is a convent.
Take it from there, Bill!
You've certainly given an excellent example of a spark, Bill! Thanks for sharing it.
Great example, bill and therefore a great lesson! The word 'spark' is very apt, isn't it? It literally sets the story on fire.
Your writing has the ability to get people sparked up and ready to write too; sharing these wise words and hoping many more are helped by them.
I have this image of little sparks going off in writers' brains. Sadly, some only have damp squibs (not hubbers, I hasten to add!).
Ann
I really enjoyed this great example of "spark" - THANKS!
But, my real question is where did you come up with Franklin, Indiana. If you really took that photo, you were there at some time. This is the community where a big bunch of my "shirt-tale" ancestors settled in the mid-19th Century... and some still live there. Just curious!!!!! ;-)
Wow...came in for a lesson and got caught up in a story...now I want to know what happens to Cody! You sparked my attention!
Billy, Your lessons continue to teach me, as I try to absorb them all. I'm currently writing a non fiction and think I need to add some spark to it as these real events take place. Would you advise this in a non fiction? Thanks again for all you do.
Looking for work in Franklin, Indiana? Good luck. LOL.
Great advice as always Bill. I've got a couple of different books I'm working on currently and every tip helps.
Take care and blessings to you.
billybuc
I remember Cody, he was the serial killer that disappeared from the Malibu area a short time ago. He ditched his car, and they lost his trail. Your keen eye has spotted him in Indiana.
Or did I just make that up, reality versus creativity, I don't remember?
lol
Now, I think that I understand the need for drafting the first cuts. Thanks
Good training detail... I too think all stories short or long needs spark.. again this reference tool proves worthy thank you Billybuc :)
Love to see your tips on creative and dynamic writing, Billy! Keep it up!
I love your writing, Bill! Coming up with sparks is something I definitely need help with right now... I'm trying to delve into creative writing bit ideas are difficult to get a hold of (and keep a hold of)!
Thanks for the help!
Jamie
Billy, your tips are priceless and will even keep experienced writers in line.
Thanks for sharing your recipes of success.
:)
You are very good at writing the long descriptions, but the short description made me feel a bit awkward. I blame my high school English class. We were taught not to describe the main character. You have more experience writing than I do, though. I'm going to be using this to connect my preplanned points.
I can't take an instructional book seriously when it has the adjectives "Stupendously Awesome" in the title. Thankfully, the reviews make it look lighthearted.
Well I want to know what happened to poor Cody. This was very helpful. I always get frustrated when I've tried to write a novel or short story. I, like you, like to let the characters write the story but at some point along the way I hit a wall. Thanks for the tip.
You really are very talented. The creative writing was full of vibrancy and is screaming for a longer tale to unfold.
Going for the double your teaching ability shines brightly too.
For someone new to this full-time writing malarkey not so many years ago you are nailing it!
billybuc
I enjoyed my virtual stay in Franklin Indiana, and I see the spark.
I would have failed at writing a dialect for those in Franklin Indiana, and your character doesn't sound like a native of Malibu. You describe him looking like a surfer, but talking like a southerner, of some sorts.
One of the reasons that I don't watch TV shows like CSI, and the multitude of the others is that I have a reality problem in their cases. My wife says it is just a show, but I can't suspend reality. In the lawyer shows, I keep calling out objections and failure to follow criminal procedure, and others to the point where it frustrates her viewing pleasure.
I am sure that I am doing the same thing with this spark. I can see how it would be effective as a spark. I would, and let me remind you that from my engineering career, I am analytic.
Maybe it would be part of the spark twenty five thousand words where it would be developed, but the time here is too short. He walked from the cafe to the grange, and then inside the grange to the parking lot. What possible reason would the cops be there moments after he left the managers office??
I am only bringing this up to see where I went wrong, as well as why I don't read or write fiction.
Please don't shoot me, I am reloading. lol
As you say sparks are required throughout the story to keep the readers interest till the end. I do not know how authors have all the sparks before they sit to write must be quite a task. Great hub.
I like how you say a story can't flow properly without fuel. For me, there has to be some consistency in changing directions with the characters compared to that character moving in a straight line. I just read one of Jodah's short stories "One Way Ticket," and he did just that.
Been there done that, hihihihi I can relate to Cody. Thanks for the lesson on "spark".
Well, Cody certainly got a fine howdy-do from Franklin, Indiana!
Great illustration of 'spark', Bill. Already we're climbing into Cody's thoughts and emotions as this unfortunate set of circumstances unfolds. Now we get to see what he's made of.
Bill, as always and especially here, "Wow!" You totally gave us spark and so much more here! Thank you for the wonderful example of this truly and sounds like you may have the great beginnings of a new and upcoming novel here on your hands! Happy Wednesday, my friend! ;)
This is great advice. We need to remember that a story needs many 'knock-them-off-their-socks moments. I never jot down how my stories will play out. I guess I'm like you and let the characters do it for me. Your advice to spice it up every so often is a home run and what makes a story come alive. Thanks for the lesson, Bill. Noted.
Kim
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