Backstory Creating Tension For The Present
Hi everyone,
I’m getting close to the end of my selected pages. Today’s page in the micro-tension hot seat is page 42. There is some micro-tension on this page but some of it is almost there but not quite, so I added in a sentence to make it explicit.
The main character is powerless and can’t do what she wants to protect a person she loves. She is forced by circumstances to walk away. I tried to make this conflict explicit. Protect v’s walk away? Love v’s cowardice? It’s hard to phrase these things neatly. Harder, I think, in your own work, where you have less objectivity.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Page 42 (Kindle edition)
This is the page with the lowest micro-tension so far in her novel. Actually, all the other pages were overflowing with micro-tension. This page is mostly setting up the symbol of the mockingjay.
The micro-tension on the page comes from the ominous tone set by hints to secrets, lies and surveillance. It is an example of backstory giving rise to current tension. Katniss is about to enter the capitol and we are reminded here that they are ever watchful. This makes the reader a little uneasy about her entering it. So we read on to see how Katniss will navigate this. As well, as the amazing plot tension of her going to the hunger games where only one can survive. But for micro-tension we are ignoring this big plot tension to examine the tiny stuff that also makes a reader turn the page. The uneasy feeling of being watched, that’s the micro-tension here.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: Page 42:
The micro-tension on this page comes from the conflict between: lying and feeling bad v’s telling hard truths and feeling better. It also comes from the reminder that this opportunity for Bree comes at a financial cost to her family. Learn and take advantage of this learning opportunity that’s costing her dad v’s find out who she is. She can’t do both, properly.
I also sent out a query.
That’s all from me tonight,
Talk to you tomorrow,
Happy writing,
Joanne.
Micro-tension pages revised: 9
* If you want to learn more about micro-tension see Donald Maas’s, The Breakout Novelist: How to Craft Novels That Stand Out and Sell. Chapter 17.
He’s also given webinars on it which can be bought from the Free Expressions website I linked on my courses recommendations page. Here’s the link directly to the webinar recordings. https://www.free-expressions.com/webinar-recordings
