THE "DARK MOMENT"

There are many "dark moments' in life. They're the times when we think we can't....or won't be able to see our way past to the next day. When everything crumbles around us and appears hopeless, brings us to our knees, and sometimes can even shatter our faith.

The "dark moment" in a novel is the time when a character comes to a fork in the road, must make certain decisions, or come up against a heart-wrenching situation. How a writer portrays the characters actions and reactions to the "dark moment" can very well mean the difference between a flop or a page-turner. And let's face it....every author wants a best seller.

Here are a few tips for creating an effective "dark moment":

Misunderstandings, lack of trust, bad decisions, being too proud to ask for help, etc., are some elements that bring a character to the "dark moment". I find a book more interesting when the author doesn't reveal what lies ahead....but instead allows me, as the reader, to walk beside the character and experience what he/she is thinking, feeling, wondering, fearing, etc.

Tension is everything...so build it! But don't back a character into a corner without having a credible way of getting him/her out. Nothing loses a reader's respect for an author more than a flimsy plot or an unbelievable ending. Even when writing paranormal themes, or creating new worlds, a writer must make the reader believe the situation could really happen.

Cliff hangers are exciting, but know when to solve the issue. Lingering too long in the "dark moment" can become boring and exhausting. Stay fresh, shocking, throw in a twist or a sub-plot, a dramatic solution, and then an interesting conclusion.

HAPPY WRITING! :-)

Roberta C.M. DeCaprio
www.robertadecaprio.com