: Re: How do you know when there's something missing in your story? You always hear about what has to be removed. Usually unnecessary stuff that doens't contribute to the plot. How about the opposite?

@Yeniel532

Vote Up Vote Down

What is in your head and what is on the page may be very different things. The characters, places and developments of your story may seem a tightly woven tapestry in your head. But the fresh eyes of another will clearly see loose threads, tears and great big holes in the fabric. Always be open to the critiques of others.

That being said...

By all means, do trust your "gut". Perhaps you do know better than anyone what (for example) your protagonist should or shouldn't do. If you want to follow that feeling, then attempt to be as specific as possible about what it is that feels wrong. Can you explain how, objectively, that part that bothers you does not integrate with the rest? The finer the level of detail you can muster, the more certain you will become.

The two previous are examples when the holes are subtle. In contrast, when I'm writing, the most blatant signs of lacking content I run up against are things like:

An unintentional unevenness in the pace. Does an incidental travel scene take up more pages than events leading up to the conversation that informs the moral dilemma of the of story? Perhaps trim some descriptions of the quality of light on the trees, and unfold more of the character's inner frustration at their own inability to articulate their beliefs.
Actions that advance the plot and are consistent with the character and the world (as known to the writer) but have no previous mention in the text itself. During a sweep of revision it can be worth combing back through the text to check that all elements that combine in the central events of the plot have some seeds planted previously.

(0)

Login to post a comment!