forum How to spread out a story.

Started March 29, 2018 by Deleted user

tune

So, I need to spread out a few pages of writing so it'll sustain a couple chapters without making them short and without missing the main point of it. How would I be able to do this in the third/second person?

But why do you need to?

And I always have the opposite problem, lol. TOO. MUCH. CONTENT.

I have five pages of lore that I want to sow into my draft of book three for Tom's chapters. Five pages are not enough. I don't wanna add too much filler but spread it out like butter on bread.

Hmmm… maybe only do one page of lore at a time in between like five pages of present-day action? Like flashbacks? I don't even know if that would work for your type of story, but that's my only idea. Unless I could read what you have and give you ideas on how to expand?

Well, what's going on is very complicated.
In book three, Tom finds a huge whithered tree. The tree is the live oak from the other two books, the source of the magic. Without the Keepers and the Guardian, the tree died. In a feeble attempt to revive itself, it took the soul of Sycore, trapping him there. It combined the three amulets to save power and shut down.
Tom, was tired of his sister being annoying and wandered into the forest. He touched the tree and the soul of Sycore entered him and the magic of the tree stirred. Sycore took control of his body and used the amulets with the power of the elements to seek revenge. So Tom got stuck in Sycore's memories and is uncovering the lore. It's really complicated.
In each book, I have two POVs, one girl, and one boy. Tom's chapters will be him uncovering the lore and Megan's chapters will be the action. I could always add a lot of filler to the lore. * Shrugs *

Well actually, maybe you don't really need to spread it out. More isn't necessarily better.

See what you think.

It's not done yet.

I'll read it when I get home from work at 4! I'm on break rn

Alright.

Hey I actually got busy today so I can look at it tomorrow. :)

That's fine.

I read it! It was interesting, not a dull moment. The only thoughts I have might be in stretching out the scene where the tiger first appears by having her give him more information? I also thought the scene right after, the conversation he had with Hicia about the ice seemed to quick. She seemed to be too accepting too fast. Maybe you could have her not have done much "research" and instead as he explained to her what happened, she could slowly come to terms with his having those powers and then she could tell him she thinks he was chosen. Then she could give him the encouragement?

I think all of the conversations (besides the first flashback) seem short, and because of that each flashback is brief so that you don't have much time to process each one. Maybe just describe the setting a little more, let readers settle in to each flashback, and then draw out the mental processes of each character in each conversation? Of course don't drag it so that it's noticeable, just let readers have a chance to grasp each flashback. UNLESS you're going for a kind of experience that's fluid and quick and maybe even puzzling. If that's what you're going for, I don't think it's too short.

Thank you for your advice, it's really helpful.

Yeah no problem. Good luck and keep it up, I liked your story so far!