Writing Prompt: Take Your Characters on Vacation

While many novels and stories are set in a vacation location, you can take your character on vacation just to see what they are made of. Vacation can be frightfully stressful and reveals much about us as people. It can do the same for your character. Try it out with this writing prompt.

Vacation. Just thinking about it makes me exhale deeply, whether it’s relaxing on a beach, hiking on a mountain trail, or traveling on an exciting adventure. When we go on vacation, we want something specific from the experience.

But how many times have you been on a vacation that turned stressful due to people, miscommunication, or difficulty? It happens almost every time, and how we handle it reveals our often unstated expectations, as well as who we are as people.

The same is true for our characters. For this writing prompt, let’s take a character on vacation and see what he’s made of.

Choose a destination

First, think about where your character would go on vacation for the time of year and stage of life. Where would he or she choose and why? The answer reveals clues to personality and worldview.

Some might stay home with the phone and internet off watching television. Others might book a cruise to the Bahamas. Some might pack up their camping supplies and head to the nearest woods.

The destination reveals so much about the character because it’s embedded with information. How much money does she have to spend on the trip? How much time can he take off work? Who will go with him? Why would she choose a cruise over a trip to Napa Valley?

Once you pick a destination, get more specific. If booking a cruise, which type and length? What time of year? If camping, how spare will his set up be? Will it all fit on his back or is he hauling a trailer and generator along?

All those specific details create a better picture of the character.

Choose expectations

Now that you know where your character is going you can choose expectations. Everyone has expectations when they go on vacation, even when they’re implicit. For story, we know that these expectations are not going to be met, at least not in the way the character hopes.

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Unmet expectations make for interesting stories.

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Is the character headed out on a cruise secretly hoping to have a fling at sea? Is the camper expecting to be alone and uninterrupted in the woods? Does the character who vacations at home hope no one realizes they are home?

Consider expectations on at least three levels: personal, social, and locational.

Personal expectations include how they want to feel (relaxed, exhilarated, peaceful, rested). Social expectations include the level and quality of interactions they expect to have with people. If the character hopes their family will get along perfectly on the trip, well, good luck.

Finally, what does the character believe or hope will happen because of the location of the vacation? My expectations of a tent in the woods are much different than for a balconied stateroom on a luxury liner.

Choose complications

Now for the fun part of this writing prompt: complications. (Note: in real life, this is not the fun part until you’re reminiscing a year later, still in disbelief.) If you’ve listed details about the character’s personal, social, and locational expectations, you have several points of entry to create complications and conflict for your story.

Depending on the length of your story, you can choose a complication for each of those three areas.

For example, maybe your character heads to the restorative woods to camp (locational) because he believes it will help him relax (personal), while he avoids people (social). To complicate it, have it rain, making all aspects of outdoors life more difficult, or send a bear after his food. Both of these complications make the location challenging.

If he’s trying to avoid people, his trip could be interrupted by an impromptu senior class camp trip, with the woods overrun by graduates disrupting his solitude and plans.

For our cruising friend, maybe money was an issue and she found a great deal on a last minute cruise, hoping for a hot, young vacation fling to help her get over her ex. When she arrives at the boat, she discovers it’s a granny fitness cruise and she’s the youngest by thirty years.

Choose complications that push the character’s emotional state to reveal who they are.

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Writing prompt: Take your character on vacation . . . and make sure something goes awry.

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Make characters act their way home

If you’ve ever had your vacation expectations thwarted (and who hasn’t), then you know we all push through and return home better or worse for the experience. For your story though, make sure you character fights against those complications before they pack up to come home.

The camper could stake out his campsite with rope to keep the wild kids at bay, or hike further into unknown territory to escape them, getting lost in the process. The cruiser could resolve to eat alone in her room and avoid all eye contact until a sassy grandmother latches onto her at the pool and follows her everywhere. How will she treat the woman? What will she do to make it through her vacation?

I have come home more than once from a trip feeling like I needed a vacation to recover from my vacation, and your character will likely feel the same way.

Have you ever had a stressful or unexpected vacation that would make for good fiction? Share in the comments.

PRACTICE

For today’s writing prompt, choose or create a character and take them on vacation. Choose a location, expectations, and complications.

For fifteen minutes, write one scene with your character on vacation and let us see him or her handling the conflict. Share your practice in the comments and leave feedback for your fellow writers to encourage one another!

The post Writing Prompt: Take Your Characters on Vacation appeared first on The Write Practice.

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(3) TESTERS WANTED: ARCCOS 360 with Caddie 2.0

Yeah, yeah, it's all about the data, but wouldn't it be cool, I mean really cool, to have a personal caddie following you around for the rest of the summer?

No, you won't have Cheech Marin telling you to forget immortality and start thinking about hitting the 7-iron, but you can have ARCCOS 360 help you understand your game better through analytics, and its new, dramatically improved Caddie 2.0 help you think your way through your round.

Now that's a defining moment.

TESTERS WANTED

ARCCOS believes if you allow Caddie 2.0 to be your on-course companion, you can avoid those bad shots that result from bad decisions and, ultimately, shoot lower scores. It's artificial intelligence, but it's based on your game, your strengths, your weakness and can be fine-tuned to the way you want to play.

But can a virtual caddie really help you shoot lower scores? For that, we need you.

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MyGolfSpy is looking for three hardcore, dedicated and tech-savvy golfers to use ARCCOS 360 and Caddie 2.0 for the rest of the golf season and determine if analytics plus using Caddie 2.0 on-course will help you improve your game and lower your scores.

This review opportunity is open to any golfer on the Planet Earth who uses an iPhone (sorry Android users - Caddie 2.0 is iPhone only at this time).

HOW TO APPLY:

This review opportunity is a little different from others we've done. We're asking for a serious commitment to use and evaluate ARCCOS 360 and Caddie 2.0 for the remainder of the golf season. Reviewers will need to be motivated, detail oriented and tech-savvy, so please make sure you read the following instructions carefully and apply in the proper place.

All of our member reviews are published in our Community Forum (click here to check them out). We expect a lot from our reviewers - writing a thorough, detailed and honest review is a lot of work. You'll be writing detailed reviews of your journey, as well as participating in the MyGolfSpy Community Forum itself to answer questions and discuss product performance with other golfers.

That means to be a potential reviewer you must be a registered member of the MyGolfSpy Community Forum, where you'll find tens of thousands of like-minded golfers from all over the world anxious to talk about golf equipment.

To apply to test, review and keep an ARCCOS 360 kit with Caddie 2.0, here's what you have to do:

- First, sign up for the MyGolfSpy Community Forum (click here to register).

- Second, apply ONLY in the Official ARCCOS 360/Caddie 2.0 Review Application thread in the MyGolfSpy Forum (click here).

We'll be announcing our testers next week in the Forum, so please check back there to see if you've been selected.

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10 Powerful Natural Antibiotics Hiding In Your Kitchen

Historically, there are ranges of foods and herbs that have been used to safely and strongly inhibit the growth of infections and diseases, before pharmaceutical antibiotics are popularized nowadays. If you've been wondering what foods are high in antibiotics, what a surprise that these natural aiding products are actually available in our kitchen as daily …

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Everything You Need to Know About Antioxidants

There's a lot of hype about antioxidants, but the more the hype, the more questions we have. Like, what are antioxidants? What is oxidative stress? Should I take supplements or eat real food to stay young and healthy? Questions, questions, questions... in the following article we'll try and share everything you need to know about antioxidants and your health.

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Flash Giveaway: Win a Livescribe Smartpen!

We love equipping writers with the best tools for the craft. And there’s nothing more essential to a writer than the pen you use to write.

That’s why we’re excited to give away a Livescribe 3 Smartpen to one lucky writer!

Enter the giveaway now! Or, read on to get all the details.

The Magic of Pen and Paper

Writers often ask me, “Should I write my book on a computer, or should I write it longhand and type it up later?”

Of course, writing on a computer has some major benefits. Word processors will tell you your word count automatically. You can save your writing in multiple places, creating backup copies so you never lose a word. You can send your stories to beta readers and editors, and you’ll never need to retype it all.

But writing longhand has its benefits, too, especially to creative writers. Studies show it boosts memory, and it’s correlated with increased creativity as well.

Plus, many writers prefer to pen their stories with an actual pen before turning to the computer. JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book on napkins.

Of his writing process, Truman Capote said, “No, I don’t use a typewriter. Not in the beginning. I write my first version in longhand (pencil). Then I do a complete revision, also in longhand.”

If you prefer to write with pen and paper, you’re not alone.

Livescribe Smartpen: Pen, Paper, and Word Processor

Pen and paper, or word processor and keyboard? The good news is, you don’t have to choose. All you need is the right pen.

With the Livescribe 3 smartpen, you can tap into the creative flow of writing longhand and enjoy the benefits of typing on your computer. Here’s how:

• The Livescribe 3 smartpen writes like a ballpoint pen, so your writing is smooth and natural.
• It records your writing and sends it to the Livescribe+ app on your smartphone or tablet.
• From there, you can convert your handwritten stories to editable text. No retyping needed!

And that’s not all. The Livescribe 3 smartpen can record audio as you write, so you can remember what you were listening to at any point in your text. It also makes your handwritten writing searchable, even if you don’t convert it to editable text.

And it does it all with fourteen hours of battery life between charges.

Imagine capturing the creativity of writing longhand and the convenience of typing on your computer. What could that do for your writing?

Why not enter the giveaway and find out?

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Enjoy the creativity of pen and paper with the convenience of computer and keyboard. Enter the giveaway to win a Livescribe 3 smartpen!

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How to Enter the Giveaway

Want to enter the giveaway? Here’s how to maximize your chances of winning:

1. Click here to go to the giveaway page.
2. At the bottom of the page, answer the (easy!) question, which is really just there to make sure you’re a human. (You are a human, right?)
3. Then, enter your email address to enter.
4. Check your email and click the link in the confirmation email to confirm your entry.
5. After you enter, share the contest page with your friends. For each friend who enters, you get 3 more chances to win.

You have four days to get as many entries as you can. The giveaway will officially close on Sunday, July 1, at midnight Pacific time.

Then, we’ll choose the winners on Monday, July 2, and notify them by email. If you’re ready to enter, click here.

What are you waiting for? Enter to win a Livescribe 3 smartpen now!

Which do you prefer, pen and paper or computer and keyboard? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Flash Giveaway: Win a Livescribe Smartpen! appeared first on The Write Practice.

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Shot Scope Case Study #1: Scott the Poor Putter

Last month, we used Shot Scope data to examine the Previous Shot Effect and the Anatomy of a 3-Putt across a range of ability levels. Today, the guys at Shot Scope are narrowing focusing and offering a case study of a single golfer. It's an example of how, by analyzing Shot Scope data, one can identify not only areas in which to focus practices opportunities but also weaknesses in things like course management and even the equipment in your bag.

In this first study, the team at Shot Scope provides an analysis of one of its employees and in doing so, uncovers something unexpected.

If you're a current Shot Scope user, be sure to check out the last paragraph for an opportunity to take part in a case study of your game.

Scott's Story

Scott, the Sales Director at Shot Scope, is a former professional golfer who now has a handicap of 0. He plays club matches and some club tournaments. Scott is constantly in the office complaining about his Putts per Round total and how much he practices that area of the game. Eventually, the Shot Scope team took pity on him and decided to have a look at his performance data to hopefully make some suggestions which would result in lower scores.

Here is what we found!

As you can see in his game overview, Scott is a skilled golfer who hits the ball well off the tee, finds fairways a healthy percentage of the time. His green success (Greens in Regulation) is on the low side, and his avg proximity for approaches is farther from the hole than we'd expect from a scratch golfer. Scott routinely alludes to the fact that his putting statistics aren’t great. 34.2 putts per round is poor, and an average of one 3-putt once per round is also poor for a player at Scott's level.

Let’s start with a look at Scott’s putting:

As you can see his Make % for short (less than 6-feet), medium (6-18 feet) and long (greater than 18-feet) putts are slightly low, but they are not terrible. Ideally, Scott should be touching 90% for short range, 28% for medium range and anything in double figures for longs putts. Those ideal Make % stats are based on data gathered from 0 – 1 handicap golfers on the Shot Scope system.

His breakdown of Putts per Green highlights an issue; there are not enough 1- putts taking place. Understanding his Make % ratios, it would seem that he is not giving himself enough opportunities to make 1-putts regularly. His 3- putt % is also high. We know he 3-putts too many greens and this will either be due to inconsistent strike, poor green reading, or that his first putt distance is too far from the hole. With a scratch golfer it is unlikely that it is inconsistent strike and green reading so let’s have a look at Scott’s proximity to hole statistics.

Looking at Scott’s short game, he uses a mix of clubs (8-iron to putter) to pitch/chip. The simple solution is to improve his general sharpness and try to bring his avg proximity to under 10 feet. He might be capable of doing this by simply switching some of his putting practice to short game practice, but we don’t feel that his short game is the complete cause of his long initial putting distance.

Scott’s proximity to the hole from 75–125 yards could definitely be tightened up. 46.1 feet is below standard for a scratch handicap golfer, considering the best on the PGA Tour is 14.2 feet. His approach play from 125–225 yards also leaves a lot to be desired, with an avg proximity to the hole of 67.8 feet. Effectively Scott is managing to hit greens, but the putts he leaves are a long way from the hole.

To give Scott actionable insights, we looked into his wedge play, thinking that he could concentrate on making some changes over his next five rounds and we could measure improvement. Looking at his green success by club, however, we noticed an issue. There is a problem with his 9-iron. It is evident that this club is not performing at nearly the correct level, Scott is going to have it checked out by a club fitter to check the shaft, loft, and lie.

Checking the average distances for his short irons, we see that he also has a gapping issue. Scott is going to organize a testing session to check his clubs and improve his gapping.

OUTCOME

Out of sync 9-iron green success and non-existent gapping with short irons are the likely root causes of Scott's issues. The recommendation is to visit club-fitter for a check-up. Aim to improve proximity to hole between 75–125 yards initially and then improve 125– 225-yard proximity to hole.

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Get Your Shot Scope Game Evaluation

Would you like to take part in a Shot Scope Case Study? If you are a Shot Scope user with over 15 rounds in your account, enter your details below - including handicap, location, and the area of the game you think requires work. Shot Scope will select different users and compile reports.

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13 Benefits of CBD Oil (and no, it won’t get you high)

Over the last 40 years, the need for natural alternatives to the traditional western medical practices has become a common interest. People all over the world are becoming more aware of the kinds of side effects and addictions that can come from the continual use of specific medications, particularly those that have been manufactured for …

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First Look: Fourteen TC 340 Irons

This just in, JDM companies haven’t yet entirely “figured out North America” but Fourteen’s latest iron release – it’s TC 340 – likely won't fit that narrative anytime soon regardless.

The SGI (Super Game Improvement) iron was released in Japan on March 21^st without any expressed intention of introducing it to the North American market. That said Marcy Kamoda, COO of Fourteen Golf, wouldn't rule the possibility should the demand warrant.

It’s not atypical for Japanese companies to design models for different markets, though the domestic Japanese market is only becoming more saturated as major North American OEMs continue to drip product into the Asian market. While this isn't a flagship product for Fourteen, it does seem to indicate Fourteen feels that whatever growth opportunities remain in the JDM space, are likely in the GI/SGI category.

TECH STORY:

The tech story here is straightforward. The TC 340 features Fourteen’s lowest and deepest CG ever in a one-piece forged iron. No tungsten weighting, cavities filled with top-secret liquid polymers or multi-material designs; the construction consists of just a single piece of S35C forged carbon steel. Fourteen labels the TC 340 as “ultra-forgiving” yet retaining its “signature (forged) feel.”  So much of the JDM narrative revolves around the heritage and history of Japanese craftsmanship and forging houses which makes it at the very least noteworthy that Fourteen's clubs are forged in China. There are several possible reasons why Fourteen goes this route. One is cost. The TC 340 requires a seven-step forging process and it's possible contracting with a third party like Endo (which has forged for Fourteen previously) was cost prohibitive for this limited run. The other is that Fourteen's genesis is as a club design OEM, not a forging house; thus it doesn't push the "Forged in Japan" narrative because it neither applies to nor defines the brand.

THE DEETS:

The trend in North America and Europe is to pack irons chock full of game improvement features and attempt to conceal them while retaining playerish aesthetics (thinner toplines, less offset and a more compact overall footprint). The TC 340 is the antithesis to this evolving norm of iron design.

The TC 340 is thick with plenty of offset and an undercut cavity which is visible at address – though it's less noticeable in the short irons, where a higher CG location allows for a more traditional (albeit relatively larger) shape. The longer irons (5-7) feature a shorter blade height and excessively wide soles, which provide hybrid-esque launch and forgiveness, particularly out of the rough. The net result is a tremendously forgiving iron, with two trajectory options – high and higher.

Generally, the practice with SGI irons is to accept a less pleasing hollow and metallic feel as the opportunity cost for maximum forgiveness. Because the TC 340 are one-piece forged, centered strikes feel acceptably solid though it is at least several steps removed from the density of a CB/MB forged iron. It would be easy to pick on the S35C carbon steel (which is marginally harder than S25C) though consumers are coming to understand the role each component (shaft, shaft flex, grip, ball preference, acoustic engineering) plays in determining how a club feels.

Regardless of where a design such as the TC 340 is forged, a 7-step process is going to be quite a bit more expensive than casting and given the advancements in precision casting (particularly in the last 15 years), it reasonable to question why Fourteen didn't go that route.

In speaking with Kamoda, he agreed that casting would have kept costs down. However, Japanese consumers expect to pay a premium for forged irons, and the western concept of lower prices driving demand doesn't play out the same way in the Japanese golf market. In a material sense, Kamoda also stated that the forging process allowed for a finished product with more consistent CG locations throughout the entire production run and an aesthetic which better matched the original CAD designs.

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Specs, Pricing, and Availability

Whether or not the TC 340 reaches North American distribution channels remains to be seen. For now, it is available RH only (5-Gap) though with a 22° 5 iron and 46° P/A wedge. Effectively, it's a 4-PW set.  Nippon is the preferred shaft partner, with the both the Zelos 6 ($220/club) and NS 950 ($200/club) available as stock options.

The likely target is an already loyal Fourteen consumer who has lost some swing speed but still wants to bag forged irons (or at least say they do) with maximum forgiveness and launch.

Is the TC 340 an option you'd like to see in North America or do other OEMs already have this segment fully covered?

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How to Write a Book Description That Will Captivate Readers (And Sell Books!)

What is the first thing you check on a book (after the cover art)? I would bet, whether you’re at the library, at a bookstore, or shopping online, it’s the book description. What does that mean for you as a writer? You need to know how to write a book description, preferably a great one.

Nothing sells a book like a well-written description.

I recently picked up a nonfiction book, which I don’t read many of, and almost put it right back down. But the description intrigued me. It got me to read the first couple pages, standing right there in the store. Then it got me to buy the book.

A book description is one of the most crucial elements to selling your book (if not the crucial element), and yet it’s often the hardest thing for writers to come up with.

As the creator of the story, authors don’t want to leave anything out. There’s a tendency to want to put every little element in the book in there. After all, you wouldn’t have written all those subplots if they weren’t important, right?

The thing is, the description isn’t a summary or a book report. It’s an ad.

Say it with me: The book description is an ad!

Start thinking of the description as a marketing tool now. And read on for a few other tips on how to write a book description.

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Your book description isn’t a summary of your book — it’s an ad meant to hook your readers and sell your book.

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How to Write a Book Description for Any Book

You should heed the following five tips regardless of whether you’ve written a nonfiction or fiction book.

1. Keep it short.

Somewhere between 150 and 250 words and no more than three paragraphs. You don’t want to bore people into putting the book down and the fewer words, the less likely you are to put in unnecessary plot points.

2. Write in third person.

It doesn’t matter if the book is written in first person. This isn’t the book itself, it’s an ad.

3. Don’t overdo the language.

You want simple, straightforward terms. No purple prose or verbose writing.

4. Write a hook.

Just like your book needs a hook at the beginning, so does your book description. No one’s going to keep reading the description, let alone the whole book, if the first line is as boring as dry toast. Plus, this is often the only thing an online shopper will see before they’re prompted to click to see more, and you want them to click.

5. Use keywords.

Emotional words, like chilling or passion, work well for both nonfiction and fiction book descriptions. You can Google power words to find some good ones. Don’t overdo it, though!

You’ll also want to consider what people might be Googling that would lead them to your book. This is especially true for nonfiction works.

How to Write a Book Description for Nonfiction

Nonfiction books have slightly different descriptions that fiction books. They often include bullet points to outline the book’s goals and procedures and they talk more about the author than the book itself. Here are some additional tips for how to write a book description for a nonfiction book:

1. Make it relevant.

Clarify why the reader should choose this book over others, what they’re going to get from the book, and how the book will give it to them.

2. Add your expertise.

Why are you the one to help the reader instead of the next person? Why should they take a journey through your memoir instead of someone else?

How to Write a Book Description for Fiction

Fiction descriptions are what we’re most familiar with. They’re catchy and leave you wondering what happens at the end. Think of them as your book’s movie trailer. Here are some additional things to think about when writing a fiction book description:

1. Be clear about the genre.

There should be no confusion on the reader’s part as to what they’re about to buy. Also, keep the information to the main genre. In other words, if you’re writing a psychological thriller, don’t concentrate on the romantic subplot.

2. Hint at the climax, don’t reveal it.

Again, a book description is not a synopsis for an agent. This is a marketing tool to get people to read the book. No one will read it if they already know the end.

You won’t get it right the first time

Just like anything else, writing a book description takes study and practice.

Pick out a few of your favorite books from your shelf. Read their descriptions. What makes them intriguing? When you’re reading descriptions in the store or online, be aware of what hooks you and what doesn’t and why.

Write one description for your book. Then write another. Then write a third. All for the same book.

Show all three to family, peers, people on the street if you want. Get feedback. Which description do they prefer? Would they read it based on what the description says? If not, why?

It’s important to hear what others think. You’re trying to sell the thing! (To strangers, no less.) Pay attention to feedback and rework as needed.

Keep at it. You’ll land the perfect book description eventually.

Look on your bookshelf. Which book has the best book description? What makes it so great? Let me know in the comments!

PRACTICE

For your fifteen-minute practice today, you have two choices: Either write a description of your own book or write a description of your favorite book.

Remember you won’t get it right the first time. This is practice and a time for feedback.

When you’re done, share your book description in the comments. Don’t forget to give feedback!

The post How to Write a Book Description That Will Captivate Readers (And Sell Books!) appeared first on The Write Practice.

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How To Write A Thriller Novel

Ever wondered how to write a thriller novel? The name pretty much says it all, right? The defining characteristic of a thriller is that it thrills. It grabs a reader by the throat, propels him along, and doesn’t let go until the story ends. And sometimes, not even then.

A thriller is not just a rollercoaster ride, but like a whole day at a theme park with head-of-the-line privileges. Ride after wild ride with maybe just enough down time to eat a corndog and take a bathroom break. The necessary ingredients for a thriller include conflict, tension, and suspense, all tied up in a nice, twisty package.

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A thriller isn’t just a rollercoaster ride. It’s a whole day at a theme park with head-of-the-line privileges, a riveting story full of conflict, tension, and suspense.

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So how does a writer deliver the goods?

Like any other genre, it comes down to meeting reader expectations. When a reader cracks open a thriller, she craves a certain type of experience, and the best way for a writer to create that experience is to give her what she’s expecting — but in a way she didn’t see coming. Tricky, right?

Before you dive into writing a thriller, you should understand reader expectations, and no one has the conventions and obligatory scenes of a thriller more dialed down than Shawn Coyne. In his book The Story Grid, Shawn lays out what you need to know, and I highly recommend reading the book before you get started.

I discovered The Story Grid just as I began writing my last thriller, and it was a game changer for me, making the whole process easier and the end product solid.

How to Write a Thriller Novel: 7 Critical Elements

Shawn will give you the details, but I’ve put together a list of seven critical elements you need to think about, and include, when writing a thriller. Here they are:

1. A devastating crime

Thrillers involve a crime, and the bulk of the novel usually consists of hair-raising, nail-biting attempts to stop that crime from happening.

If the action kicks off with a crime, that early crime is just a sample of what’s to come. If there’s not a crime at the start of the book, there has to be a credible threat of a crime. The story centers on the hero’s efforts to prevent a catastrophic crime from occurring.

2. Life, liberty, and justice

These are the values at stake in a thriller. Readers identify with the hero. They want to share with him the experience of being on the edge, nearly losing life or liberty, and pulling back from the gaping jaws just as they snap shut. They want to run down the villain and see him get what’s coming to him.

Put anything less than life, liberty, and justice on the line and your reader will walk away disappointed.

3. Reveal the stakes

Life, liberty, and justice are the intangibles at stake. There also has to be something fairly concrete — the formula for a bioweapon that will allow the villain to take over the planet, a time machine programmed to bring Hitler into the modern world — whatever your story demands. If you’ve ever heard anyone refer to the MacGuffin, this is what they meant.

You have to make the villain’s objective clear, as well as the dire consequences of his success, so that readers can actively participate in the story by keeping score and placing bets.

4. Balance of power

Both the hero and the villain must be formidable, brilliant, powerful, or somehow awe-inspiring. But also complex, real, and multi-dimensional. Though they might appear well-matched, the balance of power must be drastically tipped in favor of the villain.

The hero has an obvious flaw that holds him back. The villain is flawed, too, but his flaw might come across as an advantage until the climactic scene. If you can swing it so that his flaw plays a part in his ultimate demise, you’ve hit a story bullseye.

And if your book doesn’t start with these two pitted against each other in intimate conflict, you must arrange things so that by the end, it’s personal.

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Your thriller’s villain is as important as your hero. What makes him so indomitably powerful? And what flaw will lead to his demise?

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5. Clues and red herrings

Here’s where you have some overlap into the realm of mystery conventions. Your characters must follow a trail of clues and false leads, going through a series of try/fail cycles.

The situation grows more hopeless and perilous with each cycle, until the final breakthrough which leads to a definitive victory for one side and defeat for the other.

6. Climactic scene

You must have that ultimate, climactic Hero at the Mercy of the Villain scene, where it appears impossible that your protagonist will come out on top. Against all odds, your hero must somehow outsmart or overpower the bad guy, ideally using the villain’s own flaw against him.

This is the highest rise and drop on your reader rollercoaster. It’s where you put the tightest loops and the greatest G-force curves. It’s a critical scene, and tough to innovate with something that hasn’t been done before, so put a lot of your writing eggs in this basket.

It’s worth the time and effort.

7. False ending

You know that moment in a horror flick when the monster is finally defeated and the hero turns away from the twisted, horrific sight of the dead creature to fan herself, catch her breath, and give the audience a good view of the monster rising up behind her? That same idea is a convention of the thriller genre. You lull your reader into thinking it’s over, but the fat lady hasn’t actually busted it out yet.

You, as writer, have to hold one more ace up your sleeve. You can do this by misdirecting your reader’s attention like Thomas Harris did in The Silence of the Lambs when he sent the FBI to crash down Buffalo Bill’s door, miles away from where Clarice was about to encounter the villain, in the flesh.

Or find another ingenious way, but don’t overlook this convention.

Two Foundational Scenes

The two scenes you must absolutely nail are the climactic scene mentioned above, and the opening scene of your novel. These are so critical that I would suggest writing the climax before you write anything else, so that you can shape and direct everything you write toward that scene.

When you write a solid climax to your story, it becomes a guide, answering so many questions that you, as writer, need to address. It can shed light on the character flaws of both your villain and hero. It can suggest the underlying theme of your book and help you infuse deeper meaning into the story. It can help you know what you need to set up in the earlier parts of the novel.

Next, write the opening, but don’t get hung up here. This scene is crucial, and the weight of it can cripple you right out the gate. Don’t let that happen. Just write the scene, and move on.

Later, when you have a better handle on the tone and direction of the story, you can return with laser focus and perfect this scene.

Ingredients of an Opening

The three things to remember are to start with a character, in a setting, with a problem. And make the reader care about what happens next. I grabbed some books off my shelf for a few examples:

It’s midnight now. The house is dark. I am not sure how this will turn out. The kids are all desperately sick, throwing up. I can hear my son and daughter retching in separate bathrooms. I went in to check on them a few minutes ago, to see what was coming up. I’m worried about the baby, but I had to make her sick, too. It was her only hope.

Prey by Michael Crichton

Riley stood naked on the dressing room floor. She fingered the smooth black silkiness of the gown she would wear to cover herself on stage, knowing the very essence of herself would remain exposed, uncoverable by any length of silk. It was what she always felt before a performance, and the knowledge exhilarated and terrified her.

Nocturne In Ashes by Joslyn Chase

I was in a deep sleep, alone aboard my houseboat, alone in the half acre of bed, alone in a sweaty dream of chase, fear, and monstrous predators. A shot rang off steel bars. Another. I came bursting up out of sleep to hear the secretive sound of the little bell which rings at my bedside when anyone steps aboard The Busted Flush. It was almost four in the morning.

The Dreadful Lemon Sky by John D. MacDonald

Did you notice how I slid my own book in there? Hey, if I don’t put myself side by side with the likes of Crichton and MacDonald, who will?

Again, it’s important to ground your reader deep in the character POV with specific, sensory detail filtered through the character’s opinions and emotions. Once you’ve grasped the reader and given her a reason to care, rev up the action and shatter her world.

A Few Last Words

I’ve given you the most essential elements in the tips above. Here are a few more things to keep in mind as you write your thriller:

• Remember, as the writer, you are the god of this world and you are unstuck in time. Move around at will, write in whatever order you wish, make the pieces dance on your command.
• Don’t forget the power of a ticking clock to heighten tension and keep the story tight.
• Think cinematic. Picture the story, as you write, like a movie with an unlimited budget. Make it big and exciting in your mind, and translate that excitement to the page.
• If you start with a prologue, keep it short and compelling. A teaser, not an info dump. Switch to your main character as soon as possible, because readers want to form a bond quickly, and if you withhold your protagonist for long, they won’t like it.
• Put tension on every page, and make sure every scene turns — that is, ensure that a character does something or reveals new information that changes the dynamic or direction of the story.

Obviously, everything you need to know about how to write a good thriller cannot be contained in one short article. Here are a couple good resources to check out:

The Story Grid, book and podcast, Shawn Coyne, joined by Tim Grahl on the podcast

The Editor Roundtable podcast, hosted by a group of editors analyzing popular books and movies in terms of Story Grid elements.

How To Write A Damn Good Thriller, James N. Frey

Satisfied readers is the goal, and meeting reader expectations is how you get there. Work hard to honor your readers by giving them what they crave, and they will reward you by coming back for more.

Are you a seasoned thriller reader? What do you hanker for when you open up a thriller? Do you have any other tips for how to write a thriller novel? Let us know in the comments.

PRACTICE

Write the climactic scene for the thriller you’re working on or thinking about writing. Make sure the balance of power is tipped in the villain’s favor, as the scene begins. Find a way to turn that around and bring your hero out on top. This is not easy, but have fun playing with it, and try different versions.

Write for fifteen minutes. When you’re finished, post your practice in the comments section, and be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

The post How To Write A Thriller Novel appeared first on The Write Practice.

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THE BEST GOLF GPS OF 2018

Top 10 most delicious cakes in Europe – and how to burn off those calories!

Afternoon Tea – photo VisitEngland Visit Stoke on Trent

With summer fast approaching, it’s time to make travel plans. And for those of us who love dessert, and think that food and a culture go hand in hand – why not plan a vacation around food? Specifically, where to enjoy the best cakes in Europe. Holidu, a leading global searching engine for vacation rentals, provides information about and where to find the most iconic delicacies and also recommends fun ways to burn off the calories consumed in each cake’s birthplace. Who knew being a tourist could be the best way to exercise?

The Best Cakes in Europe; guilt-free!

Berlin ©Dreikaesehoch

Austria – Vienna: Sachertorte

Sachertorte in Vienna – photo ©Holidu

Our gateau-inspired travels start in Austria, where chocolate-lovers can be inspired by the famous Sachertorte. This cake, made of chocolate dough and apricot jam, was invented by the young Franz Sacher while he was still a baking apprentice. He had to create a perfect dessert for Austria’s Prince Metternich. Nowadays, you can try this special treat in the luxury Sacher Hotel – or, if you’re feeling ambitious, bake it yourself. I think with is without doubt, one of the very best cakes in Europe!

The Belvedere, Vienna – photo ©Holidu

To burn off the 337-kcal gained from a piece of Sachertorte, you would have to walk for 96 minutes, which you can do exploring Vienna’s beautiful Belvedere Gardens. Make it romantic by doing the stroll with your significant other and pausing in front of in front of “The Kiss“, a vibrant painting by Gustav Klimt, found inside the Belvedere Museum.

France- Paris: Tarte au Citron Meringue

Tarte au Citron – photo ©Holidu

Considered the favourite and most-sold dessert in France, countries across the world still fight about the tarte au citron’s origin. Many French people claim that it comes from Menton, the city of lemons, where the art of making tarte au citron has been perfected. The precise balance between the sourness of the lemon curd and the sweetness of the meringue has made this cake a favourite of many since back in the 19^th century. What could be more French than a picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens with a fresh cake from a nearby patisserie?

Montmartre in Paris – photo ©Holidu

To burn off the tarte au citron’s 284 kcal, you will need to do approximately 81 minutes of walking, perhaps along the Seine all the way to the top of Montmartre. But let’s be honest – the best way to burn off the calories is by climbing all 600 steps of the Eiffel Tower.

Portugal – Lisbon: Toucinho do Céu

Toucinho do Céu – photo ©Holidu

Toucinho do Céu is one of the most traditional desserts in Portugal. Hailing from the Convent of Odivelas in Lisbon, this pastry comprises egg yolks, sugar, ground almonds and spaghetti squash-based jam. The name Toucinho do Céu is due to the fact that the original version included lard as an ingredient. It is baked all over the country, with some regional variations, but the most “traditional” version can be tasted in the Pastelaria Faruque, where it was first created, right in front of the convent of Odivelas.

Alfama – photo ©Holidu

To burn the off the 316-kcal gained from some Toucinho de Ceu, consider a lovely 90-minute walk through the steep and colourful streets of the Alfama neighbourhood in Lisbon.

Switzerland – Zurich: Bündner Nusstorte

Bundner Nusstorte – photo ©Holidu

The Bündner Nusstorte is a traditional Swiss cake and is essentially a caramelised walnut-filled pastry. It comes from canton Grübunden in the southeast Switzerland. The enjoyable Swiss  Bündner Nusstorte was invented by a baker named Fausto Pult in 1926. Because the pastry is filled with whole nuts, and not mixed, like most traditional cakes, you’ll find that this cake will be a nice twist to your usual nut-based cake, particularly if you’re really a nut fan.

Zurich – photo ©Holidu

To make up for the 483 kcal of this caramelised dream, take a 138-minute walk or go hiking in Uetliberg, a beautiful mountain, near city centre. With is 870-metre height, travellers can enjoy the best panoramic view of Zurich.

United Kingdom – London: Victoria Sponge

Victoria sponge – photo ©Holidu

This fluffy cake is named after Queen Victoria, who loved to eat a piece of it with her afternoon tea. A traditional Victoria Sponge is usually served with raspberry jam and double whipped cream. It’s not too difficult to create this delightful dessert for your own high tea; this cake consists of basic ingredients; sugar, flour and butter. Presentation and ambience really add to the cake’s glamour, all of which can be experienced in the Park Room at Grosvenor House in the heart of London. Of course, it’s not just one of the best cakes in Europe, but one of my absolute favourites, especially with fresh strawberries.

Royal Observatory Greenwich London

To burn off the Victoria Sponge’s 400 kcal, visit the famous Royal Observatory in Greenwich; from there, follow the prime meridian for about an hour. Enjoy this beautiful “green city” on the exact points where conventional time was born!

Italy – Rome: Torta Caprese

Torta Caprese – photo ©Holidu

Italians are true chocolate and cake-lovers; when combining the two, you get the amazing Caprese cake, named after its birthplace, the island of Capri. There are different stories about its origins and according to the most famous one, three gangsters, sent from Al Capone himself, went to Carmine Di Fiore’s bakery in Capri and asked for a chocolate cake. Because of the rush to finish, and to avoid irking the gangsters, Carmine forgot the flour – one of history’s most fortunate mistakes. The result – this flourless cake – is dense and delicious, and perfect if you’re preparing sweets for anyone with gluten sensitivities.

Rome – photo ©Holidu

To shed the 418-kcal gained from eating Torta Caprese, you can go to the Vatican Museum and walk the 7km length of the rooms, while admiring some of the most beautiful paintings in the world.

Sweden, Stockholm – Prinsesstårta

Prinsesstårta – photo ©Thelins via Instagram thelinskonditori

This Swedish cake was originally called “green cake” due to its colour. But the inventor Jenny Åkerström, who was a teacher in Sweden, tutored some royal students who loved the green cake so much that it was renamed as “Prinsesstårta” (Princess Cake). The last week in September is dedicated to this green delicacy, making it the perfect moment to try creating a green-hued princess cake of your own.

Stockholm – photo ©Holidu

The best way to burn the 290 kcal from Prinsesstårta is to do an 83-minute city stroll. Walk along “Montelius street” (Monteliusvägen) to enjoy a nice view over Stockholm and around Djurgården to relax in a more natural setting.

Spain – Madrid: Tarta de Santiago

Tarta de Santiago – photo ©Holidu

The Tarta de Santaigo is a Galician cake which became famous all throughout Spain and then the world because of the Camino de Santiago (the way of Saint James pilgrimage). The cake is an icon in Santiago de Compostela, the Galician capital, and is most frequently consumed in the summer as part of the July celebrations honouring the Biblical apostle, St. James. Now, however, you can find the cake in almost every café and bakery all over the country, all year round.

Madrid – photo ©Holidu

You can more than compensate for the 337-kcal earned by the Tarta de Santiago walking for about 108 minutes. Why not push yourself and do the pilgrimage route, starting from Madrid and culminating at Santiago de Compostela? That way, you’ll definitely deserve an entire cake!

Germany – Berlin: Käsekuchen

Käsekuchen – photo ©Dreikaesehoch

The oldest cheesecake recipe in the world comes from Greece, but the Germans have been doing their own version of it since the 16^th century. Since then, there have been a wide variety of flavours all over Germany: sometimes with a yeast-dough bottom, sometimes with raisins in curd cheese, sometimes with cream. This is your opportunity to get a little bit creative with the recipe. To get an impression of the many different ways to enjoy cheesecake, try Cafe Dreikäsehoch in Berlin, which offers more than 40 different variations.

The Victory Column – photo ©Holidu

You need to walk for 44 minutes to burn off the 152-kcal gained from your Käsekuchen. To do this, you may consider taking the 300 steps up to Siegessäule (Victory Column), while also enjoying an incredible view.

Poland – Warsaw: Napoleonka (or Papal Cream Cake)

Napoleonica – photo ©Holidu

The Napoleonka is a Polish cream pie comprising two layers of puff pastry filled with whipped cream. It can be decorated with powdered sugar or icing on the top. This cake is so delectable that even Popes love it! In 1999, Pope John Paul II said that to celebrate finishing an exam, he and his friends made a bet about who could eat the most Napoleonkas. He managed to put away 18 cakes and still didn’t win the bet! It was renamed Papal Cream Cake or kremówka papieska in his honour.

Palace of Culture and Science – photo ©Holidu

To burn off the 429 kcal of the Napoleonka (from one slice – not 18), walk for about 123 minutes, or climb the stairs of the 42-floor Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw.

Polish cakes – photo ©Sweet Home

 

“Travel and food – they belong together. The heart and soul of a place often lie in its unique dishes. Cakes, in particular, have always been served during special occasions, and so they tell stories about the history of a place. They reflect the culture of a region in a very special way,” says Sarah Sullivan, spokeswoman for Holidu. “Those who travel want to discover and experience something new. Holiday lettings offer a lot of flexibility to let you try out as many things as possible and to experience a city with all your senses – taste included. You can also get the ingredients and bring that sense of wonder back home with you, to remind you of the restaurants, cafés and markets at which you ate.” 

About Europe’s Best Cakes study

Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher – photo ©Cafe Sacher

The cities chosen in this ranking are among the most important metropolises in Europe. The calories per cake refer to a portion of 100 grams and have been calculated using MyFitnessPal application, as well as the time to burn calories, calculated by considering a person with an average weight of 70 kg.

This article on Best Cakes in Europe is written in collaboration with Holidu.  For more information about Holidu, visit www.holidu.co.uk  For additional statistics, graphs, and figures, write to sarah.sullivan@holidu.com

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