Week 3, Day 16

Hello, Wrimos:

How are your peaks and valleys?

Writing a novel is like climbing a mountain.  The smooth terrain at the base of the mountain is the exposition.  This is where you set the location of your story.  A catalyst (or inciting event) kicks off the action of the story, and your character begins climbing the mountain.  The actual climb is the rising action.  The peak of the mountain is the climax of the story.  The descent down the mountain is the denouement or falling action.

So - how are your peaks and valleys?  The peaks are the mini upward movements toward the top of the mountain.  The valleys are the moments your character needs to catch his/her breath.  As your character climbs the mountain (figuratively, of course), there will be many peaks to climb and valleys to chill out.

The peaks provide the action of the story.  For instance, my character Pamela goes into a drug store with her friends and is pressured into stealing a small container of strawberry lip gloss.  This specific piece of rising action is a peak on the way to the top of the mountain (climax). 

But after this bit of rising action, there needs to be a valley.  Even just for a moment.  Imagine sprinting a race.  Before you can run another lap, you have to stop and catch your breath.  So does your character.  He/she needs to reflect on the action just experienced.  The valley consists of the character's thought processes. 

In my book, Pamela sits quietly in her bedroom, feeling tremendous remorse and fear.  She wonders "Why did I do it?"  During a valley, the writer has a chance to add some backstory.  Here's a great time for me to describe Pamela's bedroom.  Her choice of colors and fabrics will explain a lot about her, or perhaps the purchases her mother made against her will.  Maybe she has a picture of her family on her dresser.  Or an old friend.  Seeing the pictures makes her feel awful.  But being without friends at this new school makes Pamela feel even more awful.  The valley, therefore, must always result in a decision.  In my book, Pamela wipes her tears and decides to hide the theft so she can continue to hang out with these friends, even though she knows they are the wrong crowd. 

And then, we are off to the next peak - another shoplifting event, much more dangerous than the previous.  And so the rising action continues, one peak and valley at a time, until the protagonist reaches the climax of the story.

So, how are your peaks and valleys?  

TTFN