What structure holds this together? (Keeping the reader’s attention scene by scene)

2. Who narrates your novel?
If it is a first person narration:
• At what point in their life are they telling this story?
• Does the story consistently stay within the narrator's perspective, revealing only what they experience? If it slips away, what
can you do to bring it back?
• Are there scenes, or even descriptions within scenes, where the narrator’s perspective is not consistent with the character
descriptions you wrote in Lesson 2?
If it’s third person narration:
• Does the narrator have an intentional presence and voice in the storytelling, distinct from the characters, and if so, why?
• Is the narrator omniscient, limited, multiple limited, or something else? Are there any places where that voice is
inconsistent? What can you do to change those?
If there is a single POV (first or third person):
• Is there anywhere that the narration strays from the character's perspective? Do we see things that they cannot know or see?
Does the narrator use words that the person would not use in their normal life? If so, what can you do to change those?
If you have multiple POVs:
• Make a list of each character whose POV appears in the novel. Are all of the POVs major characters (protagonists and/or
antagonists)? Does each protagonist have their own arc of plot, with a conflict and resolution?
• If there are scenes that follow the POVs of secondary characters or strangers, can you cut them, or revise to rewrite from a
major character’s POV?
• Are there any characters whose POV doesn’t start until the second half of the book? If so, can you modify to bring their
perspective to the reader sooner, or cut their POV completely and show those scenes through someone else’s eyes?

3. "When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of
excess fat. This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a
little like murdering children, but it must be done."
– Stephen King

6.  Chapter 1: Stan stands outside in the rain, waiting for Frank to finish meeting
with Zhou. He tries to read, but mostly thinks about his dead pet monkey. Frank
comes out and tells him they have a new mission.
Chapter 2: Stan and Frank go to the bar, where Frank tells Stan about the
mission—to track down and capture Chiora, a Company employee who stole
from Zhou and may be developing new mining equipment. Frank describes
Chiora’s army of Mai-Mai devil worshippers. Stan reacts with suspicion, but
because of his recent behavior problems, Frank says he has been promoted to
Commanding Officer and is in charge. Stan leaves Frank in the bar and goes to
see the bartender, Yingchun, with whom he has a secret romantic relationship.
Chapter 3: Stan and Frank set out on motorbikes through the jungle. Stan’s bike
tires need constant repair. They find a starving woman, and Stan tries to give her
food. Frank objects, they argue, and the woman disappears.
Chapter 4: Days pass. At a river crossing Stan loses his temper and kills a military
guard. He again questions the details of their mission. Frank tells him not to
think too hard about it.
Chapter 5: The jungle gets thicker and harder to traverse. Stan and Frank camp,
and Stan wakes up with a black snake on his chest. The snake bites him before
Frank kills it. Stan slips in and out of consciousness for two days. When he wakes,
he announces he has a new desire to live. They set out again; Frank says he is
worried that Zhou will not tolerate their delay and may want to kill them. They
interview locals who speak of Chiora with hope and respect. Stan gets malaria.

9.  The moment of crisis
 The reflection
 The flashback
 The outside-the-POV

12.  Someone sitting quietly at the end of the day, reflecting on
what happened, or worrying about what will happen next.
 Two or more people engaging in the same argument or
conversation more than once.
 A protagonist or narrator asking the same questions over and
over, or worrying about the same thing.
 A scene or even a recurring character that doesn’t directly
impact the plot.

14.  Historical
 Calendar
 Clock

16. Next Class: May 11, 2024
1:00pm – 4:00pm
bethjusino@gmail.com