Make Things Happen

Why your story might require a bit more action

As writers we're sometimes so busy working on character building, setting, tone, dialogue, internal dialogue, humour, descriptive language… that we forget to include scenes where interesting things (plot/action/story) actually happen. Whatever the genre, all stories and novels benefit from more action. Even a story that seems to be entirely about feelings and thoughts still needs plenty of things to happen for a reader to stay interested.

When I say action, I'm not necessarily thinking of a car chase or a hold-up, an explosion or a fist-fight - although any of those things is guaranteed to liven up your story - but anything interesting that gets us out of a character's head, or out of a scene that may be going on for far too long.

One of my favourite books, Less, by Andrew Sean Greer, is a story of a man, Arthur Less, who's trying to avoid going to the wedding of his ex-partner for whom he still has feelings. There are lots of emotions at play in this book: sadness, loss, jealousy, confusion and love. But what it also is, is a very funny series of escapades as Arthur travels around the world, getting into scrapes. It's a much more interesting story than it would have been had Arthur stayed at home and thought about his ex-partner and wondered what he should do about his feelings. Greer opts for action and it works brilliantly. I couldn't put this book down. What on earth would Arthur do next?

Having something happen, whether your character does something or reacts to something, creates tension or drama, amuses and surprises a reader, and moves things thrillingly towards the denouement.

For example, if your characters are in a restaurant arguing, why not have someone run into the restaurant and take a customer hostage? Too much? Have someone at the next table accidentally set fire to a menu or barge into the kitchen demanding to see the chef. Give your arguing characters something else to react to. Do they put out the fire? Do they defend the chef? Do they rescue the hostage? Are they still continuing their argument whilst they're doing these other things?

Surprise your reader and yourself by having something unusual happen. Whatever happens still has to make sense for your story and characters, but take the time to think of something original. What would be really surprising ? What would make your reader draw a breath and think: 'Wow, I was not expecting that!' What would be fun for you to write?