Engaging Literature: Transforming Readers into Investigators
In the realm of writing, September C. Fawkes stands out as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration. An award-winning writing tip blogger, freelance editor, and writing instructor, her blog has been honoured with the Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers Award and Query Letter's Top Writing Blog Award.
With over 500 writing tips at her disposal, Fawkes is a treasure trove of information for aspiring authors. Her blog is not just a repository of tips, but a guide that encourages readers to interpret, hypothesize, and engage with the content.
Fawkes's approach to storytelling is unique. She believes in suggesting connections between different aspects of a story to keep readers hooked. The mystery in a story, she says, should draw readers in and keep them turning the pages, inviting them to become active participants rather than passive spectators.
One of her articles, "The Mechanics of Rendering Mysteries," offers techniques on how to plant "clues" subtly, ensuring that the mystery remains intriguing without being too heavy-handed. Another article, "How to Write What's Not Written (Subtext)," provides tools to write subtext effectively, inviting readers to participate in the storytelling process.
Fawkes's work extends beyond her blog. She offers a free guide on Crafting Powerful Protagonists and a live online writing course, "The Triarchy Method," where she personally guides 10 students through developing their best books by focusing on the "bones" of story.
In her professional life, Fawkes has edited for award-winning and best-selling authors as well as beginning writers. Her work can be found on the RWC team page, and she can be connected with on various social media platforms.
The movie Interstellar provides an example of context shifts, a technique Fawkes often advocates. Context shifts introduce new information that changes the way we view things, allowing the realization to happen in the reader. This technique, when used effectively, can greatly enhance the mystery and suspense in a story.
Whether you're a seasoned author or a beginner, September C. Fawkes's work is a must-explore for anyone looking to improve their storytelling skills. To learn more about her, visit SeptemberCFawkes.com.
