PNWA Conference Highlights!

Last Saturday I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Bill Kenower, and moderating his session at the PNWA Writers' Conference... The Three Narrative Arcs to Every Story. 

As writers we’ve all heard of the three arcs within every story. But each time this discussion arises, the arcs are described in a little different manner from the last. Today was no different, and Bill Kenower shared his version of the three arcs.

3.   Physical Arc: Boy meets girl /Boy loses girl/ Boy wins girl back.

2.     Emotional Arc: Girl feels inadequate / Girl feels ashamed / Girl accepts herself

1.     Intentional Arc: Love / Thy / Self

LOVE / THY / SELF 

The intentional arc is all about 

what's guiding the choices your character makes. 

Motivation is the Intentional arc

Every character in our book must have motivation for the decisions they make. People want things— that’s why they do something—and every character must have a want. But this also applies to the author, and why we write our stories—The motivation behind them.

Ahh... motivation. I’m motivated every time I visit a writers’ conference because conferences educate and inspire, and we get to hear success stories. Stories from authors who’d been writing for many years - 5, 10, 17 - before they sold their first book. We learn that they ultimately find their success because of hard work, determination, and perseverance. But more than that I learned that success comes from finding your motivation—the story you need to tell.

The successful authors are characters in their stories called life, and they have a reason for writing. Not until they found their motivation behind their words, other than becoming rich and famous, was their story worthy of publication. When you have motivation... your reason for writing... your passion will explode off the pages.

Ask yourself this question… “Why am I writing this story?”

After Bill’s session, I asked myself that question. What fueled the passion behind my writing?—Aviation Safety. How much power is that?

My awareness of what is happening in the aviation industry, from behind the scenes, and the necessity of change for safety, inspired my novel Flight For Control.  I believe with the power in pen and the truth in fiction we can change the world. Why are you writing your story?

Thank you Bill for a great session!

Bill Kenower is the Editor-in Chief of Author Magazine. He writes, edits, creates web layout, etc.—there is not much he doesn’t do. He also conducts audio and video Interviews with award winning authors—a must see on Author Magazine. He is also the author of the novel One Year in Jeopardy.

Join the PNWA and sign up for Author Magazine—you will be amply rewarded. Bill is also an avid blogger with the motivation to inspire, support, and promote writers like us. Please visit Bill Kenower’s blog by clicking HERE.  Tell him the critique sisters sent you.

Enjoy the Journey!

~ Karlene