Honors Class

The post Jane K. Cleland: Guest Author, Workshop Leader, Keynote Speaker appeared first on Jane Cleland.

We humans share the tendency of presenting a happy face to the world. If you think about it, this proclivity reflects another way of thinking about isolation. When we only let people see one side of us, we are, by definition, isolating ourselves. Yet, if telling the truth opens you up to ridicule or attack, […] The post #16 Isolation: The Many Roles We Play appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Imagine the haunting stories you could write based on these quotes about isolation and the loneliness it engenders. “A prisoner is a man buried alive.” (Charles Dickens, author, after visiting a Pennsylvania prison) “It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely.” (Albert Einstein, scientist) “The mass of men lead […] The post #15 Isolation: Find Inspiration in the Words of These Luminaries appeared first on Jane Cleland.

It’s hard to write about abstractions. It’s not like describing a bridge or a hat. Making the suffering real for readers is a key to writing success. Whether your characters have to endure physical isolation, social isolation, or some combination of the two, you need to select incidents that demonstrate the impact of their condition. […] The post #14 Isolation: Writing Emotional Truth appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Not all isolation can be segregated into neat categories, just as not all conflicts can be limited to one dimension. People often experience a combination of physical and social isolation. Immigrants, for instance, who are fearful of not fitting in, or who are undocumented, may physically isolate themselves, which results in social isolation. In the […] The post #13 Isolation: Combining Physical and Social Isolation appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Consider, for example, Sue Kaufman’s Diary of a Mad Housewife, which looks at the existential anxiety of a frustrated and bored suburban housewife. Or Laurie Halse Anderson’s middle grade novel, Speak, which focuses on a young teen’s severe depression following an acquaintance rape, and the ostracism that followed. With social isolation, your character often suffers […] The post #12 Isolation: Social Isolation, Part Three appeared first on Jane Cleland.

In addition to people who suffer from social anxiety—a difficulty with or an inability to interact with other people, social isolation is common among sociopaths—people who lack empathy. A notable pattern among serial killers, for instance, is that they were isolated from their peers when they were children. Some were fat kids, teased remorselessly. Others […] The post #11 Isolation: Social Isolation, Part Two appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Social psychologists report that we human creatures want to be part of a community. We associate with various groups, all sorts of groups, ranging from religious organizations to non-profit organizations, from hunting clubs to book clubs, and from neighborhood block parties to political parties. Human beings seem wired to socialize. And the research is clear—evidently […] The post #10 Isolation: Social Isolation, Part One appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Let’s consider a powerful example—Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, which is an example of literary nonfiction. The author, Jean Sassoon, describes a different kind of physical isolation—imprisonment. Sassoon writes about a padded, windowless room where there is no light, where you never see anyone, and where no one […] The post #9 Isolation: Physical Isolation, Part Two appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Physical isolation occurs when someone is prevented from interacting with other people. Sometimes this isolation results from an accident or misadventure. Other times, a person is forced into isolation, say if they’re placed in solitary confinement or kidnapped. A boy’s ability to cope with isolation is at the heart of both The Hatchet, Gary Paulsen’s […] The post #8 Isolation: Physical Isolation, Part One appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Isolation, by its nature, places the focus on one single person, and how that person copes or struggles with the condition can lead to riveting suspense. Some people are terrified. Others become enraged. Some rise to the occasion and escape or manage the stress well. Others freeze or panic. Some people have heart attacks and […] The post #7 Isolation: Isolation Is Individual appeared first on Jane Cleland.

It’s rare that isolation occurs in a vacuum. If you’re enmeshed in some kind of physical conflict, for example, you’re also likely to feel misunderstood (mental conflict), as if no one cares (emotional conflict), and that there’s no hope (spiritual conflict). These reactions, of course, align with MacDonald’s three tension-providing drivers, plus my addition, and […] The post #6 Isolation: Combining Dimensions of Conflict appeared first on Jane Cleland.

In this edition, I’ll review three examples that demonstrate the power of conflict-driven isolation and how it can ratchet up tension and reader appeal. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman tells the story of three people enduring lives marked by isolation, and how they find their way out by opening their hearts to one another. Jonathan Franklin’s 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea, an example of literary nonfiction, recounts the astonishing experience of a man who left Mexico on a two-day fishing trip and washed up on a small Pacific Island more than a year later, half crazed from the horrific experience—the exposure, the deprivation, and the isolation. Sue Halpern’s collection of essays, Migrations to Solitude, examines the dichotomy that people yearn for solitude yet dread loneliness, and how sometimes when they wrestle with this paradox, they end up isolated. The post #5 Isolation: Merging Conflict With Isolation—Examples appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Today we’re going to take a Deep Dive into how to use Jane’s Plotting Roadmap. I created this tool to help myself plot better and more efficiently. I hope it works for you as well as it does for me. The post Deep Dive #1: Jane’s Plotting Roadmap appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Physical conflict occurs when someone is in danger of bodily harm or death. For instance, a boy is lost in a jungle without the means to call for help or find his way out. Mental conflict (which also might be called intellectual conflict) occurs when someone’s views, opinions, or research is mocked or dismissed. For […] The post #4 The Four Dimensions of Conflict Defined appeared first on Jane Cleland.

I’m going to provide an overview of the four dimensions of conflict, the three John D. MacDonald named when explaining how he created suspense in his Travis McGee series—physical, mental, and spiritual— and the dimension I added, emotional. It’s worth highlighting the flexibility these four dimensions provide. For instance, in addition to using each of […] The post #3 The Four Dimensions of Conflict: An Overview appeared first on Jane Cleland.

An article in Slate, “Loneliness Is Deadly,” states that “Social isolation kills more people than obesity—and it’s just as stigmatized.” A New York Times essay, “How Social Isolation Is Killing Us,” made the point that “A great paradox of our hyperconnected digital age is that we seem to be drifting apart… Human connection lies at […] The post #2 Isolation: The Silent Killer appeared first on Jane Cleland.

One of the most reliable ways to ratchet up suspense is to place your characters in danger. When we think of danger, we normally think of physical threats, a guy brandishing a gun, for example, but isolation leads to a different kind of menace, more insidious and complex. Isolation is scary. We humans are social […] The post #1 Isolation: A Tool of Suspense appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Five types of unreliable narrators covering scores of reasons people are unreliable. Whichever specific character motivations you choose,  those motivations have to come from a genuine place, somewhere deep inside that person. Remember, all literature revolves around a singular longing, which is revealed through an overarching conflict. All literature has to begin with a conflict. […] The post #17 Unreliable Narrators: Five Categories Conclusion appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Five types of unreliable narrators covering scores of reasons people are unreliable. Whichever specific character motivations you choose,  those motivations have to come from a genuine place, somewhere deep inside that person. Remember, all literature revolves around a singular longing, which is revealed through an overarching conflict. All literature has to begin with a conflict. […] The post #17 Unreliable Narrators: Five Categories Conclusion appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Your narrator can appear to be human, but isn’t. She could be a ghost, the devil, or an extra-terrestrial being, for instance, simply appearing in human form. She could also be openly non-human, like a fairy. In creating otherworldly characters, you need to assign characteristics that include their perceptions and values. These attributes will color […] The post #16 Unreliable Narrators: Category 5: Paranormal appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Your narrator can appear to be human, but isn’t. She could be a ghost, the devil, or an extra-terrestrial being, for instance, simply appearing in human form. She could also be openly non-human, like a fairy. In creating otherworldly characters, you need to assign characteristics that include their perceptions and values. These attributes will color […] The post #16 Unreliable Narrators: Category 5: Paranormal appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A narrator who is an alcoholic on a bender or a drug addict who drifts in and out of lucidity is going to give a skewed account of what he sees and does. According to Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma, an accredited drug rehabilitation service, alcoholics and drug addicts most commonly present the following five behaviors: […] The post #15 Unreliable Narrators: Category 4: The Incapacitated appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A narrator who is an alcoholic on a bender or a drug addict who drifts in and out of lucidity is going to give a skewed account of what he sees and does. According to Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma, an accredited drug rehabilitation service, alcoholics and drug addicts most commonly present the following five behaviors: […] The post #15 Unreliable Narrators: Category 4: The Incapacitated appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Your narrator might be a schizophrenic who believes his hallucinations are real, a new mother suffering from post-partum depression, a veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or a teen going through a hormone-fueled meltdown. People who are emotionally taxed or mentally ill sometimes don’t know that their perceptions aren’t reliable, so neither will your readers […] The post #14 Unreliable Narrators: Category 3: The Emotionally Taxed or Mentally Ill appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Your narrator might be a schizophrenic who believes his hallucinations are real, a new mother suffering from post-partum depression, a veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or a teen going through a hormone-fueled meltdown. People who are emotionally taxed or mentally ill sometimes don’t know that their perceptions aren’t reliable, so neither will your readers […] The post #14 Unreliable Narrators: Category 3: The Emotionally Taxed or Mentally Ill appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Consider the guilty—people who feel guilty and people who are guilty. The narrator may be lying to save face, his marriage, his job, or otherwise protect and preserve whatever he has or thinks he has; or the narrator may be an actual criminal who doesn’t want to admit his past sins or is trying to […] The post #13 Unreliable Narrators: Category 2: The Guilty appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Consider the guilty—people who feel guilty and people who are guilty. The narrator may be lying to save face, his marriage, his job, or otherwise protect and preserve whatever he has or thinks he has; or the narrator may be an actual criminal who doesn’t want to admit his past sins or is trying to […] The post #13 Unreliable Narrators: Category 2: The Guilty appeared first on Jane Cleland.

An alien, by definition, refers to someone or something that’s different, that doesn’t belong, that’s strange. For example, a woman from a rural small town who decides to try out the big city is likely to feel like a fish out of water. A few years back there was a fun contest in New York […] The post #12 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Aliens appeared first on Jane Cleland.

An alien, by definition, refers to someone or something that’s different, that doesn’t belong, that’s strange. For example, a woman from a rural small town who decides to try out the big city is likely to feel like a fish out of water. A few years back there was a fun contest in New York […] The post #12 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Aliens appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Let’s explore more about the innocent, the unknowing, or the misunderstood, specifically, people with lower-than-average intelligence. Someone in this category might miss the meaning in nuanced repartee—reporting the words, not the intonation, for example—and describing solely what she sees, but not what those observations might imply. Lest you think intonation is a minor factor, try […] The post #11 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Developmentally Disabled Adults, cont. appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Let’s explore more about the innocent, the unknowing, or the misunderstood, specifically, people with lower-than-average intelligence. Someone in this category might miss the meaning in nuanced repartee—reporting the words, not the intonation, for example—and describing solely what she sees, but not what those observations might imply. Lest you think intonation is a minor factor, try […] The post #11 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Developmentally Disabled Adults, cont. appeared first on Jane Cleland.

The first broad category of unreliable narrator is the innocent, the unknowing, or the misunderstood. This category includes children, developmentally disabled adults, or anyone who comes from one culture and is plunked down in the middle of another culture. Some narrators are unreliable because they lack worldly knowledge. Perhaps they’re too young to understand the […] The post #10 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Children appeared first on Jane Cleland.

The first broad category of unreliable narrator is the innocent, the unknowing, or the misunderstood. This category includes children, developmentally disabled adults, or anyone who comes from one culture and is plunked down in the middle of another culture. Some narrators are unreliable because they lack worldly knowledge. Perhaps they’re too young to understand the […] The post #10 Unreliable Narrators: Category 1: The Innocent, the Unknowing, or the Misunderstood: Children appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Understanding how the unreliable narration in each of these categories works allows you to choose wisely, to develop the character properly, and to plot consistently. In future editions, we’ll delve into each of these reasons in more depth. I researched the meaning of “truth” for my book Mastering Plot Twists, and discovered there were at […] The post #9 Unreliable Narrators: Five Reasons Narrators Are Unreliable appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Understanding how the unreliable narration in each of these categories works allows you to choose wisely, to develop the character properly, and to plot consistently. In future editions, we’ll delve into each of these reasons in more depth. I researched the meaning of “truth” for my book Mastering Plot Twists, and discovered there were at […] The post #9 Unreliable Narrators: Five Reasons Narrators Are Unreliable appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A narrator’s unreliability must align with a character’s attributes, which means authors need to have a clear understanding of a character’s motivations. In Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, for instance, one narrator, Rachel, is unreliable because she’s viewing the world through a miasma of despair; another narrator, Anna, is unreliable because she’s prejudiced […] The post #8 Unreliable Narrators: Aligning Unreliability with a Character’s Attributes appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A narrator’s unreliability must align with a character’s attributes, which means authors need to have a clear understanding of a character’s motivations. In Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, for instance, one narrator, Rachel, is unreliable because she’s viewing the world through a miasma of despair; another narrator, Anna, is unreliable because she’s prejudiced […] The post #8 Unreliable Narrators: Aligning Unreliability with a Character’s Attributes appeared first on Jane Cleland.

As an example, consider Wendy Corsi Staub’s thriller, The Final Victim. In this book, the protagonist, Charlotte, describes her grandfather, Gilbert, as a rock, always available for her, a kind and generous man. Gilbert’s sister, Charlotte’s Great Aunt Jeanne, describes him as mean and self-centered. Two women interact with the same man, yet their perceptions […] The post #7 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Gaps about People Can Create Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

As an example, consider Wendy Corsi Staub’s thriller, The Final Victim. In this book, the protagonist, Charlotte, describes her grandfather, Gilbert, as a rock, always available for her, a kind and generous man. Gilbert’s sister, Charlotte’s Great Aunt Jeanne, describes him as mean and self-centered. Two women interact with the same man, yet their perceptions […] The post #7 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Gaps about People Can Create Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

I visited my friend Sandy at her new home in the middle of wine country in California. She took me out back to see the vineyards. The grape vines go dormant in the winter, but still, you’re going to die, she said, the valley is so gorgeous. Everywhere I looked, I saw brown and withered […] The post #6 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Influences Reality Example 1: Golden Hills appeared first on Jane Cleland.

I visited my friend Sandy at her new home in the middle of wine country in California. She took me out back to see the vineyards. The grape vines go dormant in the winter, but still, you’re going to die, she said, the valley is so gorgeous. Everywhere I looked, I saw brown and withered […] The post #6 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Influences Reality Example 1: Golden Hills appeared first on Jane Cleland.

When I was fifteen, my best friend was a girl named Nina Shaun. One day, Nina’s mom came up from the basement carrying a large bottle of red soda pop and explained that the label had washed off. She didn’t remember if it was cherry or strawberry, and she wondered if we’d do a taste […] The post #5 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Influences Reality Example 1: Soda Pop appeared first on Jane Cleland.

When I was fifteen, my best friend was a girl named Nina Shaun. One day, Nina’s mom came up from the basement carrying a large bottle of red soda pop and explained that the label had washed off. She didn’t remember if it was cherry or strawberry, and she wondered if we’d do a taste […] The post #5 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Influences Reality Example 1: Soda Pop appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Remembering something isn’t like rewinding a movie that lives in your head. Cognitive psychologists report that recall comes from recreating a memory, not replaying it. When recreating a memory, we gather up the bits and pieces of sensory threads and cognitive strings and knit them together into whole cloth, much like a beautiful tapestry. If […] The post #4 Unreliable Narrators: Memory & Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Remembering something isn’t like rewinding a movie that lives in your head. Cognitive psychologists report that recall comes from recreating a memory, not replaying it. When recreating a memory, we gather up the bits and pieces of sensory threads and cognitive strings and knit them together into whole cloth, much like a beautiful tapestry. If […] The post #4 Unreliable Narrators: Memory & Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A perception gap is the difference between what you recall and what actually happened. From a writer’s point of view, you’re on solid ground if you have a character struggle with remembering things. This gap is a foundation of unreliability. The Innocence Project, the non-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners through DNA […] The post #3 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Gaps as the Foundation of Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

A perception gap is the difference between what you recall and what actually happened. From a writer’s point of view, you’re on solid ground if you have a character struggle with remembering things. This gap is a foundation of unreliability. The Innocence Project, the non-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners through DNA […] The post #3 Unreliable Narrators: Perception Gaps as the Foundation of Unreliability appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Yes, the unreliable narrator is a powerful tool, but you need to be cautious. You can’t have someone suddenly shout, “But he’s a twin!” Nor can you have your protagonist wake from a dream, a drug-induced hallucination, or reveal he’s from another planet. The bottom line is that unreliable narrators  don’t excuse lazy writing. From […] The post # 2 Unreliable Narrators: Playing Fair with Your Readers appeared first on Jane Cleland.

Yes, the unreliable narrator is a powerful tool, but you need to be cautious. You can’t have someone suddenly shout, “But he’s a twin!” Nor can you have your protagonist wake from a dream, a drug-induced hallucination, or reveal he’s from another planet. The bottom line is that unreliable narrators  don’t excuse lazy writing. From […] The post # 2 Unreliable Narrators: Playing Fair with Your Readers appeared first on Jane Cleland.

The unreliable narrator has been a convention since Arabian Nights, maybe even longer than that. An “unreliable narrator” refers to a non-credible narrator, although readers may not know the narrator isn’t credible until the end of the story. Sometimes, though, the narrator is openly “unreliable” from the start. The Gathering, for instance, Ann Enright’s novel […] The post #1 Unreliable Narrators: Overview appeared first on Jane Cleland.