3.8 Chatty chapters
Okay, I admit this is a little crazy. When I was writing my first book, I decided I wanted to make sure all the chapters resonated with each other, so…
I had Chapter 1 talk with each of the other 27 chapters.
Then I had Chapter 2 talk with the next 26 chapters.
Then Chapter 3 talked with 25 chapters.
This was an insane number of dialogues. Did it help? Not as much as I was hoping for.
Except the conversations one chapter had with all the others were super useful.
This was my “Fight” chapter. It was the hardest to write and took the longest. I got so frustrated, but it was in developing this chapter, not just writing it, but developing it, that I discovered what my book was really about.
Or I like to say it this way:
I discovered the beating heart of the book.
So then I just needed this one chapter to talk to all the others and I could feel them settle into a sweet sense of belonging together.
My recommendation? Don’t drive yourself crazy, but ask yourself if it would help you for a couple of your chapters to talk with each other. And if so then go ahead and let them play together.
As I’m writing this, I’m deep into working on my sixth book, Cursed by Our Blessings. I’ve made some decisions in conversation with my finale chapter.
For example, here’s what that chapter said to me about the first chapter…
Please don’t make that an introduction. Don’t do the orientation thing many authors do of telling what’s in each chapter. I think that’s boring, and it pushes the reader out of the book.
Besides lots of people skip the introduction because they think it’s mostly filler.
How about this instead? Just dive right in. Take readers into the pain we’re addressing, take them deep, immerse them.
That would be a match for me, because I’m deep into the pain. And I’m intense. I’m not doing a gift–wrapped ending, like some pretty–pretty inspirational passage about hope that makes light of everything that came before in all the other chapters.
And…
I love that thing writing teachers say about how the resolution should be surprising but inevitable.
So please foreshadow me in the opening chapter. By the time readers get to me I want them to feel that the first chapter and me, the last one, are best friends, in deep communion with each other.
I like these requests a lot and so I’m implementing them.
Then Final and I get into a back–and–forth conversation…
Rich: The ending section I’ve given you, is called “The Chemistry of Kindreds.” I’m not doing a grand, smashing finale. No big pep talk. I’m not firing up my readers before sending them on their way.
It’s more like I’m making a cozy nest. Do you think that’s okay?
Final: Of course it’s okay. It’s what’s in your heart. And it’s in keeping with the rest of the book. Remember, you’re not offering some kind of salvation here. You’re not fluffing your readers with big inflated fantasy hopes. You’re dealing in hard truths.
Rich: Okay, and then here’s something I keep going back on forth on.
In this final section about kindreds, I want to tell people they can sign up for a free hour of in–depth conversation with me.
Final: That’s not a standard thing authors do.
Rich: Yes, and I understand best–selling authors can’t afford to do this, but I have the time. It’s not like my work is so popular I’m overwhelmed with people wanting to talk with me.
Final: How much do you want to do this?
Rich: I really, really want to do it. I would love to do it.
Final: Would this just be a chance for you do do some more teaching, share more insights?
Rich: No, not at all. I’ve said my piece in the book. If someone’s read the whole thing and they consider themselves a kindred in some way, then I want to meet them. And I want to hear all about them. I have a dozen rich and juicy questions I want to ask.
And I think people might go through some good changes just in listening to themselves talk about themselves in a serious and deep way.
And what if a reader doesn’t have anyone in their life who they can talk to about these hard truths the book deals with? At least they can talk with me.
Final: That’s sweet. Any other problem with this strategy?
Rich: Yes. Given this culture we live in where everything seems to get turned into marketing one way or another, I don’t want to come across as salesy. I’d really hate that.
Final: Are you going to push anything on your readers in the last chapter or in those conversations?
Rich: No, I’m just offering what I see as a gift.
Final: Then I think you’re okay. I think people will feel your sincerity, and especially because it’s clear all the way through the book that you’re a sincere person.
Rich: Then it’s settled. I’m making this offer at the end of your chapter.
Final: I’m happy with that. I’d be proud to end that way.
