HermiG

I'm currently working on a fantasy novel where the main theme is the relationship between the main characters (brother+sister). My problem is that it seems to be covered up to much in random subplots, adventures and monsters. How can I make it more clear? At the moment, I'm trying to use flashbacks to explain what has happened (something the sister did causes a lot of problem for her brother) and the brother discovers more and more of what his sister did to him (something his thoughts tell). I'm afraid it gets very repetitive. It's like he's thinking all the time. Could there be anyway of showing it rather than telling how he feel about it?

I'm also struggling a bit with the length of the novel. I'm currently at 26k words and to keep going on I tend to make the brother come across a lot of adventures (like a strange city in the woods, he has to fight a sea monster, etc.). What can I do about that? Shall I write the most important scenes first and then add more to it if it's neccessary, or shall I keep writing like I already do? I know I worry too much about losing the story to these random scenes, because I'm quite fond of the plot, and it makes the writing process a lot harder.

It's probably quite difficult to answer my questions as you aren't able to read it, but try to look at it more as general questions. ^^

delilah_sighs

to help show how your character feels, without it getting too repetitive, is to allow your character to think up a conclusion, and after doing so, whatever that conclusion might be, to react to his sister as if it is right. for example, at night he stays up late thinking about what his sister has done. and he concludes that his sister is violent and aggressive possibly because she envies him. then the next morning, and maybe a few days later, have your character try to avoid his sister, respond to her with short answers, mumbling to himself, and eventually creating a wall between them that can even cause the sister to be confused. thus, the sister confronts him and either she reveals some fact that makes him realize she is not jealous of him or something to that affect. in order to intruige the reader, maybe make his thoughts become too absurd, and have him react in such a way that could bring them both to even more adventure, instead of them just falling into it. best of luck, hope i helped!

-delilah

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Erik Buchanan

Instead of using flashbacks, why not tell the story over time? That gives you more depth to the story, allows you to flesh out the characters and build the world in which they live.

It also gives you a better chance to show how the relationship between the sister and brother developed to become what you want it to be as the book progresses.

Hope that helps, if not, feel free to ignore.

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Vee

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Vee

You get that with [insert country]

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Mike C

I assume you adjust your writing to suit.

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ClancyBoy

You could cut down on the number of monsters and subplots.

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