1 . ENTICING HOOK
What it's not: an idea, a theme, a character, a clever opening set-up, a setting.
My Definition: A story hook that has a story question implied or stated so audience knows both the set-up and when the story will be over. To do this you need to link characters to a story question. This is often given in a
“What if…” question. Hook can be a combination of any or all of these: character, conflict, setting, theme, premise, idea.
VIDEO CLIP: The Devil Wears Prada
 Hook -
 Story question -
 Story is over when…
2. COMPELLING CHARACTER
What it's not: a one dimensional, flawless person.
My Definition: A compelling character is one who is flawed, yet redeemable. A person the reader can identify with regardless of whether they would/wouldn’t make the same choices. It is the part beneath the wrapping— the part that makes him or her tick.
VIDEO CLIP: The Devil Wears Prada
 What we see on the surface?
 Layers Miranda, herself, shows us?
 Layers of Miranda we see via other characters?
 Why we care?
3. RIVETING UNPREDICTABLE PLOT
What it's not: a series of unrelated vignettes.
My Definition: A story with a riveting unpredictable plot is one that keeps the reader engaged while still seeming plausible to the characters/setting. It provides those moments where the reader thinks they know what is about to happen…but it doesn’t. At the same time, the twist needs to make sense to the characters, their environment and their conflict.
VIDEO CLIP: The Devil Wears Prada
 What is the internal conflict?
©Jenna Kernan & Laura Bradford, 2012, www.jennakernan.com & www.laurabradford.com

 How does the story change direction because of this twist?
4. GRIPPING INTERNAL CONFLICT
What it’s not: A series of angst-filled internal dialogue where the hero belabors their situation.
My Definition: Requires an engaging character whose flaw(s) or misconceptions are preventing her from being happy. She may think they are happy or be unaware this flaw/misconception is the reason they are not happy.
The story will attack those flaws/misconceptions in various scenes and reveal them. Once revealed, the hero is forced to confront her shortcoming and will first try various tactics to get what they want without changing.
Finally, facing failure, they will be forced to a choice—fail or change to achieve their happily-ever-after.
VIDEO CLIP: The Devil Wears Prada
 Flaw
 Choice between _________________________ or _____________________________
5. SATISFYING PAYOFF
What it's not: Two characters that stop fighting and decide to get married.
My Definition: The HEA must be deserved by both the hero & heroine by undergoing real growth because of what they learned on their journey. They must show that change by making different decisions at the end of the story than they did at the beginning. Their values must change. The result is the payoff where the hero and heroine earn some reward. In romance, typically this reward is the commitment of the other protagonist or the promise of a life together, but not always. The story question that you posed in the beginning must be answered and you must leave the protagonists in a better (if unexpected) position than when the reader found them.
VIDEO CLIP: The Devil Wears Prada
 What sacrifice was offered to earn the HEA?
 How is Andy different at the end of the movie?
 Reward -
 Story Question answered -
 Final Image/Scene –
6. ENGAGING AUTHOR VOICE
What it's not: an opportunity for the author to intrude on the lives of his/her characters.
My Definition: A personal style of writing that is uniquely your own and easily recognized by others.
LISTENING EXERCISE
...SEE NEXT PAGE FOR EXCERPT....
©Jenna Kernan & Laura Bradford, 2012, www.jennakernan.com & www.laurabradford.com

Author A
She didn't need to trade glances with her aunt to know what the woman was thinking. It was as palpable as the flames that danced in the hearth and the blanket of contentment they tucked around her heart.
Life was indeed, good. Great, even. And the man seated beside her on the floral couch was, without a doubt, a contributing factor in that assessment.
Author B
The thermostat told her it was twenty-two degrees out there, and she was only wearing sneakers, jeans and a tight white T-shirt with short sleeves. She gripped the wheel of the rental car and stared out at the night. The snow flew at her like a living thing, blasting against the windshield and exploding against the glass like drops of plasma.
:
Laura Bradford is the author of the new Amish Mysteries (Berkley
Prime Crime/Penguin). SHUNNED AND DANGEROUS, the third book in the series, is now available.
In addition to this series, Laura is also the bestselling author of the
Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series (under her pen name,
Elizabeth Lynn Casey), and an award winning romance author for
Harlequin American. Her third romance—MIRACLE BABY—was named RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner for Best
Harlequin American of 2010.
For more on Laura visit her at www.laurabradford.com
Jenna Kernan is the author of over sixteen Western historical and paranormal romances. She has been twice nominated for the RITA
Award from Romance Writers of America.
In 2010 Jenna won the Book Buyers Best Award for her debut paranormal in The Tracker Series. Jenna’s final book in this series,
BEAUTY’S BEAST, is available now. Her next paranormal release,
THE VAMPIRE’S WOLF arrives in July 2014.
Jenna is every bit as adventurous as her heroines. Her hobbies include recreational gold prospecting, scuba diving and gem hunting.
Jenna grew up in the Catskills and currently lives in the Hudson Valley of New York State with her husband.
For more on Jenna visit her at www.jennakernan.com
©Jenna Kernan & Laura Bradford, 2012, www.jennakernan.com & www.laurabradford.com

D i d y o u l i k e t h i s w o r k s h o p ? L i k e u s o n F a c e b o o k !
©Jenna Kernan & Laura Bradford, 2012, www.jennakernan.com & www.laurabradford.com