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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/6687-Escalate-Like-Gamers.html
Horror/Scary: December 03, 2014 Issue [#6687]

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Horror/Scary


 This week: Escalate Like Gamers
  Edited by: LJPC - the tortoise Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

This newsletter is about how to escalate the tension in your story.

Sage Quotes:

“Good books don't give up all their secrets at once.”
~ Stephen King

"Usually, when people get to the end of a chapter, they close the book and go to sleep. I deliberately write a book so when the reader gets to the end of the chapter, he or she must turn one more page. When people tell me I've kept them up all night, I feel like I've succeeded."
~ Sidney Sheldon

"A writer's job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories."
~ John Irving



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Letter from the editor

Escalate Like Gamers

Leveling Up


Game designers understand how to hook players and keep them enthused. They find an interesting premise and an easy to understand goal. Then they increase the difficulty the player/character faces with each level, and as complications pile up, the temptation to keep playing—to see your player over the next hurdle—becomes hard to resist.

An important technique for keeping readers engaged in your story is to keep increasing the tension. As things become more dangerous and complicated, and it looks like there’s no solution for the characters, the reader will stay glued to the pages.


Let’s Play Escalation!


Here are examples of ways to escalate the story.

(I’m not a very experienced gamer, but I’m inventing fictional games to illustrate my points. *Smile*)

The Hero:
Force the hero out of his comfort zone as the story progresses. For instance, maybe he has a phobia or flaw that becomes harder to deal with as time goes on.
*Web1* Arachnophobia *Web2* – The player/character hates spiders. Hates ‘em! He loses points every time a spider touches him. But with each level toward catching the villain, there are more arachnids to deal with and … are they getting bigger? *Worry*
*Pipe* Private Eye – The player/character is the original tough guy who works alone and likes it that way. But in every successive level, he finds he needs the services of a safe-cracker, or a guide, or a pick-axe wielder. Not only does he have to spend gold to hire them, but they hang around, slowing his movement, and he has to protect them as well as himself. He doesn’t like them, but if one gets killed, he drops a level and has to start over. Argh! He better get over his standoffish character flaw and keep his group alive if he wants to win!


The Setting:
Make the setting progressively more dangerous.
*Frog* Louisiana Bayou – First level: annoying insects and dangerous quicksand. Second level: snakes and smothering moss. Third level: Is that a crocodile? No! It’s an army of crocodiles!
*Snow1* The Blizzard – The player/character must catch a villain hiding somewhere in an old mansion. When a blizzard hits, the heating goes out. Next, ice knocks down the electric lines—no lights! Snow has now blocked all the exits, making escape impossible, and the wind is ripping off the roof! Minus ten points every time the character gets hit with a falling beam. And for the final level, there’s now a countdown clock because the character will freeze to death in fifteen minutes! Quick, find the villain or you lose! *Skull*


The Plot:
Start with a subplot that leads to a more serious plot.
*Radioactive* Puzzles of Death – At the beginning, the player/character solves puzzles to find a runaway teen. The next level starts with a note from a kidnapper: “Solve each puzzle in the time limit or the teen dies!” When the puzzles are solved, the kid is released. BUT he’s been infected with a deadly virus—and now so are you! *Shock* Next level “Solve bigger puzzles in a time limit to find the antidote.” When the player locates the antidote *Beakerb*, its side effect makes his skin sprout mushrooms that kill anyone within twenty feet. Now half the town is dying and the rest are trying to kill him! Every time the player wins a level, he finds a problem that’s worse than before.


The Villain:
Increase the number of villains, or the power of the villain, or change their identity.
*Target* Zombie Shoot – A shoot ‘em up where the player encounters more zombies on every level. (Yes, I played The House of the Dead a looong time ago and loved it! *Laugh*)
*Monster6* Monster Mayhem – Every time you level up, you get experience points, but the monster gets new and deadlier abilities that make it harder to defeat. Heh-heh-heh. *Smirk*
*Dropr* Trail of Blood – A serial killer is leaving a trail of dead bodies around the town. Every corpse comes with clues pointing the way to the killer. When the player solves the riddles and finds the villain at the end of the level, he discovers the person’s dead—murdered by the real killer. *Ax* More difficult clues lead the player on a different trail, but at the end of that level, only the killer’s clothes, latex mask, and sunglasses are found *Glassesb*, meaning it was only a disguise—the real killer could be anyone. Next level, the clues lead to a hired hitman. Hired by who? A gang boss … who turns out to be working for a powerful corrupt politician ... Every time the mystery is "solved," a twist sends the player on a path toward a deadlier villain.



So if you’re stuck for ways to escalate the problems for your characters, imagine you’re a game designer and create each new level to be harder than the last.


*Questionr* Do you have a favorite computer game?
What difficulties make it harder for the player as you go along?
*Questionr*



Until next time: Let the horror bleed onto the pages with every word!


Editor's Picks

Here are some spooky stories for your reading pleasure! *Bigsmile*

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This item number is not valid.
#548744 by Not Available.

 
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Alcatraz Open in new Window. (ASR)
When they get you, they get you.
#1533176 by Joy Author IconMail Icon

CLICK HERE IF YOU DARE Open in new Window. (18+)
A man surfs the Internet and gets more than he bargains for
#1955572 by Angus Author IconMail Icon

 Immune Open in new Window. (18+)
Set in the same universe as strain. Bruce Callahan finds that he is immune.
#1978073 by Tyler Sempiternus Author IconMail Icon

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This item number is not valid.
#2016572 by Not Available.

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#1926898 by Not Available.

 Cars Open in new Window. (18+)
3D posters give visions of the future.
#934778 by Kotaro Author IconMail Icon

Slaughter House Open in new Window. (18+)
A woman tries to buy a home, dismissing its haunted history as urban legend
#1306885 by J.D. Blaire Author IconMail Icon

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This item number is not valid.
#1676509 by Not Available.

 House In The Woods Open in new Window. (18+)
Something waits in the house in the woods. It's evil, and its calling out...
#618923 by Revelry Author IconMail Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

Your full time Horror Newsletter Editors:
billwilcox and LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon have published --


** Image ID #1969199 Unavailable **                     ** Image ID #1969200 Unavailable **                     ** Image ID #1969201 Unavailable **

Soul Cutter--Lexa Cain (Amazon)  Open in new Window.  The Watercourse--W.D.Wilcox (Amazon)  Open in new Window.  Possession--W.D.Wilcox (Amazon)  Open in new Window.



To my delight, some writers took the time to comment on my last newsletter: "The Rule of ThreeOpen in new Window. Thank you! *Bigsmile*
Comments listed in the order they were received.


Indelible Ink Author Icon writes:
Laura -
Great newsletter -- particularly the info on the "Rule of Three." My wife has a somewhat similar rule. Fortunately, I've always been able to stop at "two" or I never would have survived to be able to write this.

You crack me up, Jeff! *Laugh*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


Taniuska Author Icon writes: Great post... I love using the rule of three... Always works*Smile*

Isn’t it funny that “three” is so attractive to people? Yes, it always works. *Smile*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


Quick-Quill Author Icon writes: WOW WOW WOW! While I know this rule to be true, I still don't know why. Why three, not two or four? When designing a floower arrangement one needs to use ODD numbers. Do we have something against even? Yet when we line things up there must be equal parts on each side. A room must be symmetrical. Even How odd is that? While we accept the rule of 3 there are times when odd is odd and even is good. We are such a strange species. What is there someone who was exact opposite of what we are comfortable with?

Some things do seem counter-intuitive – even though they work. Thanks for replying to the newsletter! *Delight*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


Osirantinous Author Icon writes: Thanks again for mentioning one of my stories! I'd never really heard of the Rule of Three, though I realise I have used it! Especially if I'm doing a list: "item, item, and item" is almost always my format. I like repeating certain phrases too but I've also had reviewers say 'don't repeat' so sometimes one's writing endeavours don't always appeal.

Repeats are a slippery slope. You have to have a powerful idea in mind to make them work. You’re welcome for the shout-out. You’re an excellent writer!

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


Arakun the twisted raccoon Author Icon writes: Thank you for featuring my little story in your newsletter. I also love the number three, although I don't know why. Anything with three parts just seems complete!

It is weird how three parts work so well and make people feel “closure.” *Rolleyes* Thanks so much for replying to the newsletter!

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


billwilcox writes: You so smart! I've been using this rule of three stuff for...dare I say it...EVER, and never knew it was an actual rule.*Worry*
I don't like rules, rules are restrictive, repelling, and ripe to be broken.*Rolleyes*
-El Bill

You’re right, rules are meant to be broken—unless they’re the magical Rule of Three! *Laugh*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


Joto-Kai Author Icon writes: Love your rule-of-three examples, great technique! I'd heard it in plotting a story: three attempts, with the last one being somehow final.

I’m not sure the rule applies to plotting. I’ve been known to change plot lines a LOT. Thanks for writing to the newsletter! *Bigsmile*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon submits "Animals' Afterlife Includes HumansOpen in new Window. and writes: Life can be crazy.

And sometimes, crazy works! *Wink*

*Witchhat*          *Ghost*          *Ax*          *Fire*          *Cat*


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