Write for a Reason
Write for a Reason
Chapter Structure - it's More Important than You Think!
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In this episode of the Write for a Reason podcast, I talk to author Jubilee Lipsey about the structure of chapters. That may sound like a bit of a dry topic, but actually there's so much more to it than meets the eye. It’s fascinating, and I’m sure you will learn a lot!
After all, you do want your readers to find each of your chapters enthralling, right?
So grab a pen and paper, or your writing journal, and get ready to find out what needs to go in every chapter… Jubilee has come up with lots of great tips that will give you clarity as you plan and write each chapter of your novel. And what to do if you get stuck!
Enjoy!
Jubilee is a biblical fiction author who recently published her first rapid release novel trilogy (all three books released within a couple of months!) on the friendship of David and Jonathan, along with an accompanying Bible study. You can find out all about Jubilee and her books (My Brother, the King, My Rival, the King and My Father, the King) on www.jubileelipsey.com.
If you’d like lots more free creative writing tips, hop on over to write-for-a-reason.com, where you will find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers’ hands.
If you haven’t yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately. This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.
Don't put it off – today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.
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Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.
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Welcome to the Write for a Reason podcast. My name is Janet Wilson. I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with Dernia Publishing. If you're a Christian and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips, and actionable strategies you can implement immediately to become a better writer. And also to get more books into more readers' hands. Now in this episode, we're going to look at something foundational the anatomy of chapters. Author Jubilee Lipsy is here with me today to guide us through this interesting topic. Jubilee is a biblical fiction author who recently published her first rapid release novel trilogy on the friendship of David and Jonathan, along with an accompanying Bible study. Jubilee's passion for writing began with a childhood love of the Bible and the lives behind the scriptural stories that form the foundations of her Christian faith. An avid reader and storyteller, Jubilee earned her BA in English in 2013 and has continued to write in her spare time since then. Her dream in writing is to share breakthroughs, igniting the faith of readers hoping to experience God in their everyday lives. And that is what Write for Reason is all about. So I'm delighted to have Jubilee here. Welcome, Jubilee.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.
SPEAKER_02It's wonderful to have you on the podcast. And what a wonderful name. Is there a story behind it?
SPEAKER_01Thank you. Yes, actually, um, Jubilee is actually a feast in the Bible that was a 50-year celebration um for the Israelites that God implemented for them. It was supposed to be sort of a reset when uh debts were canceled and uh prisoners were set free and the land sort of started over. And uh my parents were not planning on naming me that, but it became they were believers obviously when I was born, and um it was sort of spontaneous. Pretty much everyone loves it. I I think the main uh misconception surrounding it is that when people hear it, they think that um I'm always happy and joyful and and warm personality all the time, which I do tend to be uh pretty outgoing, but uh it's definitely true joy in the faith is always a a struggle in this world for sure, but it's great to have that foundation with the Lord to remember uh what he's called us into.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, and um what a privilege it is to be born into a Christian home. So that's uh that's a lucky story. So tell us a little bit about you and your family. Um, most of our listeners are uh from the UK, so they would have heard by your accent that you are not from the UK.
SPEAKER_01No, I'm not. I am from America. I'm from Kenosha, Wisconsin. It's a small town in uh the upper Midwest, and uh we are almost equal parts between Chicago and Milwaukee, so two big cities, but we're out in the country. So lots of cornfields, lots of dairy farms, very uh homey place. A lot of people know each other. Very, very nice place. There's some beautiful, beautiful areas near here. I'm actually from North Carolina, though, which is from the south of America and uh southeast. And my husband and I got married there and then moved back uh to this area, which is where he's from. Uh-huh. So we've been married seven years.
SPEAKER_02Oh, congratulations for that. Hope you get to 40 then, and then you can celebrate your Jubilee in the 50th, can't you? Yes, that would be awesome. So tell us a little bit about how you started writing and a little bit about your books.
SPEAKER_01I actually have loved Bible stories my entire life. It's I was uh became a Christian very early in life, and as you said, you know, grew up in the faith, grew up in a Christian home, and I was always very, very passionate about learning about the Bible stories and how they connect with us. And I think probably in high school I started officially writing and just uh practiced it for so long and and just learning how to put my thoughts together and put my passion into uh story form, and then I just continued writing. So it's it's been a lifelong passion.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it sounds brilliant. So you your latest books are on the friendship of David and Jonathan. So let me read out the titles here My Brother the King, My Rival the King, and My Father the King. So that all sounds very interesting, and I'll link in the show in the show notes to where people can go and get that. But let's get on now with what we're going to be looking at in this episode, the structure of chapters, which is obviously quite different if you're writing fiction than if you're writing non-fiction. So tell me about that.
SPEAKER_01Um I was thinking about that actually too, that it mostly my background obviously with these novels is fiction, but then I have the Bible study, which is non-fiction, and I was thinking about how they're the same and how they're different. Obviously, with nonfiction, you're not dealing with characters as much as you're speaking to a specific person out there who you feel needs to hear what you have to say. Uh so you have to come at it from a place where they are uh and remember sort of your own journey to this understanding. But with fiction as well, you do need to have an overarching theme and purpose that you want to communicate. So really, if you don't have that, uh your writing is going to feel very empty and it's not going to be connected to anything. So what really guides the chapters, what guides the structure is that overarching purpose of what do I want to say and am I actually communicating it through these chapters?
SPEAKER_02So you plan each chapter in advance, do you, Jubity, um, even with the fiction, as to what the purpose is for each chapter?
SPEAKER_01I try to. And initially, I mean, when you're when you're just inspired by an idea and you're getting out the first draft, I encourage people to just write, you know, just get it out, write about the stuff that really makes you feel, the stuff that inspires you. But then when you go back and and want to make uh a book or a project out of it, then I would start to think about what's the structure, and I build the structure around what I specifically want to say to make sure that everything ties together. And usually it takes several passes in order to get there. Uh, some of this is going to happen organically, some of it happens in the the editing. And it the your passion is what gets your writing out there and keeps you going. But the editing is really what hammers out the clarity of your message. And it's typically done by implementing uh certain tools, like you know, hammering out those chapters.
SPEAKER_02Yes, absolutely. Yeah. So could you give us an example, perhaps from one of your own chapters, of how you come to sort out, to plan your chapters?
SPEAKER_01I think with the Bible study is the the first example that comes to mind because I actually started the projects with the Bible study. Um, it was I actually started it with a question that I had, which was just basically around, you know, why was Jonathan able to be such a good friend to David? And over time I had just been studying that and collecting all the pertinent information that I would want to use. And then I started breaking them up into, you know, if that overarching question was that Jonathan's what was fueling Jonathan's friendship was a relationship with God, then I had to pull out each of the main points out of what I wanted to say to support that. And then I would start in, you know, the beginning of his story and move to the end. And as far as what each, you know, breaking the chapters into numbers, you know, that can actually come a bit later uh as you decide what needs to all be in each chapter. But really that overarching meaning helps me to keep it straight uh because everything else has to support that. So I always uh begin and end with the overall direction of the story in mind. You know, where is this, where is this going? How is each one supporting it?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so you're leav so you've got um a plan, an idea that you want to put it within that chapter. So transferring that to fiction, that might be uh you've got a particular action going on, a particular um, you know, that there's some kind of drama in it. Um, and you're beginning from where you left off on the previous one, obviously. And then at the at the end you're going to be leaving with some kind of a hook.
SPEAKER_01Yes, it's always very important to draw people into the next uh chapter. Uh that it it needs to be forward-moving. Um, and each one can be a little bit different. You don't have to end each chapter the same way, but uh it always is necessary in fiction. You always want to be raising the stakes for the main character, especially. Something should always be be changing for them or becoming more complicated.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. That's something that we look at in the Rightful Reason Academy when we're looking at the kind of the middle part of the story, and we're looking at plotting and planning, that the adventures or the the difficulties have to kind of worsen as the story unfolds. So they get more and more difficult. So, yes, I can see how that would happen um in a chapter, uh, that you are got a rising tension there, and then you leave your your readers on a thinking, how is this going to now be resolved? Right. Do you have any other um particular advice about chapter structure?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. The the things that I would base the basic things that I would say are the building blocks of a chapter is obviously that powerful opening line that that draws you in. Um the action and the dial using action and dialogue to introduce the characters rather than narrating. You want to allow the characters to be in action or talking with other characters as soon as possible because it's so much better to develop rather than explain. Yes. Um any kind of description has to be done using sensory images whenever possible. You always want to establish a clear setting and situation. So you don't want the reader to get lost in what's happening and forget where you are and and what's actually going on here. You want to raise the stakes and then end the chapter with a forward-moving line into the next um into the next chapter. And it's it's always it's always helpful to have the care the main character with other people whenever possible because uh that it tends to develop and reveal who they are in a bit more natural way.
SPEAKER_02Within a friendship context. Yeah, yeah. Or sometimes an antagonist context. Yes, yes, either. Yes, this is really good. So um a really good opening sentence to kind of open the scene at the f beginning of the chapter, which will draw people in, and then get to know what the character's up to, have a lot of action going on, uh show show the relationships with drawing in other people. Um, or pets, I guess, um, would also be a possibility, wouldn't it? Or or dragons or whatever if you're writing for children. Yeah, yeah. And then draw on some action and then leave with that um what on earth is gonna happen next, a little hook to move on to the next chapter. I like it. Exactly. Yes, anything else you've got there to tell us about the anatomy of chapters?
SPEAKER_01I actually, when I'm crafting a chapter, what really helps me, um, especially because I I tend to write in present tense, so you're right there in it. Right. Um it helps me to consider staging it like a movie scene because it it adds, it helps me add drama to the scene and helps me iron out any issues with my plot. Because if you're looking at it like this is something people are actually acting out on a stage, yeah, it helps me to get rid of the stuff that would drag it down or wouldn't work. Um, when you think of it like a real person is doing this or you act it out yourself, it helps me to get rid of you know the stuff that would slow it down. Yes. So that's a really useful tip. And that helps you with pace. It does, it really does because if you're if you're imagining actual people acting this out, it helps me to um see it about setting up future action and what's logical. It when you're just writing and you're you're just writing from your imagination, it's easy to think anything is possible, but it still needs to make sense, it still needs to be logical in terms of your characters. And so when you think of it in terms of acting, you can really get inside the character more and make sure that what you're portraying is authentic and it it keeps you away from boring narration and you know when a scene has has made its impact and it's time to move on. You don't want to push it past its effectiveness.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes, absolutely. And particularly so, I think, if you're writing for children, because they won't put up with all the padding. Uh they like they like their action um to be uh nice and swift and to be fast-paced and keep moving. I think ever so in this world, we we want everything pretty much instant and fast now, don't we? Whether it's our fries, our fries or our Kindle books or whatever it happens to be. Uh we want everything to be quick, don't we? So, yes, uh there's certainly a place for the description though, isn't there, as you mentioned. So tell us a little bit about unpack that little bit that you were you were saying about the description, about where that should come in the chapter and how that should be pulled out.
SPEAKER_01That is a very important thing. And it's always better to whenever you're describing anything or anyone, you want to use sensory images that appeal to the senses so that connects readers with the setting and the mood. It all has to agree with the type of character that you're dealing with and serve the direction of the chapter. But I like to say develop, don't explain. So if you want to communicate something, especially if you're communicating a feeling or a universal concept, the bigger the concept that you're trying to deal with, the more intimate the moment needs to be. Uh, because that way it won't sound like you're preaching about something like forgiveness or the horrors of war or something big like that. You want to get very, very narrow into a moment that is specific to the character, and that's where personal understanding has to come in. You've got to personalize it in some way and apply the truth to the character. Um, and that's where the description can be real instead of just narrating what you think people want to hear.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, sure. I I like that a lot. That's a really useful thought. So rather than describing the sun, you might be describing uh a dew drop perhaps on a petal which the sun is shining on. So you've got that kind of moment in time that and try and bring out some emotion into that. Yes, because that's a huge difference, isn't it, between a fiction and a non-fiction book. Um, you want to be bringing out the emotions of your characters because that's what engages um your readers, isn't it? That emotional. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But even in non-fiction, it it um it would the way it would work in nonfiction, I'm thinking about my Bible study or anything like that. Uh-huh. Um, what you're doing there is you're speaking to the person that you've envisioned that who ideally needs to hear this message that I'm that I'm bringing out. And you have to think of it in terms of rather than preaching at someone, you have to remember the journey that you took to get to this understanding, and you have to picture yourself back when you didn't know this. And you have to be able to get into it from the place of coming alongside somebody that doesn't know this important truth yet. Yes, absolutely. So that's the way you would narrow it down for nonfiction.
SPEAKER_02Yes, definitely. And Jesus told stories, didn't he, for a reason. And he picked a character. There's something very powerful about story, isn't there, that allows you to think things over for yourself and come to your own conclusions and you can take time over it too, can't you? You can mull it over in your mind and yes, yeah. Good. So Jimmy, tell me, what would you do if you get stuck with your writing? What kind of advice would you give to somebody who's thinking, I just don't know really know where to go next? Um, and you know they're stuck in the middle of a chapter, say, and they don't know where the chapter needs to go.
SPEAKER_01I would say definitely, I mean it happens to me all the time. I would say get back, uh take a step back and uh return to your uh original purpose, the original meaning of the overarching story. Look at what you've done so far and where things are going. And usually when I get stuck in a fictional chapter, it's typically because I there's something about the character or the situation that I don't know enough about yet. And it seems okay, it seems funny to imagine because you're the author, so you think, oh, I can write whatever I want. But a lot of times you are learning from your characters as you're writing. And you're for nonfiction, you're learning from you're learning as you go. So it don't be afraid to slow down and ask some questions and look at what you have, what you want to say, and figure out how can I, again, picture the movie scene, how can I get in the middle of this and ask, you know, on set, directors will talk to the actor about what the character is going through. So just pretend like you're doing that, talk to the the character as if you were the director and they were the actor and find out what are we missing here, what about the character that needs to be added. And it takes time sometimes, but just stepping away and having a little chat with my characters, it sounds kind of flaky, but it's it works.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, great idea. I thank you for that. That's a really useful thing to be able to have a chat with your character as if they were an actor or an actress playing that part and see what they come up with. Great. So, any more last tips for us, Jubilee?
SPEAKER_01I would say definitely for uh anyone that loves to write or wants to uh you know take it to the next level. I would say obviously just keep writing freely and without fear, write about what you're curious about, what you're passionate about, because that's what's going to uh keep you going throughout all of the hard work that it takes. Um but don't be afraid of learning the nuts and bolts and getting really good at them. If you're if you're meant to do this as far as um getting it out and into the world as a as an author or a blogger, the the nuts and bolts won't kill you. It won't kill your passion, it'll give it direction. And you can look at it as adding tools to your arsenal that you can play with later. So I would say, you know, you can take there's a ton of classes online that you can take, but also just read a lot with an eye for what works in your favorite books. You know, what what do you love about this? And uh passion and skill uh with the applicable tools work hand in hand to help you write better.
SPEAKER_02Yes, absolutely. Yes, to be able to hone your craft. So you've got the imagination, you've been given the gift, uh, but you need to work on that, don't you? Yes, that's really that's really helpful advice. And just before we go, Jubilee, um, you mentioned rapid release novel trilogy. Now tell us a little bit about this this expression rapid release.
SPEAKER_01It was new to me too, and it actually uh ties back into what you were saying about us wanting our Kindle books quickly. Um I worked with a rapid release publisher, so they um it's technically self-publishing uh because I own all the rights and all the royalties and any changes that were made were were my decision. But um the publisher helped me with the uh you know the editing and the the getting it out there, the the printing and the marketing. Okay. But rapid release is when you publish an entire novel series uh in one year instead of having a couple years between each book.
SPEAKER_02Right. Right. So you published all three novels at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Yes, just within a couple months. So I think it was September, uh, November, and December, something like that.
SPEAKER_02That totally makes sense of the expression rapid release.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and and it does play to the idea that you know Kindle Unlimited has really created a desire in people for fast, you know, reading through books really fast and running the next one before too long.
SPEAKER_02So they don't want to wait another year to get the next instalment. Yeah, so they can go all download the series all in one go and read it all back to back. Ah, like that's right. Yeah, that's a really excellent idea. So your books. Yes, your books, um, they're called again My Brother the King, My Rival the King, and My Father the King. They're all about David and Jonathan and they have an accompanying Bible study. So um but they are novels, aren't they? These uh these first three. Yep, but they've got a study to go with them. So if anybody's interested in that, um sounds fascinating, you can go over to jubileipsey.com. I will put that in the show notes. So this has been a really interesting topic, Jubilee. You know, you think about the anatomy of chapters. Um isn't terribly exciting, you know, it's not something which you think goody goody, but in actual fact being able to plan your chapters gives you clarity, doesn't it? And to be able to think, right, now I need a really excellent opener, I need to think what I want to achieve with this chapter. You're thinking about your readers as you're doing that, uh, to get plenty of showing, not telling in there, to get several different characters rubbing off each other so you get to know them, moving the plot forward and then ending with a hook. Is there anything I've missed out there in that little bit of summary?
SPEAKER_01No, that was perfect. It it really when you love your topic, it's not you don't mind the the work. When you love anything, really, you don't mind working at it. So that's it becomes it becomes more of a goody-goody situation as you go.
SPEAKER_02Yes, absolutely. There are some topics, aren't there, which are really kind of exciting. Oh yes, that's really great. And the the anatomy of chap of chapters almost sounds like going back to school, doesn't it? But um as you absolutely rightly pointed out, the fact that we can have these tools that we can learn, craft, um, you know, get some uh some online help and whatever, um, helps us with that gift that we've been given, doesn't it? So it's been great to talk to you, Juveney. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you so much for having me, Janet. Yeah, it's been an absolute pleasure. So if you've been listening today, I'm sure you will have taken uh away several really useful bits of information. If you weren't jotting down notes with a pen and paper as we were as we were talking, why don't you go back, grab a pen and paper and listen again and jot some notes down. So subscribe to the podcast, make sure you don't miss out, and leave the link on your online writing group so that it will help other people. And if you'd like lots more free writing tips, so hop on over to writeforreason.com or you'll find loads of resources, encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers' hands. If you haven't yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately, which will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story. So don't put it off. Today is a gift to use wisely. Only you can write your book, and if you've been called to write, somebody's waiting for it.