Month: August 2025

Revelation: The Moment That Changes Everything

Fictionary’s Story Elements Series | The Pencil’s Edge

✨ Why Revelation Matters

Stories move forward when characters learn something new—something big enough to change their trajectory. This is the heartbeat of revelation.

A great revelation doesn’t just pass through a character’s mind like a stray fact—it jolts them. It forces a decision, shifts their approach, or sparks a transformation. And for the reader, these moments are electric, because they invite a question:

Now that the character knows this, what will they do?

That question keeps pages turning.

🔍 What Counts as a Revelation?

  • It’s not backstory. Backstory explains the past; revelation alters the present.
  • It’s not random trivia. If it doesn’t impact the plot or character arc, it’s not a revelation—it’s filler.
  • It’s plot-relevant. A revelation changes stakes, clarifies a mystery, deepens character motivation, or alters alliances.

Example:
A detective learns the prime suspect’s alibi was fabricated. That discovery doesn’t just add flavor—it demands action.

📖 Reader + Character = Shared Discovery

The most engaging revelations allow the reader to discover the truth alongside the POV character. This builds anticipation and deepens emotional investment.

When the reader learns something before the character, that’s Reader Knowledge Gained (another Fictionary element). When the character knows but the reader doesn’t, you’re playing with suspense. Both have their place—but Revelation is about the shared “Aha!” moment.

⚖️ The Timing Test

One of the biggest editorial challenges with revelations is timing. Too soon, and you deflate tension. Too late, and readers feel manipulated.

In Fictionary’s Story Map, you’ll flag revelations with notes such as:

  • Too Early — Could be delayed for greater impact.
  • Too Late — Needed sooner for logic or pacing.
  • Too Much — Could be revealed in pieces to stretch tension.
  • Too Little — Lacks clarity, leaving the reader confused.
  • Too Many — Rapid-fire reveals without reaction space.

🛠 Using Fictionary to Track Revelations

When reviewing a manuscript:

  1. Identify the Revelation — What is learned? Who learns it?
  2. Check for Consistency — Does the revelation align with established facts?
  3. Verify Knowledge Flow — Can the character plausibly know this yet?
  4. Assess Timing — Would shifting the moment improve suspense or pacing?
  5. Ensure Impact — Does it prompt a decision, change, or emotional shift?

💡 In the Story Map, select:

  • Scene Name
  • Revelation

This makes it easy to see where key truths land in the narrative.

🧠 Case Study: Mystery Example

In Louise Penny’s Kingdom of the Blind, imagine Gamache learns halfway through the investigation that a trusted ally has been lying.

  • The revelation: His ally has been working for the opposing side.
  • The result: Gamache changes strategy, stops sharing intel, and begins a covert counter-investigation.

That’s revelation at work—truth alters action.

🚫 Common Revelation Pitfalls

  • Unrelated: Feels tacked on, with no real bearing on plot or character.
  • Implausible: A character references information they couldn’t possibly know.
  • Pacing Glut: Multiple revelations back-to-back without allowing the character (or reader) to process.
  • Loose Threads: Major revelations that are never addressed again.

🧭 Advice for Writers

  • Breadcrumb first — Lay subtle clues so the revelation feels earned.
  • Make it costly — Force your character to react in a way that has consequences.
  • Give space to react — Let both character and reader absorb the weight of what’s been learned.
  • Match to tone — A comedic story might reveal truth in a humorous twist; a thriller might drop it in a high-stakes chase.

📌 Final Thought

Revelation is one of the most satisfying tools in storytelling.
Handled well, it reshapes the story in an instant—changing the character’s path, altering the reader’s expectations, and keeping tension alive.

Handled poorly, it risks breaking trust with your reader.

So when a truth drops in your story, make sure it’s timed, earned, and heavy enough to tilt the axis of your character’s world.

Without Conflict, There Is No Story

📍 Back in the Flow
Returning to this series after my biking injury recovery has reminded me how foundational structure is—not just in healing, but in writing. And if there’s one element that defines the heartbeat of a scene, it’s this one: Conflict.

Let’s explore why conflict isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

🎯 What Is Conflict, and Why Is It Crucial?

Conflict is where story lives.

Whether it’s an argument, a race against time, or a quiet dinner filled with unspoken tension, conflict gives a scene its stakes. It puts a character’s desire in jeopardy—and when something’s at risk, we as readers lean in.

As Fictionary teaches:
“You need both conflict and tension to keep your reader engaged. You don’t need both in every scene, but you should have one.”

In short: Tension is the threat; Conflict is the clash. Both drive your story forward. One must be present in every scene.

🧠 Two Faces of Conflict

1. In-Your-Face Conflict

These are the bold moments—fights, arguments, chases, showdowns.

Example: A woman clings to the edge of a boat while her aggressor tries to shove her overboard.

2. Subtle Conflict

These are the scenes that hum beneath the surface—emotionally charged conversations, quiet betrayals, unresolved power dynamics.

Example: During a group dinner, a woman shares a story. Her husband interrupts to “correct” her. She grits her teeth, smiles, and finishes his version.

Both are valid. Both create friction. Both give the reader something to feel.

🛠 Using Fictionary to Track Conflict

In Fictionary’s StoryCoach software, every scene is evaluated for Conflict:

  • ✅ Mark with a √ when the conflict is present and effective.
  • ❌ Enter “None” if there’s no real struggle or opposing force.
  • ⚠️ Use “Too Little”, “Too Much”, or “Unrelated” to flag imbalance or irrelevance.
  • 🗣️ Use “Dialogue Length” when lengthy speech reduces the force of the conflict.

💡 On the Story Map, select:

  • Scene Name
  • Conflict
  • Tension

Seeing these side by side helps identify weak points in story propulsion.

📚 Case Study: Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

Inspector Gamache and Myrna meet a stranger in a snowbound cabin.

  • Conflict: The stranger wants them to sign a document without knowing why they’re there.
  • Gamache & Myrna’s goal: Understand before they act.

The scene simmers with tension (the collapsing cabin) and delivers conflict through opposing character goals.

This interplay is the kind of storytelling Fictionary helps you recognize—and replicate.

🧾 Advice for Writers: Building Believable Conflict

Here’s what to check when evaluating your own scenes:

  1. Is there an obstacle to the POV character’s goal?
  2. Does that obstacle feel real and plot-related?
  3. Is the conflict emotional, physical, internal, or interpersonal?
  4. Does the dialogue advance the tension—or slow it down?
  5. Are your key structural scenes (Inciting Incident, Plot Points, Midpoint, Climax) filled with heightened conflict?

If not, it’s time to revise.

❗ Common Conflict Pitfalls

  • Contrived dialogue that manufactures drama without purpose
  • Conflict that feels unrelated to the main plot
  • Scenes with no friction or easy outcomes
  • Excessive arguments that numb the reader
  • Revealing too much too soon, reducing stakes

The best conflict aligns with your character’s deepest wants—and blocks them from getting it.

🧭 Use the Story Map to Visualize Conflict

Once your full draft is in Fictionary:

  • Select Scene Name + Conflict + Tension
  • Look for scenes marked “None,” “Too Little,” or “Unrelated”
  • Focus revision efforts where conflict and tension are weak or mismatched

💡 Pro Tip: Include a screenshot of this Story Map when sharing feedback with editors or critique partners. It helps visualize the peaks and valleys of your story’s emotional energy.

🔁 Final Thought

Conflict is not optional.

It’s the crucible in which your characters are tested—and where your readers decide to stay with you or walk away.

So don’t play it safe. Put goals in jeopardy. Challenge your characters. Risk disagreement. Raise stakes.

Because without conflict… there is no story.