'Dramatic Scaffolding'

[Rita Gerlach]

I received another glowing rejection letter today. The agent said she
liked my writing, said I have a terrific voice and a keen sense of
storytelling. But she mentioned the pace was a bit slow and that most
editors will want to see 'a clear idea of the dramatic scaffold' in
chapter 1.

Does anyone have a clear understanding of what that exactly means? If you do, put it in layman terms, and give examples.

Rita Gerlach

Homepage: http://www.freewebs.com/ritagerlach/

Editor for Stepping Stones Magazine for Writers:
http://www.freewebs.com/steppingstonesforwriters/index.htm

[Anne Whitfield]

Hi Rita,
I've not seen the term used before, but I'm thinking it might be to do with foreshadowing of the upcoming conflicts and goals of the main character?

Maybe google the term and hopefully some editors might have written an article on it.

Good luck, Anne.~

[Emily Bryan]

Dramatic scaffold? Are you hanging someone in the first chapter?

You may have been lucky to get a rejection from this one.

Best,
Em
www.emilybryan.com
DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, "Wickedly witty!"~Booklist
PLEASURING THE PIRATE, Available for PRE-ORDER NOW!

[Rita Gerlach]

Okay, Emily. That gave me a chuckle. No hanging --- but close.
The only thing I've been able to find on this is that in drama they use a technique called 'scaffolding'. However, I still don't know what it means.

Rita Gerlach

Homepage: http://www.freewebs.com/ritagerlach/

Editor for Stepping Stones Magazine for Writers:
http://www.freew

[William Ramsay]

Rita: The "slow pace" comment has driven me crazy too. Obviously it denotes boredom, but what exactly? "Dramatic scaffolding" may mean the "problem" to be solved isn't clear. If you wanted to send me an excerpt, I'd take a look at it for you. ([e-mail])

[Emily Bryan]

About pacing--my editor says to hit the ground running and don't look back. The reading public has limited patience for backstory. The most we can hope to do is slip it in piecemeal and only if it's essential to understanding the story. As far as foreshadowing goes, the more subtle the better. The more "hooks" we can set in our prose, the more we propel the reader along by posing questions that pull them forward, the better.