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Mix Things Up: Braiding

October 4, 2017 by Jim Potter 2 Comments

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·  Braiding  ·

Braiding means weaving information into the story, especially characters, like a hairdresser weaving strands of hair into one strong braid.

Tom Jennings, Prairie Grove K-9 Police Officer. Sculpture by J. Alex Potter; Photo by Gina Laiso

In my novel, Taking Back the Bullet, I focus on three main characters and their families.

Out of thirty-four chapters in the book, I use the first nine chapters introducing the fictional characters.

The first two chapters are set in Prairie Grove, Kansas, where the reader meets jailer Tom Jennings and artist Jesse Thomas.

In the next two chapters we watch boxer Joe Morningcloud, who is visiting from Nespelem, Washington, meet University of Kansas graduate student, Jesse Thomas (in Lawrence, Kansas).

The last of the three families also resides in Prairie Grove. There, Carolyn Odessa, Cottonwood County Medical Examiner; and Shawn Smith, ex-coroner, work death calls.

Carolyn and Shawn are parents of two sons; one boy, James Odessa-Smith, is a focal point in the character-driven novel.

Sculpture, James Odessa-Smith, by J. Alex Potter

Police Officer Tom Jennings, obese as a mutant Idaho potato in a jiggling gelatin suit; James Odessa-Smith with his schizoaffetive disorder; and young Suanna Morningcloud, a person with albinism, and half Nez Perce Indian and half Caucasian; are all searching for their identities and culture.

The characters move in and out of the frame of the story.

Weaving the appearance of the characters allows readers the opportunity to shift their attention to something new while keeping in mind the connections.

When, in chapter ten of Taking Back the Bullet, all three main characters meet during a botched bank robbery, the reader is already familiar with them.

The fictional characters and their families are changed and connected forever as they are forced to ask themselves: “Who am I and where do I belong?”

Sculpture, Suanna Morningcloud, by J. Alex Potter; Photograph by Gina Laiso.

The point of braiding is to tell the story over a period of time, over a period of chapters, while moving the story forward and keeping it fresh.

During your writing, you also have the opportunity to tell back stories, really clues, as to what motivates your characters.

Back stories are a topic for another blog, but they are relevant when discussing braiding.

Be careful about weaving too many back stories into your novel in an attempt to create rich detail, because your goal of a realistic, cohesive story, could end up as a confusing piece of abstract art.

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

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  1. Anonymous says

    Very nice sculptures! I never realized Jim was so proficient at braiding, very interesting.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      The photographs of the sculptures appear in the back of the novel, just published. They are inspiring! Sculptures by J. Alex Potter. Photographs by Gina Laiso.

      Reply

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Testimonials

Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

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