I’m just finishing the YA novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and it’s every bit as amazing as the hype has made it sound. It’s heartbreaking and funny, it’s vivid and intense, it’s searing and hopeful. The relationships between the characters are messy and loving, sometimes tense, sometimes awkward, but always human. And the plot is driven by how the protagonist, Starr, grows and changes. It’s fully her story. It’s real. I loved it.

But one thing I think Thomas does exceptionally well in writing this novel is staying present with the characters. I think that plays a huge part in why her novel is so riveting.

Here’s what I mean: Thomas lets scenes play out, she doesn’t rush through them. Sometimes I think there’s a tendency to plow ahead in a story, to speed up the plot. But that can leave the manuscript feeling more like a script than a novel. By carefully choosing which scenes are pivotal to Starr’s journey, Thomas keeps the plot tight and focused, which allows her the room to let character dialogue reveal intimate details and uncomfortable truths that play out in real life. As a result, we (the readers) are sitting right there with Starr, experiencing exactly what she is. It’s part of what makes the novel a page-turner — Thomas hasn’t sacrificed pacing to add details and description. But it also makes the reader pay attention. That sort of tight writing keeps you very focused on the story — you’re present in the moment. Rather than feel like you’re reading something an author wrote, you feel like you’re experiencing life as Starr. And that’s powerful, especially given the subject matter. It’s a story that sticks with you.

And isn’t that the ultimate hope of an author? To write something with staying power? Something that puts readers fully in your character’s shoes?

As I continue working on my WIP, I know I’ll be thinking a lot about what I can do to stay present with the characters.

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