Developing Characters
After you have constructed your character, it’s time to develop them in the narrative. Sure, you could have a story where the character remains flat and unchanged, but that certainly won’t get readers excited. For short stories, it’s possible for the characters to be stagnant, but in a novel, characters that don’t change should be scarce.
There are a few necessary steps in the development of a character. But even the most general of outlines can prove difficult if you don’t know the ways to implement change. First, you need to set up how the character thinks and behaves at the start of the story:
Described by him/herself- People know their likes and dislikes and what sort of people they enjoy being around. Let your character speak for him/herself. Having your character describe themselves isn’t entirely unbelievable, especially if your narrative is written in the first person.
Described by others– Friends, family and even outsiders will have an opinion of your character, so be sure to include those comments as ways of setting up their personality and mannerisms. Often, readers will take best to how others describe them.
Next, you need to involve moments of development through major events:
Change created through external actions– Events that your character experiences can have as much or as little affect on them in way of development. The key is to stay consistent with their personality type regarding what would leave an impression.
Change created through internal actions– Thoughts or feelings can also promote change in your character. A shift in their emotional reaction is another prime area to highlight their evolution.
Finally, the character should recognize their development over the course of the story. However, unless it is in their character to be introspective and reflexive, it might not be the best idea for them to formally acknowledge they’ve changed. I’m partial to showcasing the character’s comprehension of the change as an indirect form of characterization rather than directly stating what has come to pass. The manner in which your character develops will be different for every individual in your story, so be sure to vary the means of change as well as the results. A greater variety in characters and their development will impart a realistic depth to your tale.
The Secret Life of a Writer
My favorite time of day has arrived. When all other work has been accomplished and the only thing that separates me from my series is a brief walk after lunch. The peanut-butter and jelly sandwich I had been craving simply did not stand up to the level of greatness I had expected. It was just as well.
Without delay, I scramble outside, dressed for comfort in sweatpants, out to impress no one. I find it helpful to clear my mind before writing and the warm, spring day with the scent of blossoms in the air has a special way of invigorating my drive to create. The walk becomes a blur as every focused thought that passes through my mind is in some way, even if remotely, related to the upcoming writing session.
Rounding the corner back home, I hurry down the asphalt to get a jump on my afternoon’s work. Sitting in a comfortable chair, my computer buzzes with comparable excitement to my own; I open the proper files and begin. Practically sucked into the screen and transported to another world, I review the text as if I was not its creator. I allow questions and predictions to flow freely as I would during any reading.
The slope of reading is smooth and fast, propelling me through the story at breakneck speeds, devouring each sentence and every minute hint of things to come. And then, as if a stop sign rises in my path, I hit a snag. An error. A hole. Something I can fix. It takes several reviews of the passage to collect my thoughts and adjust to fix the problem. Like a seamstress mending a tear, I sew together the plot, covering the prior mistake and leaving it freshly pressed.
Larger troubles loom on the page, but it’s nothing to deter me. The decision to remove a piece or add to it is calculated and precise. There’s no room for waffling here. As much time as I need is easily taken. The minutes disappear on the clock while I construct a patch for the clunky cog in my grand machine. My attention to detail and absorption in the page can’t be broken until I have claimed victory. It may be time consuming and labor intensive, but the final product, a shiny, unblemished story is worth every minute.
How to Write a Classic
Admit it, everyone wants their story to strike it rich. Well, today you’re in luck! I have discovered the secret formula to writing a classic. That’s right, the ingredients needed in any novel to get you on the bestseller list, onto college and high school syllabi and most importantly, into the hearts of millions of adoring readers. If you have yet to write, then you can shape your future tale around these requirements and hitting the goldmine will practically be foolproof. If you are already through your draft- redo it! However, if you have completed your story, review this list and check off as many as you can. For your sake, I hope it’s all ten.
Here it is. To ensure your story is a soon-to-be classic, staunchly follow these ten essential rules:
1. Flawed MC. It’s not enough to simply give your main character flaws. Be sure they are the most annoying, angsty, and foolish individual your story can hold.
2. Romance. You could put in a dash of romance, but it’s best to make it utterly complicated and convoluted that ultimately, no one understands the pairing.
3. Sympathy Card. Don’t just kill the MC’s dog, off ether one, or both parents. Later in the story, have people mention this at least fifty-three times.
4. Swiss Cheese Plot. Forget tying up loose ends. Leave giant gaping holes that the reader can use their imagination to fill.
5. Debbie-Downers. Do you have the worst possible event you can imagine in your head right now? Great! Double it and that’s the base for your plot.
6. Symbolism. Use symbolism in an overt manner that ensures your reader will never forget that symbol. Ever.
7. Age Limits. Characters over 25 are not allowed. And if they exist, bring them in on rare occasions. Oh, and then make them evil.
8. No Diversity. Don’t bother having ethnic, religious or sexual diversity in your story, books are not equal opportunity narratives.
9. Cliches. Employ as many as possible. Need a list to pick from? Check out this one I wrote. Hell, use them all.
10. The “Dues Ex Machina” Finale. Leave your creativity at the door. When you write the ending, just come up with something cool and throw it in there. Who cares if it doesn’t add up?
Voila! Instant classic! Go off and publish your book and reap the rewards! With a solid story like this, it’s shocking it’s never been done before!
April Fools! Or maybe not 😉
Read It Forward
Here’s an idea. A crazy, wonderful, nutty idea.
I have noticed lately that many of these writers who have bravely posted their heart’s work on Kindle or Amazon are struggling to get reviews because they aren’t well known. And to gather interest from the readers, they need reviews. It’s an unfortunate cycle of promotion that lies entirely outside of the author’s control. After having a say in everything from the characters, plot and cover design, you can see why any one of them would be frustrated.
I wrote a marketing post not too long ago, in which I encouraged supporting other authors as well as suggesting not to over-do-it with hocking your book. The best way to accomplish both of these tasks in one action is to give others what you would like to receive. Wondering how? Well, are you looking for more reviews and readers? Be a reader and review the material.
This is where I propose a pay-it-forward style campaign to help out yourself and fellow authors. Here’s how it would work: Read and review three of your compatriots’ stories and for them to continue the love, they too should read and review three books. Put the reviews directly on their site or on your blog and keep the cycle going. Not only will this bring the writing community together, but it will achieve the required reviews start-up authors need to bring in a steady readership.
To start off, I’ll be reading and reviewing three stories from three seperate authors. Want to be one of them? Leave a comment and we’ll be in touch!
After all, the kindest thing you can do is give an author a review.
Pitch Wars Mentee 2014
Awards
