Hello Lovelies!
Last time I talked about creating strong characters. Now on to the plot. What is a story without a good plot?
The answer is nothing.
There has to be a meaning. A "why does anyone care" factor. You plot is the backbone of your story...without the backbone...it's just floppy mush...lol With me so far?
I think the plot is where I have the most issues. But writing a novel/ short story...anything, is not simple. It requires dedication and patience. You know what you want to say, you know the basic idea but the problem every writer faces is how on Earth do you put it together so it makes sense?
1. Goal of the story
The plot of any story is a sequence of events that revolve around a problem or a goal your protagonist is trying to reach. The goal/problem usually involves or affects all characters in the story. It is what the story is all about.Without a goal/problem your story becomes a series of events with no cause or purpose.
In "I Hate You...I Think" the main problem is Jason Martin is unstable and angry. Oliver got him into trouble a few years before Everlyn came along and in Jason's warped mind he blames Oliver for everything bad that has happened to him. So in turn he believes he can get his revenge by hurting the one thing that Oliver has come to care dearly about, and that is Everlyn herself. While Jason's logic is messed up, it makes a great story. Unstable people make the best villians. You never know what they are going to do next...mostly because half the time they don't know that themselves.
With a relevant plot the story begins to unfold. The reader now has a context that lets them appreciate the relevance of each event in the story. It allows the reader to become emotionally involved in your novel and to care about the outcome. It makes the story meaningful and with a GREAT plot twist...it makes your novel memorable such is the case of "I Hate You...I Think".
2. Consequences
Once you have decided on a Story Goal, your next step is to ask yourself, “What disaster will happen if the goal is not achieved? What is my protagonist afraid will happen if he/she doesn't achieve the goal or solve the problem?”
Death is a pretty big motivator. Whether it is fear of their own death or death of someone they care about. Perhaps the protagonist has mere moments to save an entire city? Death and seriously bodily harm are great motivators to get a task done quickly.
The combination of a goal and consequence creates a dramatic tension in your plot. In some stories, the protagonist may begin by deciding to resolve a problem or pursue a goal. Later, that goal becomes more meaningful when he discovers that a terrible consequence will occur if he fails. Other times, the protagonist may start off threatened by a terrible event, which thus motivates him/her to find way to avoid it.
An example is Oliver was attempting to resolve a problem with Jason trespassing in his territory, but a greater problem was created when Everlyn stumbled into the mix. Oliver, conflicted by his own feelings for her and by the danger she imposed not only on herself by being involved but Oliver's whole gang was threatened by the fact that they would follow Oliver no matter what.
4. Requirements and Forewarnings
You can think of Requirements as a checklist of one or more events. As the Requirements are met in the course of the novel, the reader will feel the characters are getting closer to the attainment of the goal or climax/breaking point of the novel. The point of no return. Once you hit this marker it's a kind of understanding between the reader and author that the story is near closing. The climax of a novel should always be toward the end.
Requirements create a state of excited anticipation in the reader's mind, as he looks forward to the protagonist's success. Throughout the whole novel you are building up to the grand finally, and it the fireworks fall flat then you are looking at not only a very unhappy reader but someone who will be telling their friends. Don't buy the book. :( And that as an author is not what you want at all.
Forewarnings are the counterpart to Requirements. While Requirements show that the story is progressing towards the achievement of the goal, forewarnings are events that show the consequence is getting closer. Forewarnings make the reader anxious that the consequence will occur before the protagonist can succeed. Plus it adds a little game for the reader to play. If you only hint around the edges of what could happen it leaves the reader with just enough to be interested but not enough to give away the whole plot. Suspense sales! Remember that and you will go far.
5. Climax
Writing a climax that will have you readers begging for more is an art form. It truly is. It must be unexpected. Yes they know something big is going to happen. They have an idea what will happen but when you present it to them you want them to go: "WHAT?". Completely blind side them. I'm not saying "Huge explosion, everyone dies" kind of surprise. More along the lines of "I was not expecting that at all".
Such as the ending of "I Hate You...I Think". (If you have read it you know) It was just one surprise after another, and when you thought you had reached the climax you found out that it hadn't been that at all. So when the true climax and ending of the story came you were blown off your feet. I have had many angry comments about the ending of the book. But it made you want more though didn't it?
As you read this you are thinking what are you doing posting this crap?! I want the rest of my book, NOW! :)
The trick to being a good novelist, is keeping your fans coming back for more. Whether they curse you out and yell at you for a massive cliffhanger. They enjoyed it far more than they think. Especially if they buy the second book. And if they do that....you know you did a great job.
Just remember these tips and you could be well on your way to writing a great novel.
P.S. If anyone who reads my blog postings needs any writing help or tips I am more than happy to help. I love writing and it makes me happy to see other aspiring novelists like myself. No question is a stupid question. Even if you have never wrote before in your life but you love reading and would like to get some tips on writing your own story/book let me know. You can reach me at any of the links to the right. I check them all almost daily.
Thanks for reading :) Happy Noveling!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Forming your Characters
So you have your setting as we talked about before....but now what?
Well the most important thing in your book comes next and that is: who is your protagonist?
There has to be someone at the center of the action. This will be the person your readers will be rooting for. (And make them real. Every being is flawed. Everything has a history.) Everlyn Fox is deeply flawed. She comes from a rough home, her father died when she was young and her mother after she meets Oliver. She has temper issues and somewhat trust issues, she is not perfect. But in the end, you care what happens to her because she's likeable and real. Oliver starts out as a hard ass and cocky but as you get into the story he is revealed as a sweet loving guy. Every great novel is character-driven; your protagonist must be a character worth caring about.
You mold and construct your characters as if they are a real people.
Think of your character as the sun in the solar system of your story. Without it, all of the other elements will freeze or burn up or hurtle into space. Without strong characters that are compatible with one another, your story cannot sustain life.
Steps to creating a good character.
1. What is their name? Their name says a lot about their personality. I use unique baby name generators (for first and last names). Just go to google and type in baby names. There are millions of names out there don't just settle for any common name. You look until you find a name you know will fit the idea of your character. (If you name an assassin a girly silly name no one will take them seriously. Unless you give them the name and the assassin shoots people in the face when they laugh about it.)
2. What do they look like? Short, tall, thin? Hair color? Hobbies? Think about yourself or a friend. You can find good characters in just looking at the people around you. Write down everything about this character. You might not even use half of what you write but you'll know your character as if they are someone you see every day.
3. The most important part when creating strong protagonists or characters in general is: what is there personality? Smart, cute, clever, mysterious, strong, gentle, the list can go on forever. But, whatever you choose make it consistent. I have mood swings of my own and it comes out in my characters. But if you are writing about a character that is not like you at all and you throw something in there they wouldn't do you will have your readers confused.
Another important part when creating a unique story is the protagonist’s relationships with the other characters. Think about who your character likes and dislikes. Why does your character feel that way about them? How does your character act around them? How do they interact with one another?
These are just a few tips to help you build solid characters that are believable.
Well the most important thing in your book comes next and that is: who is your protagonist?
There has to be someone at the center of the action. This will be the person your readers will be rooting for. (And make them real. Every being is flawed. Everything has a history.) Everlyn Fox is deeply flawed. She comes from a rough home, her father died when she was young and her mother after she meets Oliver. She has temper issues and somewhat trust issues, she is not perfect. But in the end, you care what happens to her because she's likeable and real. Oliver starts out as a hard ass and cocky but as you get into the story he is revealed as a sweet loving guy. Every great novel is character-driven; your protagonist must be a character worth caring about.
You mold and construct your characters as if they are a real people.
Think of your character as the sun in the solar system of your story. Without it, all of the other elements will freeze or burn up or hurtle into space. Without strong characters that are compatible with one another, your story cannot sustain life.
Steps to creating a good character.
1. What is their name? Their name says a lot about their personality. I use unique baby name generators (for first and last names). Just go to google and type in baby names. There are millions of names out there don't just settle for any common name. You look until you find a name you know will fit the idea of your character. (If you name an assassin a girly silly name no one will take them seriously. Unless you give them the name and the assassin shoots people in the face when they laugh about it.)
2. What do they look like? Short, tall, thin? Hair color? Hobbies? Think about yourself or a friend. You can find good characters in just looking at the people around you. Write down everything about this character. You might not even use half of what you write but you'll know your character as if they are someone you see every day.
3. The most important part when creating strong protagonists or characters in general is: what is there personality? Smart, cute, clever, mysterious, strong, gentle, the list can go on forever. But, whatever you choose make it consistent. I have mood swings of my own and it comes out in my characters. But if you are writing about a character that is not like you at all and you throw something in there they wouldn't do you will have your readers confused.
Another important part when creating a unique story is the protagonist’s relationships with the other characters. Think about who your character likes and dislikes. Why does your character feel that way about them? How does your character act around them? How do they interact with one another?
These are just a few tips to help you build solid characters that are believable.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Imagining your story
Sooo....Yesterday I began the editing process of "Love Me Always" yep that's right, it is finished and just needs editing. This time around I know what I messed up on and hopefully I'll get it fixed so it looks like a normal book.
So I think I'm going to start doing writing prompts/exercises, whatever you'd like to call it.
We'll start with shaping your world.
What I do (which I know many people do it differently of course) is I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. Visualize what is it that you want to write about, for example: Say you have a fantasy book in mind, dragons?
Well first you need to decide what does the world look like? Is it here on Earth? Will dragons coming swooping down Los Angeles streets? Or do you want to create your own world? If so what will it look like; a barren wasteland or a lush green field. Perhaps a sea side village/city. Either way while you are imagining these details write it down. It doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't have to have a plot or a reason. Right now you are planning out what you see, what you smell. Is the wind blowing? Is it summer/winter?
These are very important details, if you can see it then so will we. But, now don't go overboard. No one was a two page description of a house.
"The house was yellow and had windows and walls and a fence and there was a tree..."
That is bland and boring. If this is your description then you did not visualize enough. There has to be a story behind the details.
"The house was a two story Southern belle style plantation home with a white picket fence. Every inch of the dilapidated structure had a little bit of history in it from the once a vibrant yellow walls now paled from the searing summer sun, to the twisted oak tree hanging precariously over the front porch. "
Make it interesting, keep their attention. Now the reader can see the house and its flaking paint. Their imagination will go wild and that's what you want. Keep your reader hanging on your every word. Give details but not too much, let the reader fill in the blanks. Let them become part of the story.
If you can see it they will too.
So I think I'm going to start doing writing prompts/exercises, whatever you'd like to call it.
We'll start with shaping your world.
What I do (which I know many people do it differently of course) is I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. Visualize what is it that you want to write about, for example: Say you have a fantasy book in mind, dragons?
Well first you need to decide what does the world look like? Is it here on Earth? Will dragons coming swooping down Los Angeles streets? Or do you want to create your own world? If so what will it look like; a barren wasteland or a lush green field. Perhaps a sea side village/city. Either way while you are imagining these details write it down. It doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't have to have a plot or a reason. Right now you are planning out what you see, what you smell. Is the wind blowing? Is it summer/winter?
These are very important details, if you can see it then so will we. But, now don't go overboard. No one was a two page description of a house.
"The house was yellow and had windows and walls and a fence and there was a tree..."
That is bland and boring. If this is your description then you did not visualize enough. There has to be a story behind the details.
"The house was a two story Southern belle style plantation home with a white picket fence. Every inch of the dilapidated structure had a little bit of history in it from the once a vibrant yellow walls now paled from the searing summer sun, to the twisted oak tree hanging precariously over the front porch. "
Make it interesting, keep their attention. Now the reader can see the house and its flaking paint. Their imagination will go wild and that's what you want. Keep your reader hanging on your every word. Give details but not too much, let the reader fill in the blanks. Let them become part of the story.
If you can see it they will too.
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