Writing #2...It's all about character
Oh my gosh!
What have I done? Who am I to tell anyone how to write?
But I've promised...
Sort of.
Still, entire books are dedicated to the craft of writing and even they acknowledge that they can’t cover it all. How am I supposed to scratch the surface with a few blog posts?
But I know you guys think it’s all vast and mysterious--and it's not!
So I’m going to do what I can.
LESSON #2. It’s all about character.
I’ve published two different book series now, and both of them started with a character.
--A self-help expert on being single
--A girl who goes to spy school
Then I asked the question: “what’s the worst that can happen?”
Your story needs some conflict. Your character needs some mission (literally--in Cammie’s case). And whatever conflict you choose should stem from that character.
Of course, sometimes the conflict or situation comes first for an author. In those cases you still need to go back to character because he/she will be the heart of the story—everything ties to it.
For example, what would Wizard of Oz be like if Dorothy was a street-smart bully?
And can you imagine Lord of the Rings if Aragorn--not Frodo--had been in charge of taking the Ring to Mount Doom?
Those might have been very interesting, well-told stories, but they would have been different stories—all because of character.
Every line of dialogue, every plot element or twist should come from the characters. Get to know them. Go deep inside them. Make them interesting and multi-dimensional.
And then start messing with their comfy little lives.
But that’s another lesson.
For tomorrow: story structure--acts and plot points.
Happy writing!
--Ally
PS….Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is opening around the US today, and I’m excited to see it (and not because Orlando Bloom is dreamy…well….not only that.)
This series is written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, the founders and gurus behind Wordplay, the best screenwriting website I’ve ever seen.
These guys get it!
Consider what first Pirates of the Caribbean film would have been if Jack Sparrow had been a noble sea captain? How interesting would it have been if Elizabeth was a shrinking violet?
Everything—and I mean everything—ties to character so make sure you’ve got some good ones.
What have I done? Who am I to tell anyone how to write?
But I've promised...
Sort of.
Still, entire books are dedicated to the craft of writing and even they acknowledge that they can’t cover it all. How am I supposed to scratch the surface with a few blog posts?
But I know you guys think it’s all vast and mysterious--and it's not!
So I’m going to do what I can.
LESSON #2. It’s all about character.
I’ve published two different book series now, and both of them started with a character.
--A self-help expert on being single
--A girl who goes to spy school
Then I asked the question: “what’s the worst that can happen?”
Your story needs some conflict. Your character needs some mission (literally--in Cammie’s case). And whatever conflict you choose should stem from that character.
Of course, sometimes the conflict or situation comes first for an author. In those cases you still need to go back to character because he/she will be the heart of the story—everything ties to it.
For example, what would Wizard of Oz be like if Dorothy was a street-smart bully?
And can you imagine Lord of the Rings if Aragorn--not Frodo--had been in charge of taking the Ring to Mount Doom?
Those might have been very interesting, well-told stories, but they would have been different stories—all because of character.
Every line of dialogue, every plot element or twist should come from the characters. Get to know them. Go deep inside them. Make them interesting and multi-dimensional.
And then start messing with their comfy little lives.
But that’s another lesson.
For tomorrow: story structure--acts and plot points.
Happy writing!
--Ally
PS….Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is opening around the US today, and I’m excited to see it (and not because Orlando Bloom is dreamy…well….not only that.)
This series is written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, the founders and gurus behind Wordplay, the best screenwriting website I’ve ever seen.
These guys get it!
Consider what first Pirates of the Caribbean film would have been if Jack Sparrow had been a noble sea captain? How interesting would it have been if Elizabeth was a shrinking violet?
Everything—and I mean everything—ties to character so make sure you’ve got some good ones.
posted by Ally Carter at Friday, July 07, 2006
1 Comments:
Fabulous lesson. Very well put. :)
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