The front story is determined by the characters’ goals and beliefs and traits.Behind the front story of each character is a unique world made up of all her past experiences. Every well-rounded and fully-developed character has a backstory.Some characters’ backstories are rather banal, like everyone else’s background, past, history. However, the character herself always must be unique or possess a bit of mystery of individuality.A character’s backstory is everything that happens to a character …
Happy Lunar New Year!
This lunar new year celebrates the dragon. You serve yourself well to follow the path of the dragon where rules and regulations are made for other people. This is a time of big ideas and extreme ambition, a time when the creative spark fires in your belly. Be the dragon, fearless in the face of challenges and always successful. Dragons are free and uninhibited. Don't write the story others have written. Write your version of how life works. Be bold. Offer your readers a new and different vision, …
#1 Plot Problem for Writers
I am often asked what the #1 problem writers have with plot. My answer varies, depending on the most recent plot consultation or plot workshop I've just done. Today I say as I have before, the #1 plot problem writers struggle with is the climax and resolution.So much time and thought and writing goes into developing a compelling protagonist with a mysterious back story, deciding where is the exact right beginning of the story, how to make the action exciting and the book concept big, the details …
Is Plot Destroying the World?
Benjamen Walker interviewed me today about plot for his radio show. (I'll share the interview link when I receive it from Benjamen.) On his playlist and archives list for his show's Too Much Information page on the internet, he states that "in a world where everyone shares the truth 140 characters at a time, telling tales might be the most honest thing to do."I love that.During the interview, he goes on to say that he believes plot is destroying the world. Those may not have been his exact …
Benefits of a Plot Planner
With a sheet of banner paper unfurled in front of me, I begin asking questions of a writer with a very successful first book who needs help with her second. Her problem? Not uncommon ~ years and years of working on the first book, layer upon layer, input, changes, rewrites, drafts and drafts, enough to make a writer wonder:"How did I do it? And how will I ever be able to do it again? Only faster this time?"Ideas rolling around in her head begin to tumble out.Characters emerge, flaws and all. …
Follow Me!