Yes, yes. I know I'm late getting Friday's Mail Call posted for this week.
I suck as a human being, I'm aware, let's move on.
I suck as a human being, I'm aware, let's move on.
This week's question / cry for help I believe had to do with generating a plot. I'll apologize to the individual who wrote in with the question because it was (a) from an anonymous address and almost didn't get read, (b) wasn't signed, and (c) was a bit garbled and hard to decipher. I'm hoping it was just a function of an email glitch so please feel free to send it over again if I've misinterpreted. If it's not a function of misinterpretation, well, I guess the only way to put this is that it's infinitely easier to respond to a question when it's presented succinctly and clearly. No offense intended. AutoCorrect may make all of us her bitch from time to time but the chica is ultimately useful and stuff, you know?
The gist of the message was that this individual has created an awesome character that they feel would be a great anchor for a story but isn't sure how to craft it. Well, all I can really say in response first and foremost is welcome to being a writer! Crafting your narrative is, for a lot of us, the hardest part of all of it. (For some it's typing, which is apparently my problem today as well. Maybe I should just go back to two fingers...)
Okay, first of all we're going to assume that your character is just as awesome as you feel they are. Cool. The question is, how did they get that way? I'd wager a nickel or so that you probably dreamed up something for them to do along the way that proved that awesomeness. Dance monkey dance sort of has its uses, if you get my drift. Well, that event that causes said awesomeness is as good a place as any to start. Look, I foisted an entire novella on the world based on an idea about a guy getting dumped by his wife and invited to a bad Halloween party on the same day. What do I know?
My point, if you haven't guessed it by now, is that in my opinion you can't really develop the character fully without the plot. You've probably got some great starter ideas for this dude / dudette / otherwise entertaining entity but you're going to need to get something moving for them to prove themselves to you as a character. I still swear by the "shadow box" idea. Take a couple of newly created characters, make up a scene, throw them in and watch what happens. (Apply alcohol as needed). You'd be amazed what will just show up sometimes. Where else do you think I came up with a cat with an inappropriate licking issue? Just sayin'...
Have a great weekend all. By the way, I reposted "I Remember You" on the side bar of the blog for those that were having trouble finding it. You'll also be able to find "Tell Me Everything" in the same place when it releases next week!
Laters (God it must be late...)
Okay, first of all we're going to assume that your character is just as awesome as you feel they are. Cool. The question is, how did they get that way? I'd wager a nickel or so that you probably dreamed up something for them to do along the way that proved that awesomeness. Dance monkey dance sort of has its uses, if you get my drift. Well, that event that causes said awesomeness is as good a place as any to start. Look, I foisted an entire novella on the world based on an idea about a guy getting dumped by his wife and invited to a bad Halloween party on the same day. What do I know?
My point, if you haven't guessed it by now, is that in my opinion you can't really develop the character fully without the plot. You've probably got some great starter ideas for this dude / dudette / otherwise entertaining entity but you're going to need to get something moving for them to prove themselves to you as a character. I still swear by the "shadow box" idea. Take a couple of newly created characters, make up a scene, throw them in and watch what happens. (Apply alcohol as needed). You'd be amazed what will just show up sometimes. Where else do you think I came up with a cat with an inappropriate licking issue? Just sayin'...
Have a great weekend all. By the way, I reposted "I Remember You" on the side bar of the blog for those that were having trouble finding it. You'll also be able to find "Tell Me Everything" in the same place when it releases next week!
Laters (God it must be late...)
No comments:
Post a Comment