Creative Writing Tips –When an idea comes to us for a short story, we either think of a story line first or a character first. Whichever we think of first, and later on build, we have to make sure
plot and character suit each other.
Example one – We think of a story line first.
Your story is set in a rural area. A company opens a factory and employs workers from that small town. The residents welcome this, as there aren’t many jobs going around. The management takes advantage of that fact and exploit workers.
Using a technicality in system, perhaps listing them under different job titles in their books, they pay them less than they are entitled. Your main character sees this injustice and leads workers to rebel against management.
Now in a plot like this you will need your main character to posses certain qualities. Like…
Leadership To be able to lead people to rebel.
Convincing The workers are from a rural area. Some might be uneducated and not aware of their rights. The main character has to convince them that what management is doing, is wrong.
Persuader Living in a rural area, jobs are hard to find. Most of workers will view company as their saviour. Their thinking will be that receiving little money is better than none at all. The main character has to persuade them that being in a rural area company needs them as much as workers need company.
Strong Personality & Confident We need a strong character that will see things through to end. We don’t want someone giving up when things get tough. He will also need to be confident that he is doing right thing (not to make things worse for workers) and believes in himself (knowing what he’s doing is right).
Strong people skills To be able to speak and relate to people on all levels.
Negotiator To negotiate a solution with management and workers.
Public speaker skills To be able to address this mass group of workers, in a voice that is confident, persuading, authoritative etc.
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So these are qualities we will need our character to have.
