Jumpstart Your Writing Career Written by Laura Backes
** Jumpstart Your Career by Asking "Why?" ** by Laura Backes,Publisher of Children's Book Insider, Newsletter for Children's Writers When developing a story or article, writers learn to incorporate "who," "when," "where," and "how." But what often gets overlooked is "why." Without examining why a story takes place, or why an article would be of interest to reader, entire writing experience can be a fruitless exercise. Why this character? At a writing conference I once critiqued a manuscript featuring a character in a situation where you wouldn't normally expect to find him. When I wondered why he was there, author answered, "He just is." "But how did he get there?" I asked. "One of other characters put him there," author stated. "Why?" I pushed. The author didn't have an answer. If you arbitrarily think it would be cute to have a monkey, a doll, or a policeman as your story's protagonist, reader's not going to care unless it makes sense to have that character inhabit your particular plot. And if a monkey shows up where he shouldn't be--at school, for instance--why he's there has to be an integral part of story. But more than that, reader has to know why this monkey is suddenly sitting in a first grade classroom. What's unique about character that makes him only monkey who could possibly appear in this book? Why this story? Just as important as knowing why your character inhabits your book is understanding why this character experiences conflict or problem that fuels plot. Your readers have to believe this protagonist would encounter these obstacles, and not be able to resolve problem in a few lines of text. Not every child is afraid of dark, so if your character hides under covers when lights are out, plant something in her personality that causes this behavior.
| | In The Flesh: 3 Tips To Journaling Believable CharactersWritten by Barbara Carr Phillips
Publishing Guidelines: This article is available for free reprint provided that author bio is left intact and article is published complete and unaltered. If you are using this article on a website or e-book, please make sure that link in author bio is live or clickable.Email notice of intent to publish is requested: bcarrphillips@yahoo.com Word Count: 520 In Flesh: Three Tips to Journaling Believable Characters By Barbara Carr Phillips Writers are natural observers. We note characteristics about people that others miss. How many times have you observed someone, and then revealed that observation to a friend who said, "Yes, yes, that is exactly right! I could not put my finger on what impressed me about that person before." Here are three journaling tips that will develop your skill of observation. Tip #1: Choose a Character of Week You might not describe your character's physical appearance at beginning of your novel, but knowing what he or she looks like will open opportunities to you as you write. Every day we are in contact with others, whether it's our family, grocery store clerk or woman sitting in car ahead of you at stoplight. Choose one real person every week to write about in your journal. Write a page about this person, as though you were looking at her through a one-inch picture frame. Include every physical detail: clothing, jewelry, hairstyle, skin tone, fingernails, facial expressions and mannerisms. If you don't know her name, give one to her. You may discover a character who is ready to bump into main character of that novel you are working on! Tip #2: Create your Character's Goal Log Select one character of week (from Tip #1). It's time to develop this character's motivation. Step into your character's shoes and write a personal goal log. It will be similar to a goal log that you would write for yourself. Write about both long-term goals, (saving a million dollars, retiring to Tuscany) and short-term goals, (losing weight, learning to play guitar). Write about why these goals are important to your character. Include all steps your character will have to take to achieve his or her goals, along with obstacles he or she may encounter along way. Some of goals should be very difficult to achieve or open-ended, just like they are in real life. As you log your character through a difficult goal, which challenges will she or he overcome? Which ones will cause them to give up?
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