"Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success." -John Hays Hammond
My dad and I were talking in the care a few weeks ago about writing. Dad said he's more of a plot writer- that's why he likes writing short stories. (I love my dad's writing, by the way. He's always been my #1 inspiration.) I said I'm more of a character writer and that's why I like writing novels.
Character development is a wonderful thing in stories; it lets you watch a character change. Sometimes they rise from the depths of mistrust and hatred and become everything we dreamed of. At other times, they plumment into a suspicious, regretful character. Either way, when characters change, it stays with us. That's what makes us, well, that's what makes me, reread books- for the shock of watching any character change once again from what they were at chapter one to what they become by chapter twenty. Character development is what makes things memorable, in my opinion.
Okay, think about the most horrible, terrible, the absolutely worst thing that's ever happened to you. After that, did you act the same for something? Did your opinion on something change? When someone says something or does something amazing/harmful, doesn't the way you treat them change?
If your characters are real to you, they will do the same. A good way to drastically change your characters/overall outcome of the story is to kill someone. Yes, it's horrible, it's bloody, but think about it. When it comes to writing, all of the best are murderers. (It counts as murder if you edit like I do.)
Hope this helped! Happy April 29!
Kirah
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
A Jump-Start for Writing
I know that a lot of us have been struggling with writing. I've been writing a lot more consistently now that I have another notebook to haul around with me. Tyler saw it and said in mild disbelief, "Another one?" I'm planning on typing it up in chapters, so that means I'll try to spend some time up in a dark corner in my room revising chapter two before I type it up tomorrow.
So this post is more about getting back into a writing funk. I need this just as much as- or more- than you two followers. So here we go:
1. Write in what interests you. How many times have we heard that? But I think it needs to be a litlte more extreme: Write about something so interesting that you can work on it for months at a time, then go back to it and still be ready to help every word.
2. Think about what's happening right now. Usually I'm really excited for the next chapter or even the end of the book; or maybe I just want to write that one line in chapter five. As a result, I feel like the current part of my book drags, completely empty of conflict. (Of course, I once got writer's block while trying to make my character jump off a horse because I wanted to get to the next chapter. Writing can be so unpredictable sometimes.) Don't spend 100% of your time plotting out for the future, like I have a tendency to do; make some conflict in the moment and make each page memorable.
3. Don't hold your characters in concrete. Do you want to know what my first version of Realms was like? No, you don't. It was still that total chaos of trying to work out writing in mind. But those moments in my first draft are what defines the storyline now. In the first book, I introduced a character, then decided two chapters later that he was a phoenix. I also added a receptionist at the desk that could grow plants at will in the first draft at book three, and he became a major character in book one. Whatever you have planned for your book can easily change. Writing is a balance of a solid plot and flexible characters. If you have to choose between the two, hand your characters the reins and brace yourself for the disaster.
4. Finish your writing. Ending the book is always a huge milestone. No one can tell you the absolutely perfect way to write; people have been trying to find it for centuries. You have to find your own style. (Though an overly preachy teenage writer's blog might be some help.)
I hope that everyone can work out their writing issues! Best of luck to all of you!
Kirah
(ps. If anyone wants me to talk about anything or post something about writing that isn't preachy, let me know! Leave a comment/email me!)
So this post is more about getting back into a writing funk. I need this just as much as- or more- than you two followers. So here we go:
1. Write in what interests you. How many times have we heard that? But I think it needs to be a litlte more extreme: Write about something so interesting that you can work on it for months at a time, then go back to it and still be ready to help every word.
2. Think about what's happening right now. Usually I'm really excited for the next chapter or even the end of the book; or maybe I just want to write that one line in chapter five. As a result, I feel like the current part of my book drags, completely empty of conflict. (Of course, I once got writer's block while trying to make my character jump off a horse because I wanted to get to the next chapter. Writing can be so unpredictable sometimes.) Don't spend 100% of your time plotting out for the future, like I have a tendency to do; make some conflict in the moment and make each page memorable.
3. Don't hold your characters in concrete. Do you want to know what my first version of Realms was like? No, you don't. It was still that total chaos of trying to work out writing in mind. But those moments in my first draft are what defines the storyline now. In the first book, I introduced a character, then decided two chapters later that he was a phoenix. I also added a receptionist at the desk that could grow plants at will in the first draft at book three, and he became a major character in book one. Whatever you have planned for your book can easily change. Writing is a balance of a solid plot and flexible characters. If you have to choose between the two, hand your characters the reins and brace yourself for the disaster.
4. Finish your writing. Ending the book is always a huge milestone. No one can tell you the absolutely perfect way to write; people have been trying to find it for centuries. You have to find your own style. (Though an overly preachy teenage writer's blog might be some help.)
I hope that everyone can work out their writing issues! Best of luck to all of you!
Kirah
(ps. If anyone wants me to talk about anything or post something about writing that isn't preachy, let me know! Leave a comment/email me!)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Rewriting
Sorry I didn't post yesterday. The only February 29th in four years, and I miss it!
Today, I'm thinking about rewriting. For those of you who know about my Realms story, you know how often I've rewritten it. If you don't, well, I've written the first chapter at least 8 times, finished the entire book twice, and the plot has drastically changed every single time. A weekend or two ago I wrote the first chapter again longhand, and then I have to type it up again. That's going to take a while.
To make your rewriting a success: (please read this is a loud commercial voice full of smiling)
1. These rules only apply to rewriting; the first draft is just tearing through the story.
2. Read the story out loud after you've written a page or two. This will help you make it flow better.
3. Be harsh with yourself. Turn on the editor's side of your brain.
4. Don't be afraid to delete huge sections or entire scene.
5. Write only what's important to the plot. If you're like me, the first draft is full of the characters just sitting there and being like, 'Hmm, I wonder what'll happen next?'
Good luck! Have fun writing/rewriting!
Kirah
Today, I'm thinking about rewriting. For those of you who know about my Realms story, you know how often I've rewritten it. If you don't, well, I've written the first chapter at least 8 times, finished the entire book twice, and the plot has drastically changed every single time. A weekend or two ago I wrote the first chapter again longhand, and then I have to type it up again. That's going to take a while.
To make your rewriting a success: (please read this is a loud commercial voice full of smiling)
1. These rules only apply to rewriting; the first draft is just tearing through the story.
2. Read the story out loud after you've written a page or two. This will help you make it flow better.
3. Be harsh with yourself. Turn on the editor's side of your brain.
4. Don't be afraid to delete huge sections or entire scene.
5. Write only what's important to the plot. If you're like me, the first draft is full of the characters just sitting there and being like, 'Hmm, I wonder what'll happen next?'
Good luck! Have fun writing/rewriting!
Kirah
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Characters
Let's face it: as people, we have flaws. We have pet peeves. We don't get along with others all the time. We yell. We get annoyed. The human mind is a scary thing, and I rarely find an author brave or skilled enough to conquer it. Of course, it's also very hard. And, as people, we want to believe that we are all brave little heroes inside that run around with sharp objects to save the world.
Um, nope. Not me, at least. I could probably try running around with a sharp object, but I would probably trip. That would not only be messy, but also kind of embarrassing. I understand that we have to idealize people a little bit, or else all the heroes would've run away and left the damsels in distress sitting there with the villain.
There are a few things that make fictional characters a little bit more believable:
1. We aren't black and white good and evil. Actually, this usually isn't a problem with good guys, but with the antagonist.
2. Most people stumble. I happen to do this a lot more than normal people. However, if you do happen to make your characters trip, please make sure they aren't holding anything sharp.
3. At least someone hates your main character. I have a certain type of personality that grates on my nerves, and I hope I'm not the only one.
4. Everyone makes bad decisions and messes up.
In my writing, I need to improve on this, too. I have written one character that makes a lot of bad choices, and sometimes he rises to the top, but he also crashes and burns. It makes writing interesting. As for the rest of my characters, I really need to polish some of them a little bit more.
Hope this helped!
Kirah
Um, nope. Not me, at least. I could probably try running around with a sharp object, but I would probably trip. That would not only be messy, but also kind of embarrassing. I understand that we have to idealize people a little bit, or else all the heroes would've run away and left the damsels in distress sitting there with the villain.
There are a few things that make fictional characters a little bit more believable:
1. We aren't black and white good and evil. Actually, this usually isn't a problem with good guys, but with the antagonist.
2. Most people stumble. I happen to do this a lot more than normal people. However, if you do happen to make your characters trip, please make sure they aren't holding anything sharp.
3. At least someone hates your main character. I have a certain type of personality that grates on my nerves, and I hope I'm not the only one.
4. Everyone makes bad decisions and messes up.
In my writing, I need to improve on this, too. I have written one character that makes a lot of bad choices, and sometimes he rises to the top, but he also crashes and burns. It makes writing interesting. As for the rest of my characters, I really need to polish some of them a little bit more.
Hope this helped!
Kirah
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
To be or not to be?
To be or not to be; that is the question. -Shakespeare
I'll admit it: when I first heard this, I was really confused. When I was younger, I would start thinking about that and wonder what it meant. I commented about it to a friend, and she said, "It means 'To write or not to write?' is the question, not 'Am I a good writer?'" I really like that- and I've been writing nonstop to make it the best of my abilities ever since.
However, there's a second part in this that also applies to writing. "To be" words (is, are, am, seem, were, was, seemed) are a big no-no, I've learned. They do more telling than showing, so it can ruin a sentence. If you look in some popular writing today, you can probably find a few "To be" words in the text, but there won't be very many. Coincidence?
While writing, I usually keep it vaguely there in my head that I should try to avoid these, and then I go back and change them when I edit it. It made my writing a lot better, and it'll do the same for yours, too.
Next time someone says "To be or not to be; that is the question" . . . When it comes to writing, the answer is definitely Not to be!
Kirah
(Can someone count how many times I used a "To Be" word in this post?)
I'll admit it: when I first heard this, I was really confused. When I was younger, I would start thinking about that and wonder what it meant. I commented about it to a friend, and she said, "It means 'To write or not to write?' is the question, not 'Am I a good writer?'" I really like that- and I've been writing nonstop to make it the best of my abilities ever since.
However, there's a second part in this that also applies to writing. "To be" words (is, are, am, seem, were, was, seemed) are a big no-no, I've learned. They do more telling than showing, so it can ruin a sentence. If you look in some popular writing today, you can probably find a few "To be" words in the text, but there won't be very many. Coincidence?
While writing, I usually keep it vaguely there in my head that I should try to avoid these, and then I go back and change them when I edit it. It made my writing a lot better, and it'll do the same for yours, too.
Next time someone says "To be or not to be; that is the question" . . . When it comes to writing, the answer is definitely Not to be!
Kirah
(Can someone count how many times I used a "To Be" word in this post?)
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