It is worth repeating that your key character is your book, and must be to the forefront of the story most of the time throughout the plot. Ideally, the key character should be introduced to the reader in chapter one. This is important, since the reader will need to feel empathy with a character straight away to be willing to follow that character through the book. If the reader cannot find this sympathy he/she will simple close the covers of the book, having lost interest. Interest is maintained by depth of character and skillful plotting.
It has been said in a previous article that the writer should know his key character thoroughly. But there is no need to outline this background to the reader immediately in blocks of explanation. Through the key character's interaction with other characters and his/her internal thoughts interspersed throughout the book the reader will come to know everything in a natural way, as we come to gradually know our friends in real life.
As the key character's background decides his/her personality and outlook on life, certain traits will emerge that will fix the character in the reader's mind and imagination. The most important trait is integrity. The key character will have ideals and principles which he/she will fight to protect and no matter what adversity he/she faces and will stand by those principles. The writer can test the key character's strength to the full here, making him/her suffer any hardship or apparent insurmountable obstacle.
Watching the character struggle to maintain his integrity, especially in early scenes and chapters, makes the reader trust and respect the character. This resulting empathy is a kind of hook to keep the reader turning the pages. Without integrity the character will not be likable - a fatal flaw, no matter how well worked out the plot is.
Integrity is not to be confused with virtue. A character may lose virtue and be forgiven by the reader, but a reader will not accept a key character betraying his/her principles.
For an example, let us look at author Lee Childs' very popular character Jack Reacher. Jack is a loner out of choice, a dangerous man; an anti-hero in fact. Jack will kill without a second thought, but the reader forgives him and still admires him because whatever he needs to do is done in the name of justice. Jack has strong integrity even though his virtue may be a little tarnished.
What other traits your character has will be determined by his background and by the plot that you weave for him/her.
But, of course, the key character is not in this story alone. There are other characters usually determined by the plot. Other characters are usually called secondary characters. These characters will interact with the key character thus pushing the plot along at a good pace. However, they are secondary by degrees. Some secondary characters will remain in the story throughout the story, having a strong role to play, and will have viewpoint scenes of their own. They also will have varies traits - some good, some bad according to their role in the story and the plotting. There are minor characters which the writer will find it necessary to bring in but they will not be given viewpoint scenes - these are what might be described as walk-on characters. They will usually have a specific function in the story if only briefly. In the case of very minor characters there is no need to name them. The reader will soon lose patience if he/she has too many names to cope with.
It is unwise, too, to create too many characters. Certainly do not bring a host of characters in at chapter one. The key character rules in chapter one, when the reader learns of the insurmountable obstacle that the key character faces, (more about that in the article on plotting.) Do not have walk-on characters popping in and out of the plot, each with their own point-of-view, then never to be heard of again.
An example of this bad practice is thus. John is eagerly waiting at the window watching for the postman to arrive with an important letter he is expecting. He sees the postman approaching and we hear his excited internal thoughts - there might even be a little dialogue as he speaks to his wife.
Now many new writers are tempted to leave John's key character's point-of-view and jump into the approaching postman's walk-on character point-of-view, giving his thoughts about this and that which has no relevance to the plot at all. Many new writers tend to scatter points-on-view around like confetti. (There will be more on this aspect in an article devoted to structure and construction in the novel)
It is best to have a very few characters the first scene in chapter one, two or three at the most. They all must have a specific role to play otherwise there is no need for them to be there at all. Talk to your characters. You may even find that one or two will try to push forward, wanting a bigger role in the story and will sometimes attempt to take over. But you know your plot and you know which way you want it to go in the beginning. But don't turn a completely deaf ear to them. Sometimes characters come up with wonderful ideas to create twist and turns in the plot. Make your characters your friends.
Showing posts with label published. Show all posts
Showing posts with label published. Show all posts
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Get Published - Getting Ideas
Many new writers are troubled by the question 'What shall I write about?' Often the answer given to them is... 'Write about what you know.' Baldly put, some new writers do not find that helpful, yet it is good advice. We will look more closely at that later in this article.
Let us look first at the source of all ideas. Ideas are all around us wherever we look, yet we may not be able to see the wood for the trees. Brought down to basic level an idea for a story or novel must concern or illustrate the human condition in some way. This is true even if you are writing science fiction. Fictional aliens may have a strange appearance but they should think and behave and have the same values as humans or they will have no interest for the reader or viewer. The human condition therefore is the source of all ideas that appeal to readers. That gives a wide scope for looking for something to write about.
Most stories, novels, films and plays are about human relationships and connections. No matter what the genre, the fictional characters have to suffer and struggle against life and circumstances. This is true even in writing comedy. Readers are interested in how characters cope with difficult situations and their own needs and emotions.
Emotions such as love, hate, greed, envy, sexual jealousy, and hunger for power or voracious ambition have endless fascination for the reader or viewer. The reader is curious how other people deal with situations such as personal danger, life-threatening disease, loneliness, loveless marriage, shortage of money etc. etc. The writer, alert for ideas, can mine this rich seam over and over again. Because, the truth is that no idea is new or original. It is a waste of time searching for originality. Every idea under the sun has been used myriad times before. What the writer must do is to look for new angles on old themes.
The success of the film 'Avatar' is a point in question. At first glance this is just another shoot-'em-up, coupled with the old theme of the battle between good and evil. In most science fiction stories the human characters are the good-guys and the aliens are the evils menace. In 'Avatar' this theme has been stood on its head. The humans are the ruthless evil-doers and the aliens are the defenceless yet courageous good-guys. The viewer roots for them to overthrow the humans - and this is because the aliens appear more human than the humans themselves.
Write about what you know. A new writer may say... 'My life is so dull - there's nothing in it to write about.'
But look around you. The writer must make use of all sources - gossip, news stories, your family, friends, and people you work among. Every one around you has his or her own story. The writer does not take these stories verbatim but uses them to construct similar fictitious situations and uses his/her imagination to expand and develop these basic beginnings and weave them into a plot
Will it fly? You are finally decided on your genre and have found a basic idea to run with. Don't start writing yet. There is a long way to go before that. Some ideas are perfect for short stories but are totally inadequate for novels. An idea for a novel has to have the promise of meatiness, that is, stamina to be the backbone of a novel of say 100,000 thousand words. The writer needs to look carefully at this idea and see where it can be expanded, strengthened and developed to go the distance. There are other elements of writing the novel which can help him do this. The most important element is the development of the characters that will inhabit the novel.
In the next article in the series the choosing of characters and their development will be discussed.
Let us look first at the source of all ideas. Ideas are all around us wherever we look, yet we may not be able to see the wood for the trees. Brought down to basic level an idea for a story or novel must concern or illustrate the human condition in some way. This is true even if you are writing science fiction. Fictional aliens may have a strange appearance but they should think and behave and have the same values as humans or they will have no interest for the reader or viewer. The human condition therefore is the source of all ideas that appeal to readers. That gives a wide scope for looking for something to write about.
Most stories, novels, films and plays are about human relationships and connections. No matter what the genre, the fictional characters have to suffer and struggle against life and circumstances. This is true even in writing comedy. Readers are interested in how characters cope with difficult situations and their own needs and emotions.
Emotions such as love, hate, greed, envy, sexual jealousy, and hunger for power or voracious ambition have endless fascination for the reader or viewer. The reader is curious how other people deal with situations such as personal danger, life-threatening disease, loneliness, loveless marriage, shortage of money etc. etc. The writer, alert for ideas, can mine this rich seam over and over again. Because, the truth is that no idea is new or original. It is a waste of time searching for originality. Every idea under the sun has been used myriad times before. What the writer must do is to look for new angles on old themes.
The success of the film 'Avatar' is a point in question. At first glance this is just another shoot-'em-up, coupled with the old theme of the battle between good and evil. In most science fiction stories the human characters are the good-guys and the aliens are the evils menace. In 'Avatar' this theme has been stood on its head. The humans are the ruthless evil-doers and the aliens are the defenceless yet courageous good-guys. The viewer roots for them to overthrow the humans - and this is because the aliens appear more human than the humans themselves.
Write about what you know. A new writer may say... 'My life is so dull - there's nothing in it to write about.'
But look around you. The writer must make use of all sources - gossip, news stories, your family, friends, and people you work among. Every one around you has his or her own story. The writer does not take these stories verbatim but uses them to construct similar fictitious situations and uses his/her imagination to expand and develop these basic beginnings and weave them into a plot
Will it fly? You are finally decided on your genre and have found a basic idea to run with. Don't start writing yet. There is a long way to go before that. Some ideas are perfect for short stories but are totally inadequate for novels. An idea for a novel has to have the promise of meatiness, that is, stamina to be the backbone of a novel of say 100,000 thousand words. The writer needs to look carefully at this idea and see where it can be expanded, strengthened and developed to go the distance. There are other elements of writing the novel which can help him do this. The most important element is the development of the characters that will inhabit the novel.
In the next article in the series the choosing of characters and their development will be discussed.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Get Published - Characters
Many new writers are troubled by the question 'What shall I write about?' Often the answer given to them is... 'Write about what you know.' Baldly put, some new writers do not find that helpful, yet it is good advice. We will look more closely at that later in this article.
Let us look first at the source of all ideas. Ideas are all around us wherever we look, yet we may not be able to see the wood for the trees. Brought down to basic level an idea for a story or novel must concern or illustrate the human condition in some way. This is true even if you are writing science fiction. Fictional aliens may have a strange appearance but they should think and behave and have the same values as humans or they will have no interest for the reader or viewer. The human condition therefore is the source of all ideas that appeal to readers. That gives a wide scope for looking for something to write about.
Most stories, novels, films and plays are about human relationships and connections. No matter what the genre, the fictional characters have to suffer and struggle against life and circumstances. This is true even in writing comedy. Readers are interested in how characters cope with difficult situations and their own needs and emotions.
Emotions such as love, hate, greed, envy, sexual jealousy, and hunger for power or voracious ambition have endless fascination for the reader or viewer. The reader is curious how other people deal with situations such as personal danger, life-threatening disease, loneliness, loveless marriage, shortage of money etc. etc. The writer, alert for ideas, can mine this rich seam over and over again. Because, the truth is that no idea is new or original. It is a waste of time searching for originality. Every idea under the sun has been used myriad times before. What the writer must do is to look for new angles on old themes.
The success of the film 'Avatar' is a point in question. At first glance this is just another shoot-'em-up, coupled with the old theme of the battle between good and evil. In most science fiction stories the human characters are the good-guys and the aliens are the evils menace. In 'Avatar' this theme has been stood on its head. The humans are the ruthless evil-doers and the aliens are the defenceless yet courageous good-guys. The viewer roots for them to overthrow the humans - and this is because the aliens appear more human than the humans themselves.
Write about what you know. A new writer may say... 'My life is so dull - there's nothing in it to write about.'
But look around you. The writer must make use of all sources - gossip, news stories, your family, friends, and people you work among. Every one around you has his or her own story. The writer does not take these stories verbatim but uses them to construct similar fictitious situations and uses his/her imagination to expand and develop these basic beginnings and weave them into a plot
Will it fly? You are finally decided on your genre and have found a basic idea to run with. Don't start writing yet. There is a long way to go before that. Some ideas are perfect for short stories but are totally inadequate for novels. An idea for a novel has to have the promise of meatiness, that is, stamina to be the backbone of a novel of say 100,000 thousand words. The writer needs to look carefully at this idea and see where it can be expanded, strengthened and developed to go the distance. There are other elements of writing the novel which can help him do this. The most important element is the development of the characters that will inhabit the novel.
In the next article in the series the choosing of characters and their development will be discussed.
Let us look first at the source of all ideas. Ideas are all around us wherever we look, yet we may not be able to see the wood for the trees. Brought down to basic level an idea for a story or novel must concern or illustrate the human condition in some way. This is true even if you are writing science fiction. Fictional aliens may have a strange appearance but they should think and behave and have the same values as humans or they will have no interest for the reader or viewer. The human condition therefore is the source of all ideas that appeal to readers. That gives a wide scope for looking for something to write about.
Most stories, novels, films and plays are about human relationships and connections. No matter what the genre, the fictional characters have to suffer and struggle against life and circumstances. This is true even in writing comedy. Readers are interested in how characters cope with difficult situations and their own needs and emotions.
Emotions such as love, hate, greed, envy, sexual jealousy, and hunger for power or voracious ambition have endless fascination for the reader or viewer. The reader is curious how other people deal with situations such as personal danger, life-threatening disease, loneliness, loveless marriage, shortage of money etc. etc. The writer, alert for ideas, can mine this rich seam over and over again. Because, the truth is that no idea is new or original. It is a waste of time searching for originality. Every idea under the sun has been used myriad times before. What the writer must do is to look for new angles on old themes.
The success of the film 'Avatar' is a point in question. At first glance this is just another shoot-'em-up, coupled with the old theme of the battle between good and evil. In most science fiction stories the human characters are the good-guys and the aliens are the evils menace. In 'Avatar' this theme has been stood on its head. The humans are the ruthless evil-doers and the aliens are the defenceless yet courageous good-guys. The viewer roots for them to overthrow the humans - and this is because the aliens appear more human than the humans themselves.
Write about what you know. A new writer may say... 'My life is so dull - there's nothing in it to write about.'
But look around you. The writer must make use of all sources - gossip, news stories, your family, friends, and people you work among. Every one around you has his or her own story. The writer does not take these stories verbatim but uses them to construct similar fictitious situations and uses his/her imagination to expand and develop these basic beginnings and weave them into a plot
Will it fly? You are finally decided on your genre and have found a basic idea to run with. Don't start writing yet. There is a long way to go before that. Some ideas are perfect for short stories but are totally inadequate for novels. An idea for a novel has to have the promise of meatiness, that is, stamina to be the backbone of a novel of say 100,000 thousand words. The writer needs to look carefully at this idea and see where it can be expanded, strengthened and developed to go the distance. There are other elements of writing the novel which can help him do this. The most important element is the development of the characters that will inhabit the novel.
In the next article in the series the choosing of characters and their development will be discussed.
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