Ian Dawson's Blog, page 20
January 30, 2022
Writing Tip of the Week: Purposeful Characters
No matter what type of fiction you’re writing, characters are essential to the story. They engage the reader, generating empathy, sympathy, and connection. Your characters must serve a purpose within the framework of your story’s world.
As writers, it takes time to craft, shape, and mold our protagonist, antagonist, and other characters into the overall story arc that we have created. We shouldn’t be wasting creative energy creating superfluous characters who have no reason to be in the story.
Here are some tips to help you eliminate aimless and purposeless characters from your story.
Take Inventory
Who’s who, and why are they there? If you are in the beginning stages of writing your story, take time to establish your main characters, secondary characters, and background characters on a spreadsheet or piece of paper. Do they serve an essential function in the story?
If you have already written your story, take inventory of your characters as you read through. Do they all serve a purpose? Is there anyone that doesn’t belong or isn’t really essential to the story?
By creating a spreadsheet, you can list who the characters are, their role, and how they tie into the story. If you find characters that serve no critical function or role, you may want to cut them because…
More Characters = More Problems
Taking on an ambitious fiction project can be exciting. Still, you also have to make sure that everyone you introduce has a reason for existing and serves an essential role in your story. The more characters you bring into the mix, the harder it can be to keep track and keep things focused.
Limiting the number of characters can help keep the story and its conflict focused, so you don’t get lost in the weeds, which reminds me…
Where’s the Focus?
Your story has a main storyline with a protagonist working toward a goal amidst numerous obstacles. That should be your primary focus as you write. Find yourself deviating too much into subplots and side quests with other characters? It may be time to either rethink the protagonist or move those other characters into their own story.
If the subplots tie directly back to the main character and their story, that’s fine. But if you do notice that what they’re doing has zero impact on the main narrative, it’s time to cut it.
Superfluous Characters
Are there characters you’ve created that don’t really go anywhere or serve any real purpose within the story? Maybe you wrote an elaborate backstory for a Starbucks barista that the main character encounters on their journey. But, if they are in one chapter and never seen or mentioned again, you may want to trim out how they saved their grandma and her cat from a space heater fire in the fifth grade.
However, if the barista’s backstory serves a key role in the story later on, and the character comes back to help save the day, they serve a purpose. Just make sure that if you put in the time to provide lots of detail on a specific character, the reader has a reason to be given that information.
Elevate or Eliminate?
If your creative mind has crafted a complex side character who initially has no real purpose in the overall story, you have a few options:
• You can cut them out of this story and move them to one where they can play a more significant role.
• You can elevate them and combine their character and attributes with a less-than-stellar secondary character who may need some extra life.
• Or you can see how this character’s current role can be elevated through further interactions with the protagonist and the main story.
There are ways to make it work, but the character can’t detract or deviate from the main story.
Should My Protagonist Have a Pet?
I’ve seen this brought up before, and it’s an interesting question. The answer is simple: only if you are willing to have the main character’s dog or cat be a part of the story. You can’t just introduce the reader to the protagonist’s dog in one chapter and never mention them again. Once you commit to your main character being a pet owner, you have chosen to keep that pet as a part of the story.
So, if your main character travels the world on quests, it’s probably best to keep the pets out of things. Otherwise, readers may wonder, “Who’s watching Rex? Is the dog okay? I know cats are independent, but she’s been gone for three weeks!”
Read, Read, Read
Skim through novels and see how different authors set up and establish their various characters. Some will be more detailed than others, but the key to this research is to identify how main characters, secondary characters, and others are described throughout the story.
Whether you’re writing a short story or short film, a novel or a screenplay, knowing who your characters are and their purpose is essential to keeping the story moving and the reader or viewer engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
As writers, it takes time to craft, shape, and mold our protagonist, antagonist, and other characters into the overall story arc that we have created. We shouldn’t be wasting creative energy creating superfluous characters who have no reason to be in the story.
Here are some tips to help you eliminate aimless and purposeless characters from your story.
Take Inventory
Who’s who, and why are they there? If you are in the beginning stages of writing your story, take time to establish your main characters, secondary characters, and background characters on a spreadsheet or piece of paper. Do they serve an essential function in the story?
If you have already written your story, take inventory of your characters as you read through. Do they all serve a purpose? Is there anyone that doesn’t belong or isn’t really essential to the story?
By creating a spreadsheet, you can list who the characters are, their role, and how they tie into the story. If you find characters that serve no critical function or role, you may want to cut them because…
More Characters = More Problems
Taking on an ambitious fiction project can be exciting. Still, you also have to make sure that everyone you introduce has a reason for existing and serves an essential role in your story. The more characters you bring into the mix, the harder it can be to keep track and keep things focused.
Limiting the number of characters can help keep the story and its conflict focused, so you don’t get lost in the weeds, which reminds me…
Where’s the Focus?
Your story has a main storyline with a protagonist working toward a goal amidst numerous obstacles. That should be your primary focus as you write. Find yourself deviating too much into subplots and side quests with other characters? It may be time to either rethink the protagonist or move those other characters into their own story.
If the subplots tie directly back to the main character and their story, that’s fine. But if you do notice that what they’re doing has zero impact on the main narrative, it’s time to cut it.
Superfluous Characters
Are there characters you’ve created that don’t really go anywhere or serve any real purpose within the story? Maybe you wrote an elaborate backstory for a Starbucks barista that the main character encounters on their journey. But, if they are in one chapter and never seen or mentioned again, you may want to trim out how they saved their grandma and her cat from a space heater fire in the fifth grade.
However, if the barista’s backstory serves a key role in the story later on, and the character comes back to help save the day, they serve a purpose. Just make sure that if you put in the time to provide lots of detail on a specific character, the reader has a reason to be given that information.
Elevate or Eliminate?
If your creative mind has crafted a complex side character who initially has no real purpose in the overall story, you have a few options:
• You can cut them out of this story and move them to one where they can play a more significant role.
• You can elevate them and combine their character and attributes with a less-than-stellar secondary character who may need some extra life.
• Or you can see how this character’s current role can be elevated through further interactions with the protagonist and the main story.
There are ways to make it work, but the character can’t detract or deviate from the main story.
Should My Protagonist Have a Pet?
I’ve seen this brought up before, and it’s an interesting question. The answer is simple: only if you are willing to have the main character’s dog or cat be a part of the story. You can’t just introduce the reader to the protagonist’s dog in one chapter and never mention them again. Once you commit to your main character being a pet owner, you have chosen to keep that pet as a part of the story.
So, if your main character travels the world on quests, it’s probably best to keep the pets out of things. Otherwise, readers may wonder, “Who’s watching Rex? Is the dog okay? I know cats are independent, but she’s been gone for three weeks!”
Read, Read, Read
Skim through novels and see how different authors set up and establish their various characters. Some will be more detailed than others, but the key to this research is to identify how main characters, secondary characters, and others are described throughout the story.
Whether you’re writing a short story or short film, a novel or a screenplay, knowing who your characters are and their purpose is essential to keeping the story moving and the reader or viewer engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
January 16, 2022
Writing Tip of the Week: Setting Writing Deadlines
Deadlines. We have them at work, and our kids have them for school projects, and the government gives us one to pay our taxes. Having a set, definite date to aim for with something major can be a great motivator for getting things done.
But are you setting deadlines for your writing?
Even if you’re not planning to publish or send your work to contest, giving yourself a deadline can be a great way to get things in gear and get the writing done. This milestone can be a moment of celebration and excitement; the novel is done, and I can move forward with my next writing project.
Some people may prefer not to have deadlines. They allow the Muse to decide when they write and when the project is done. That’s all well and good. However, if you want to write a lot and get a lot done and off your To-Do List, I recommend creating deadlines for your projects.
Here are some things to consider when setting deadlines.
Be Reasonable
If you are working on your first novel, setting a deadline of one month maybe a little too intense (unless you’re into that sort of high-octane writing thrill). Creating a reasonable deadline that is manageable but not ridiculous is the key to making the deadline work.
Maybe you plan to have a six-month deadline for your first novel. Then once you’ve seen what you can do with six months, shave a month off for the next one.
I’m sure you’ve seen stories and videos of people who wrote a screenplay in 48 hours or a novel in two weeks, and if you want to aim for that as a personal goal, go for it. But if you have a day job, kids, a family, and other obligations don’t add to your plate writing a 65,000-word novel in a month.
No one wins in that scenario.
Write It Down
It may sound silly, but writing a deadline down in a notebook, a journal, on a calendar, or on a whiteboard where you can see it as a reminder is useful to keep you mindful of the chosen deadline date.
It is better to have it written down than to make a mental note and forget it.
You can also use this as a way to mark smaller milestones on your way to the big deadline by establishing smaller goals in the larger timeline. If your goal is to write a first draft of your novel in six months, breakdown ideally where you want to be in the process at the end of months 1, 3, and 5. Fragmenting the larger goal can help make it less daunting.
Beat the Clock
Let’s say you set a deadline of three months to write a play. Can you finish a day early? A week early? Giving yourself personal competition can be a great motivator. It always feels good to get something done before it’s due, and this is one way to see how much faster you can get the project done before your stated deadline.
Reward Yourself
You finished the novel early! You did it! Give yourself time for a reward. It can be going to a movie, buying a book you wanted, or getting dinner out. This is another great way to incentivize yourself to set and keep your writing deadlines.
In our world of instant gratification, delaying getting what you want by completing a major writing task first can make receiving that reward all the better.
Stay Positive
Life happens. If your deadline has to change or you miss it by a week or two, it’s okay. Keep going and still work to get the project done. The key is the complete the project. While the deadline is nice to have, if things prevent you from writing, sometimes there’s not much you can do.
Stay persistent and keep writing.
Have Fun
Writing should be fun, and getting a writing project done should also be a fun process. Remember that you want to get this novel done to move on to the next one.
Give yourself permission to enjoy the process and the creative aspects of the writing. You’ll be grateful that you did.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
But are you setting deadlines for your writing?
Even if you’re not planning to publish or send your work to contest, giving yourself a deadline can be a great way to get things in gear and get the writing done. This milestone can be a moment of celebration and excitement; the novel is done, and I can move forward with my next writing project.
Some people may prefer not to have deadlines. They allow the Muse to decide when they write and when the project is done. That’s all well and good. However, if you want to write a lot and get a lot done and off your To-Do List, I recommend creating deadlines for your projects.
Here are some things to consider when setting deadlines.
Be Reasonable
If you are working on your first novel, setting a deadline of one month maybe a little too intense (unless you’re into that sort of high-octane writing thrill). Creating a reasonable deadline that is manageable but not ridiculous is the key to making the deadline work.
Maybe you plan to have a six-month deadline for your first novel. Then once you’ve seen what you can do with six months, shave a month off for the next one.
I’m sure you’ve seen stories and videos of people who wrote a screenplay in 48 hours or a novel in two weeks, and if you want to aim for that as a personal goal, go for it. But if you have a day job, kids, a family, and other obligations don’t add to your plate writing a 65,000-word novel in a month.
No one wins in that scenario.
Write It Down
It may sound silly, but writing a deadline down in a notebook, a journal, on a calendar, or on a whiteboard where you can see it as a reminder is useful to keep you mindful of the chosen deadline date.
It is better to have it written down than to make a mental note and forget it.
You can also use this as a way to mark smaller milestones on your way to the big deadline by establishing smaller goals in the larger timeline. If your goal is to write a first draft of your novel in six months, breakdown ideally where you want to be in the process at the end of months 1, 3, and 5. Fragmenting the larger goal can help make it less daunting.
Beat the Clock
Let’s say you set a deadline of three months to write a play. Can you finish a day early? A week early? Giving yourself personal competition can be a great motivator. It always feels good to get something done before it’s due, and this is one way to see how much faster you can get the project done before your stated deadline.
Reward Yourself
You finished the novel early! You did it! Give yourself time for a reward. It can be going to a movie, buying a book you wanted, or getting dinner out. This is another great way to incentivize yourself to set and keep your writing deadlines.
In our world of instant gratification, delaying getting what you want by completing a major writing task first can make receiving that reward all the better.
Stay Positive
Life happens. If your deadline has to change or you miss it by a week or two, it’s okay. Keep going and still work to get the project done. The key is the complete the project. While the deadline is nice to have, if things prevent you from writing, sometimes there’s not much you can do.
Stay persistent and keep writing.
Have Fun
Writing should be fun, and getting a writing project done should also be a fun process. Remember that you want to get this novel done to move on to the next one.
Give yourself permission to enjoy the process and the creative aspects of the writing. You’ll be grateful that you did.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
January 2, 2022
Writing Tip of the Week: Facing the Ominous Blank Page
Happy 2022, everyone! I’m sure by now you’ve planned out your writing goals for the new year, but sometimes the most challenging part of digging into those goals is facing the ominous and foreboding blank page. Whether on your laptop with a blinking cursor, or a pad of lined paper, the blank page is something all writers face, from newbies to seasoned vets.
So, how do you break through the intimidation factor that can occur when staring into the blank abyss?
Fact: The Blank Page is Inevitable
The blank page will always be an ever-present factor in your writing life. It can’t hurt you. It can’t harm you. It can’t do anything but sit there and quietly taunt you.
Don’t let it win!
You can’t learn to swim unless you get in the water, and you can’t ride a bike without getting on one. And you can’t conquer the blank page without adding words and conquering its blankness.
Here are a couple ways to defeat it.
Write Anything
Conquer your fear by jumping into the blank page by writing whatever pops into your head. It can be relevant to your story, but the trick is to eliminate the blankness by adding words to the canvas.
Write a poem. Write a thank-you note. Write a logline. Just write something to get the words on the page.
Write Down Questions
Your story has a lot of elements. If you’re having a hard time diving into the meat and potatoes of the writing, write down questions related to your story, characters, setting, etc. This will break up the blank page and give you story-specific things to think about as you begin your writing process.
Don’t Start at the Start
At this stage, there’s no need to begin your writing project at the beginning. What chapter, scene, or sequence gets you excited about the project? Is there a character’s description that intrigues you most?
Why not start there?
It’s all part of the same project, and if writing that piece gets the words flowing, then that’s the best place to start.
Remember, you can always go back and write the beginning later.
This year, fight the good by dominating and defeating the evil and dastardly blank page. Your creativity is counting on you!
Happy New Year, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
So, how do you break through the intimidation factor that can occur when staring into the blank abyss?
Fact: The Blank Page is Inevitable
The blank page will always be an ever-present factor in your writing life. It can’t hurt you. It can’t harm you. It can’t do anything but sit there and quietly taunt you.
Don’t let it win!
You can’t learn to swim unless you get in the water, and you can’t ride a bike without getting on one. And you can’t conquer the blank page without adding words and conquering its blankness.
Here are a couple ways to defeat it.
Write Anything
Conquer your fear by jumping into the blank page by writing whatever pops into your head. It can be relevant to your story, but the trick is to eliminate the blankness by adding words to the canvas.
Write a poem. Write a thank-you note. Write a logline. Just write something to get the words on the page.
Write Down Questions
Your story has a lot of elements. If you’re having a hard time diving into the meat and potatoes of the writing, write down questions related to your story, characters, setting, etc. This will break up the blank page and give you story-specific things to think about as you begin your writing process.
Don’t Start at the Start
At this stage, there’s no need to begin your writing project at the beginning. What chapter, scene, or sequence gets you excited about the project? Is there a character’s description that intrigues you most?
Why not start there?
It’s all part of the same project, and if writing that piece gets the words flowing, then that’s the best place to start.
Remember, you can always go back and write the beginning later.
This year, fight the good by dominating and defeating the evil and dastardly blank page. Your creativity is counting on you!
Happy New Year, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
December 19, 2021
Writing Tip of the Week: Setting your 2022 Writing Goals – Part Two
Last time, we kicked off the final month of 2021 by exploring ways to set new writing goals in 2022. Below are a few more ideas to get your head in the game this coming year.
Always Be Thinking
We are surrounded by people, places, and events that have the possibility of inspiring and evolving into stories. As you go about your day, observe and later write down what you experienced that was noteworthy. Did something happen to you at work or school that could be the basis of a storyline? Did your kid say something funny that would work great in a script?
By being aware of the real world around us, we can create stronger and more grounded stories.
Work To Write Every Day
To write more, write better, and write longer, you need to make it a habitual ritual in your daily routine. Whether it’s for 30 minutes, an hour, or two hours, work to fit time into your daily schedule to write. Even if you write about your day, an experience you had, or on your big writing project, you are still working to develop your skills as a writer.
Numerous websites offer hundreds of writing prompts that can help you focus on what to write if you need assistance. The key is to commit to writing every day and stick to it. With each daily writing session, you’ll be amazed at how your writing skills grow.
Have Side Projects Just In Case
I always like to have another writing project or two on the side if I hit a brick wall with my current project. The solution should never be closing the laptop and skimming through YouTube videos on your phone. A more productive way to deal with this issue is to have another project you can focus on.
I prefer that the second project is in a different genre and even another medium. For example, if I’m writing a novel that’s action-adventure, I’ll have a play that’s a comedy to work on as well. This gives your brain a rest and can actually help you subconsciously resolve issues you’re having with the primary project as you work on the secondary one.
Stay Positive
You’re going to have tough writing days. You’re going to get writers’ block of some kind. You’re going to have personal things pop up that distract you. But when you’re at the desk, the table, or wherever you write, you have to have a positive mindset. You will get the writing done. You will get something on the page. Even if it’s not quality work, it; ’s still work you completed and can fix later.
Don’t get discouraged with the process. If you have issues with a story, step back and figure out why. Write down why you think the story or a character isn’t working (that still counts as writing).
The key is to not allow negative self-talk and other internal forces to win the creative war. Push yourself through the blocks, the doubt, and the problems, and you will come out the other side with work you can be proud of.
Stay Focused
It’s hard in 2021 – and soon 2022 – to disappear from the world and just focus on your writing. It can be hard to shut the world out and focus with social media, the news, COVID, family, friends, work, and doom and gloom seemingly lurking around every corner.
I recommend finding a chaos-free zone where you have your phone off, your wi-fi off, and as few external distractions as possible when you sit down to write. You can fact-check your story later if you need to.
This is your time to escape the real world and live in your fictional universe with your characters and story. I can guarantee that you will not miss world peace being achieved or a cure for all illnesses being discovered while you’re hunkered down writing.
Give yourself the permission and the time to focus, and you will be glad you did.
Have Fun!
This is the most essential aspect of writing. You have to have fun with it. You’re not writing 500-word essays for your high school literature class; you’re writing a novel, a screenplay, a play, short stories, poems, or non-fiction. This is the fun stuff. Enjoy the creative ride.
I believe that the passion, excitement, and joy you have while writing translates off the page to the reader or viewer. Creative writing shouldn’t be a torturous affair; it should be fun, invigorating, energizing.
While there is plenty of hard work involved, it’s work that should be approached from a positive place, not one of dread or resentment. Go into each writing session open-minded, ready to write, and have a good time.
I hope these tips help you plan out your writing goals for 2022. I know that I will make a concerted effort to write every day, complete multiple projects, and stay focused on creating fun, positive, creative writing experiences each time I start a new writing session.
Happy New Year, Happy Writing, and I’ll be back with more articles in 2022!
Always Be Thinking
We are surrounded by people, places, and events that have the possibility of inspiring and evolving into stories. As you go about your day, observe and later write down what you experienced that was noteworthy. Did something happen to you at work or school that could be the basis of a storyline? Did your kid say something funny that would work great in a script?
By being aware of the real world around us, we can create stronger and more grounded stories.
Work To Write Every Day
To write more, write better, and write longer, you need to make it a habitual ritual in your daily routine. Whether it’s for 30 minutes, an hour, or two hours, work to fit time into your daily schedule to write. Even if you write about your day, an experience you had, or on your big writing project, you are still working to develop your skills as a writer.
Numerous websites offer hundreds of writing prompts that can help you focus on what to write if you need assistance. The key is to commit to writing every day and stick to it. With each daily writing session, you’ll be amazed at how your writing skills grow.
Have Side Projects Just In Case
I always like to have another writing project or two on the side if I hit a brick wall with my current project. The solution should never be closing the laptop and skimming through YouTube videos on your phone. A more productive way to deal with this issue is to have another project you can focus on.
I prefer that the second project is in a different genre and even another medium. For example, if I’m writing a novel that’s action-adventure, I’ll have a play that’s a comedy to work on as well. This gives your brain a rest and can actually help you subconsciously resolve issues you’re having with the primary project as you work on the secondary one.
Stay Positive
You’re going to have tough writing days. You’re going to get writers’ block of some kind. You’re going to have personal things pop up that distract you. But when you’re at the desk, the table, or wherever you write, you have to have a positive mindset. You will get the writing done. You will get something on the page. Even if it’s not quality work, it; ’s still work you completed and can fix later.
Don’t get discouraged with the process. If you have issues with a story, step back and figure out why. Write down why you think the story or a character isn’t working (that still counts as writing).
The key is to not allow negative self-talk and other internal forces to win the creative war. Push yourself through the blocks, the doubt, and the problems, and you will come out the other side with work you can be proud of.
Stay Focused
It’s hard in 2021 – and soon 2022 – to disappear from the world and just focus on your writing. It can be hard to shut the world out and focus with social media, the news, COVID, family, friends, work, and doom and gloom seemingly lurking around every corner.
I recommend finding a chaos-free zone where you have your phone off, your wi-fi off, and as few external distractions as possible when you sit down to write. You can fact-check your story later if you need to.
This is your time to escape the real world and live in your fictional universe with your characters and story. I can guarantee that you will not miss world peace being achieved or a cure for all illnesses being discovered while you’re hunkered down writing.
Give yourself the permission and the time to focus, and you will be glad you did.
Have Fun!
This is the most essential aspect of writing. You have to have fun with it. You’re not writing 500-word essays for your high school literature class; you’re writing a novel, a screenplay, a play, short stories, poems, or non-fiction. This is the fun stuff. Enjoy the creative ride.
I believe that the passion, excitement, and joy you have while writing translates off the page to the reader or viewer. Creative writing shouldn’t be a torturous affair; it should be fun, invigorating, energizing.
While there is plenty of hard work involved, it’s work that should be approached from a positive place, not one of dread or resentment. Go into each writing session open-minded, ready to write, and have a good time.
I hope these tips help you plan out your writing goals for 2022. I know that I will make a concerted effort to write every day, complete multiple projects, and stay focused on creating fun, positive, creative writing experiences each time I start a new writing session.
Happy New Year, Happy Writing, and I’ll be back with more articles in 2022!
December 5, 2021
Writing Tip of the Week: Setting your 2022 Writing Goals – Part One
I know. These are usually the articles that pop up in January of 2022. Still, I thought I’d get a head start and allow you to start thinking about your writing goals for the new year. Whether you have big writing goals or small, having a basic idea of what you want to do can help you achieve your goals over the next 365 days.
To reach those milestones with your writing, here are some tips to get you thinking and headed in the right direction.
Set Reasonable Writing Goals
Having a big goal is great. Write that novel. Write that screenplay. Finish that play you outlined a couple years ago. But diving in head-first into a project as big and complex as a novel or a screenplay can be daunting, even for the most seasoned writer.
You can accomplish any of these major writing projects, but create reasonable goals for yourself to achieve them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told myself I’m going to sit down over a weekend and hammer out the second act of a script, only to be so overwhelmed with the monumental task that I avoid it at all costs.
I suggest that you start small. A chapter a day. A scene a day. If you feel you can do more, then do it. Just keep the tasks small and manageable, and you will see that as you write, the work will grow into that novel or script you want to write.
Set Reasonable Writing Deadlines
Most of us have 9-to-5 jobs, go to school, have families, or have other obligations that prevent us from writing all day long. It’s important not to add to any stress in your life by stacking the deck against yourself in the creative realm by imposing unrealistic deadlines on your writing projects.
If you have a big writing project in mind, set your deadline for a rough draft four to six months down the road. Then work to write every day – using reasonable goals – and work toward completing the draft by that set deadline.
You may find that having a deadline creates a sense of urgency in your brain where you feel the need to get it done. And, if you have been writing regularly, you should feel a need to meet the deadline out of an obligation to not only the project but also yourself.
There’s something satisfying about getting to the end of a story, even a rough draft. Even though it is the first of several drafts, you now have a draft to work from and make better.
Think about your life and what you have going on, then set a reasonable deadline for completing your writing project that best suits your situation.
Word Count vs. Page Count vs. Time Goals
Should you write 1,000 words a day? Ten pages a day? Two hours a day? It’s a conundrum that writers and writing books have debated. What works best and makes you most productive?
I prefer setting Time Goals. This gives you a set amount of time to sit down and write. Start the times. When it dings, you can decide to keep going or stop; your writing obligation has been met for the day.
With a Time Goal, you also aren’t tied down to a specific word count or page count. This can add unneeded stress to your writing day, especially if you’re having a tough time creatively that session. Your goal was to sit and write for an hour, and you did it. Whether you squeezed out 500 words or slammed out 10,000, you have met your writing goal for the day.
Which reminds me…
Accept That Some Days Will Be Tougher Than Others
Everyone has bad days, and everyone has distractions. And not every writing session will feel like you’ve brought your A-game. But you must make the time and do the work because you can always go back and edit and rewrite later whatever you felt was less than stellar work.
It's also essential to know that it’s okay to have bad days. Out of 365 writing days, at least a handful will be duds. But you have to shrug it off and keep going each day to reach your goals and deadlines.
Even the greatest Olympian has rough training days. It’s okay for you to have them, too.
Prep Prep Prep
Preparation. If you’re writing a novel, screenplay, or play, it’s important to go in with a game plan. Know your story, characters, and the key moments of your story’s beginning, middle, and end. This prep work will save you time and headaches along the writing journey.
Prepping can be part of your writing day since you are doing the work needed to get your story off the ground and moving forward. The last thing you want to do is jump into an idea without any direction and watch it fizzle out by page twenty.
Take the time, do the prep work, and help yourself and your creativity breathe easier.
Start thinking about your writing goals for 2022. Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks with the rest of my 2022 Writing Tips!
To reach those milestones with your writing, here are some tips to get you thinking and headed in the right direction.
Set Reasonable Writing Goals
Having a big goal is great. Write that novel. Write that screenplay. Finish that play you outlined a couple years ago. But diving in head-first into a project as big and complex as a novel or a screenplay can be daunting, even for the most seasoned writer.
You can accomplish any of these major writing projects, but create reasonable goals for yourself to achieve them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told myself I’m going to sit down over a weekend and hammer out the second act of a script, only to be so overwhelmed with the monumental task that I avoid it at all costs.
I suggest that you start small. A chapter a day. A scene a day. If you feel you can do more, then do it. Just keep the tasks small and manageable, and you will see that as you write, the work will grow into that novel or script you want to write.
Set Reasonable Writing Deadlines
Most of us have 9-to-5 jobs, go to school, have families, or have other obligations that prevent us from writing all day long. It’s important not to add to any stress in your life by stacking the deck against yourself in the creative realm by imposing unrealistic deadlines on your writing projects.
If you have a big writing project in mind, set your deadline for a rough draft four to six months down the road. Then work to write every day – using reasonable goals – and work toward completing the draft by that set deadline.
You may find that having a deadline creates a sense of urgency in your brain where you feel the need to get it done. And, if you have been writing regularly, you should feel a need to meet the deadline out of an obligation to not only the project but also yourself.
There’s something satisfying about getting to the end of a story, even a rough draft. Even though it is the first of several drafts, you now have a draft to work from and make better.
Think about your life and what you have going on, then set a reasonable deadline for completing your writing project that best suits your situation.
Word Count vs. Page Count vs. Time Goals
Should you write 1,000 words a day? Ten pages a day? Two hours a day? It’s a conundrum that writers and writing books have debated. What works best and makes you most productive?
I prefer setting Time Goals. This gives you a set amount of time to sit down and write. Start the times. When it dings, you can decide to keep going or stop; your writing obligation has been met for the day.
With a Time Goal, you also aren’t tied down to a specific word count or page count. This can add unneeded stress to your writing day, especially if you’re having a tough time creatively that session. Your goal was to sit and write for an hour, and you did it. Whether you squeezed out 500 words or slammed out 10,000, you have met your writing goal for the day.
Which reminds me…
Accept That Some Days Will Be Tougher Than Others
Everyone has bad days, and everyone has distractions. And not every writing session will feel like you’ve brought your A-game. But you must make the time and do the work because you can always go back and edit and rewrite later whatever you felt was less than stellar work.
It's also essential to know that it’s okay to have bad days. Out of 365 writing days, at least a handful will be duds. But you have to shrug it off and keep going each day to reach your goals and deadlines.
Even the greatest Olympian has rough training days. It’s okay for you to have them, too.
Prep Prep Prep
Preparation. If you’re writing a novel, screenplay, or play, it’s important to go in with a game plan. Know your story, characters, and the key moments of your story’s beginning, middle, and end. This prep work will save you time and headaches along the writing journey.
Prepping can be part of your writing day since you are doing the work needed to get your story off the ground and moving forward. The last thing you want to do is jump into an idea without any direction and watch it fizzle out by page twenty.
Take the time, do the prep work, and help yourself and your creativity breathe easier.
Start thinking about your writing goals for 2022. Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks with the rest of my 2022 Writing Tips!
November 21, 2021
Writing Tip of the Week: Crafting Character Emotions
Emotions. We all have them and use them. Whether positive or negative emotions, human beings utilize these traits to convey a wide range of feelings to others. As real people, we have a lifetime to analyze, discover, and change our emotional responses to situations caused by internal and external forces.
With fictional characters, however, this becomes more of a challenge. You only have a certain number of script pages or novel chapters to provide the audience with fully realized and dimensional characters with whom they will share the story’s journey. But how do you tap into the emotional center of a fictional being? How do you make them relatable, empathetic, and capable of change?
Let’s talk about it.
Why Emotions?
Emotions help ground your characters in reality and make them relatable to the audience. If a viewer or reader finds emotional traits within the main character that connect them to the hero on a deeper level, this leads to the story having more resonance for the audience.
Most mainstream entertainment uses broad and general emotions to connect with the majority of viewers or readers. From wanting to belong to finding the courage within to fight injustice, relatable emotional hooks connect audiences to your characters and to the story.
It’s important to remember, too, that a well-rounded character has a combination of positive and negative emotional traits. The positive should outweigh the negative in a protagonist, but since real people have both types, giving your main character a few negative emotional characteristics will help make them more realistic.
When developing your characters, make a list of emotional traits you feel they would possess at the start of the story and how that list will change after the story ends. Do they go from being fearful and timid to courageous? Do they go from being cocky and self-assured to humble and respectful? The events of the story should serve the character’s emotional journey as well.
So, how do we see these types of emotions in action?
Look Inside Yourself
You have emotions and feelings, both positive and negative. As I stated at the beginning, we all do. As you create your main character, even if they are 100% different from you, you can still put yourself in their shoes and ask: How would I handle the situation? This is a great starting point to orient yourself in the character’s shoes (since you will be spending a lot of time with them) and helps make them relatable. Emotions are universal, but how we deal with them varies from person to person.
Would your main character react the same way you would to bad news? If so, use that. If not, dig deep into yourself and see what emotions this character could use to cope and deal with the bad news they have heard. Even if it’s the opposite of how you would react, you can still justify their emotional response by looking within.
Study People You Know
The holiday season is upon us, and with that – this year more than last – comes interactions with family, friends, and strangers. Observe people in stressful situations. How do they react? How do they cope? Do they irrationally express their emotions, or rationally work to resolve the problem?
When traveling, make notes on how people respond and react to travel delays, masking rules, and other restrictions. Why are they acting like that? Put yourself in their shoes. How would you react? How would your main character react?
Public spaces are a great place to mine emotional responses that can only aid you in your creative writing endeavors. The mall, Target, or the grocery store can also deliver the emotional goods when the holidays are upon us.
Family and friends are filled with stories. Use their stories to explore how they dealt with a problem or an issue. Family and friends are a great resource for research, and you can bet someone at the table will say, “If it were me, I would have...” in response to what was just told to the group. Make a mental note or write the differences in emotional responses down. All of it is great fodder for character creation and development.
Read, Watch, Listen
Maybe your main character is a politician, a celebrity, a police officer, or a billionaire. The nice thing is that there are plenty of autobiographies, biographies, documentaries, and even podcasts that delve into the lives and mentalities of these types of people. A politician thinks and plans out their life differently than other professions. A celebrity’s personal life is public, which can cause a lot of emotional stress that regular people don’t have to deal with.
By doing research, you can find out how these individuals work through failures, successes, being in the public eye, media scrutiny, etc., and get to the real emotions behind it. All of this research helps to make your main character more relatable and empathetic to the audience. YouTube is a treasure trove of free interviews, specials, and documentaries about all kinds of people.
And if your villain is a serial killer, you have thousands of podcasts and documentaries to choose from that delve into the psyche of these individuals. What makes serial killers, politicians, and billionaires tick? Are there any emotional similarities between them?
Don’t Rely on Fiction for Reference
There are billions of real people who can be viewed as references for emotional arcs within your fictional world. Real people can deliver true emotional depth and empathy, giving your characters a great level of dimension.
While most of us love fiction, it’s wise not to use fictional characters as reference points for emotional character development. It’s tempting to make your characters like Tony Stark or Jack Torrance, but then you aren’t bringing anything fresh or new to the emotional table. Creating cookie-cutter characters makes them dull and uninteresting. Borrowing traits from Bruce Wayne or Elle Woods is lazy writing.
Work to develop emotional arcs for your character that don’t allow your audience to predict the outcome. This leads to greater interest in the characters, the story, and a greater connection emotionally.
Multi-dimensional characters give audiences the best way to escape into the fictional world in front of them. By creating a relatable main character filled with depth and real growth, audiences are more likely to enjoy the journey and appreciate the pay-offs by the story’s end.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
With fictional characters, however, this becomes more of a challenge. You only have a certain number of script pages or novel chapters to provide the audience with fully realized and dimensional characters with whom they will share the story’s journey. But how do you tap into the emotional center of a fictional being? How do you make them relatable, empathetic, and capable of change?
Let’s talk about it.
Why Emotions?
Emotions help ground your characters in reality and make them relatable to the audience. If a viewer or reader finds emotional traits within the main character that connect them to the hero on a deeper level, this leads to the story having more resonance for the audience.
Most mainstream entertainment uses broad and general emotions to connect with the majority of viewers or readers. From wanting to belong to finding the courage within to fight injustice, relatable emotional hooks connect audiences to your characters and to the story.
It’s important to remember, too, that a well-rounded character has a combination of positive and negative emotional traits. The positive should outweigh the negative in a protagonist, but since real people have both types, giving your main character a few negative emotional characteristics will help make them more realistic.
When developing your characters, make a list of emotional traits you feel they would possess at the start of the story and how that list will change after the story ends. Do they go from being fearful and timid to courageous? Do they go from being cocky and self-assured to humble and respectful? The events of the story should serve the character’s emotional journey as well.
So, how do we see these types of emotions in action?
Look Inside Yourself
You have emotions and feelings, both positive and negative. As I stated at the beginning, we all do. As you create your main character, even if they are 100% different from you, you can still put yourself in their shoes and ask: How would I handle the situation? This is a great starting point to orient yourself in the character’s shoes (since you will be spending a lot of time with them) and helps make them relatable. Emotions are universal, but how we deal with them varies from person to person.
Would your main character react the same way you would to bad news? If so, use that. If not, dig deep into yourself and see what emotions this character could use to cope and deal with the bad news they have heard. Even if it’s the opposite of how you would react, you can still justify their emotional response by looking within.
Study People You Know
The holiday season is upon us, and with that – this year more than last – comes interactions with family, friends, and strangers. Observe people in stressful situations. How do they react? How do they cope? Do they irrationally express their emotions, or rationally work to resolve the problem?
When traveling, make notes on how people respond and react to travel delays, masking rules, and other restrictions. Why are they acting like that? Put yourself in their shoes. How would you react? How would your main character react?
Public spaces are a great place to mine emotional responses that can only aid you in your creative writing endeavors. The mall, Target, or the grocery store can also deliver the emotional goods when the holidays are upon us.
Family and friends are filled with stories. Use their stories to explore how they dealt with a problem or an issue. Family and friends are a great resource for research, and you can bet someone at the table will say, “If it were me, I would have...” in response to what was just told to the group. Make a mental note or write the differences in emotional responses down. All of it is great fodder for character creation and development.
Read, Watch, Listen
Maybe your main character is a politician, a celebrity, a police officer, or a billionaire. The nice thing is that there are plenty of autobiographies, biographies, documentaries, and even podcasts that delve into the lives and mentalities of these types of people. A politician thinks and plans out their life differently than other professions. A celebrity’s personal life is public, which can cause a lot of emotional stress that regular people don’t have to deal with.
By doing research, you can find out how these individuals work through failures, successes, being in the public eye, media scrutiny, etc., and get to the real emotions behind it. All of this research helps to make your main character more relatable and empathetic to the audience. YouTube is a treasure trove of free interviews, specials, and documentaries about all kinds of people.
And if your villain is a serial killer, you have thousands of podcasts and documentaries to choose from that delve into the psyche of these individuals. What makes serial killers, politicians, and billionaires tick? Are there any emotional similarities between them?
Don’t Rely on Fiction for Reference
There are billions of real people who can be viewed as references for emotional arcs within your fictional world. Real people can deliver true emotional depth and empathy, giving your characters a great level of dimension.
While most of us love fiction, it’s wise not to use fictional characters as reference points for emotional character development. It’s tempting to make your characters like Tony Stark or Jack Torrance, but then you aren’t bringing anything fresh or new to the emotional table. Creating cookie-cutter characters makes them dull and uninteresting. Borrowing traits from Bruce Wayne or Elle Woods is lazy writing.
Work to develop emotional arcs for your character that don’t allow your audience to predict the outcome. This leads to greater interest in the characters, the story, and a greater connection emotionally.
Multi-dimensional characters give audiences the best way to escape into the fictional world in front of them. By creating a relatable main character filled with depth and real growth, audiences are more likely to enjoy the journey and appreciate the pay-offs by the story’s end.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
November 10, 2021
Writers Workshop Wednesday: Jack Kerouac
Considered one of the Godfathers of the Beat Generation, Jack Kerouac delivered his unique voice and perspectives on life to an era that included Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski, Bob Kaufman, and William S. Burroughs.
It was post-World War II America, and many young people who had fought overseas had returned with no real sense of purpose. Kerouac captures that wanderlust and rebellious spirit in his writings, most famously in On the Road.
An avid reader and sports enthusiast at a young age, Kerouac was born in 1922 to immigrant parents. He spoke French at home and learned English at school. After a series of tragic events at home, including the death of his older brother, the family’s spiral into poverty, and his father’s alcoholism, Kerouac escaped to New York after graduating from high school.
A football scholarship got him into Columbia University in 1940, but a broken leg led to him being sidelined, and he dropped out the next year. After working various odd jobs along the East Coast, Kerouac enlisted with the U.S. Navy in 1943 to help fight in WWII. His stint only lasted 10 days as he was honorably discharged for having “strong schizoid trends.”
Upon returning to New York, he became friends with two other young men, Allen Ginsburg and William S. Burroughs. It was through their friendship and writings that the Beat Movement found its origins.
Kerouac began to write novels in the late 1940s, but he wouldn’t achieve any acclaim for his work on a wide scale until 1957 when On the Road was published and received rave reviews. His other works include Town and Country (his first novel), The Dharma Bums, Doctor Sax, Lonesome Traveler, Big Sur, and Desolation Angels. He also wrote poetry, plays, and spoken work albums.
Sadly, Kerouac died of a “massive abdominal hemorrhage” at the age of 47 in 1969.
Below are interviews with Kerouac, a few videos about the Beat Generation, and Kerouac reading some of his poems and excerpts from his novels.
Check out Kerouac’s bio HERE.
Learn more about Kerouac and The Beat Museum HERE.
And check out The Kerouac Society HERE.
Enjoy!
Jack Kerouac 1
Jack Kerouac 2
Jack Kerouac 3
Jack Kerouac 4
Jack Kerouac 5
Jack Kerouac 6
Back in two weeks with another great writer!
Post Sources:
Jack Kerouac Biography
Jack Kerouac Obituary
It was post-World War II America, and many young people who had fought overseas had returned with no real sense of purpose. Kerouac captures that wanderlust and rebellious spirit in his writings, most famously in On the Road.
An avid reader and sports enthusiast at a young age, Kerouac was born in 1922 to immigrant parents. He spoke French at home and learned English at school. After a series of tragic events at home, including the death of his older brother, the family’s spiral into poverty, and his father’s alcoholism, Kerouac escaped to New York after graduating from high school.
A football scholarship got him into Columbia University in 1940, but a broken leg led to him being sidelined, and he dropped out the next year. After working various odd jobs along the East Coast, Kerouac enlisted with the U.S. Navy in 1943 to help fight in WWII. His stint only lasted 10 days as he was honorably discharged for having “strong schizoid trends.”
Upon returning to New York, he became friends with two other young men, Allen Ginsburg and William S. Burroughs. It was through their friendship and writings that the Beat Movement found its origins.
Kerouac began to write novels in the late 1940s, but he wouldn’t achieve any acclaim for his work on a wide scale until 1957 when On the Road was published and received rave reviews. His other works include Town and Country (his first novel), The Dharma Bums, Doctor Sax, Lonesome Traveler, Big Sur, and Desolation Angels. He also wrote poetry, plays, and spoken work albums.
Sadly, Kerouac died of a “massive abdominal hemorrhage” at the age of 47 in 1969.
Below are interviews with Kerouac, a few videos about the Beat Generation, and Kerouac reading some of his poems and excerpts from his novels.
Check out Kerouac’s bio HERE.
Learn more about Kerouac and The Beat Museum HERE.
And check out The Kerouac Society HERE.
Enjoy!
Jack Kerouac 1
Jack Kerouac 2
Jack Kerouac 3
Jack Kerouac 4
Jack Kerouac 5
Jack Kerouac 6
Back in two weeks with another great writer!
Post Sources:
Jack Kerouac Biography
Jack Kerouac Obituary
November 7, 2021
Writing Tip of the Week: Story Continuity
Writing a novel can be an intense creative process. There are dozens of technical elements an author has to focus on at one time. At the same time, they have to make sure they’re crafting an engaging and entertaining story. Continuity is a major aspect that all writers should be aware of and consider as they work toward a final draft.
Making sure your novel’s story retains continuity throughout is a crucial component to focus on when working toward your final draft.
Keep The Story Flowing And Reader Engaged
Once the reader starts the story, there should be no point where they stop and question if repeated information is consistent. Suppose the main character drives a black Dodge Challenger. Fifty pages later, they drive a blue Dodge Charger. This would make the reader pause, go back, and see if there’s an error. If there is, they have now been taken out of the story. Oh, they may keep reading, but now they’re on the lookout for more continuity issues, and that is work they shouldn’t be doing.
A reader’s job is to read the book. It’s the author’s job to ensure that is all they have to do.
You Are The First Line Of Continuity Defense
I’m the first to admit that I am notorious for writing out of sequence, writing multiple versions of chapters, and experimenting with different ways to tell the story. These are all fine, but it’s important to have the story’s facts correct throughout when it comes to putting the story together.
Obviously, your story will change, as will your characters as the story moves forward. However, aspects of the characters, the locations, and the items used by the characters have consistency. It’s important for you as an author to keep track of these things and make the needed revisions during a Continuity Pass during your final drafting phase.
I would also ask your Beta Reader to check for continuity issues. A fresh set of eyes can definitely help spot these errors so they can be fixed.
Keep A Cheat Sheet
To keep things easy, create a cheat sheet that lists your main characters and key aspects about them (age, style of dress, personality, eye color, hair color, etc.). Have it handy when you’re writing. If they drive, have the make, model, and color of their cars available. Any basic factual information about the setting, locations, and basic geography of the area can also help. This will help you keep these things consistent and avoid the lengthy process of changing them later once they are in the novel.
Change Is Fine, But Make The Changes Consistent
As you draft your story, nothing is really set in stone. This also means the info on your cheat sheet. If you decide to make changes to a character, a location, or some other story aspect, make sure those changes are reflected in your cheat sheet for future reference. You should also make the changes throughout the manuscript right away for assurance purposes.
You can do a word search in your writing program to find the item you want to change, or you can do a find and replace to do it automatically. Even if you use this method, still read through the manuscript to ensure the changes exist and make sense.
Where Are Your Characters?
It’s important to keep tabs on where characters are, where they aren’t, and how long it would take them to get from point A to point B. If you have a character leave the room in one draft of a chapter, then merge it with another draft, make sure that character is still absent all the way through. I’ve done this where I merge drafts, and characters who are absent at the beginning are mysteriously present later on.
It’s also important to keep track of who knows what and when they know it. If a character is talking about an event they weren’t around for, how do they know about it? Who told them? This can also happen when multiple versions of the same chapter exist. Just make sure to create a continuity that won’t confuse the reader.
Big Picture To Small Picture
While it’s good to go into the story with an outline and cheat sheet, getting the story out and on the page is a priority. You can’t revise and edit what doesn’t exist, which is why you want to start with the big, broad strokes and get into the smaller stuff as you fine-tune future drafts.
As you write, you may change a character, a location, or story element. All fine. But make sure you notate the change, so you know to check for continuity issues later on.
This is important since once the book is in the reader’s hands…
Details Count
While a reader probably won’t fact-check the hourly wage of a baker during the Renaissance, they will notice if a character’s eye color changes or if they suddenly have an umbrella with them for no reason during a freak storm. If a character’s clothing is referenced during a chapter, make sure that any mentions of their clothing are consistent (if she walks in wearing heels, make sure she’s not wearing flats a few pages later).
I believe a continuity pass should come toward the end of the drafting phase because it can become a distraction from what you really need to do: write the story. If you want to get into the detailed minutiae, save it for once the story is solid, and you’ve reached the end. Then you can dig in and make sure everything else has the continuity to keep the reader reading.
What glaring errors have taken you out of a novel, a movie, or a TV show? Leave a comment and let me know!
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Making sure your novel’s story retains continuity throughout is a crucial component to focus on when working toward your final draft.
Keep The Story Flowing And Reader Engaged
Once the reader starts the story, there should be no point where they stop and question if repeated information is consistent. Suppose the main character drives a black Dodge Challenger. Fifty pages later, they drive a blue Dodge Charger. This would make the reader pause, go back, and see if there’s an error. If there is, they have now been taken out of the story. Oh, they may keep reading, but now they’re on the lookout for more continuity issues, and that is work they shouldn’t be doing.
A reader’s job is to read the book. It’s the author’s job to ensure that is all they have to do.
You Are The First Line Of Continuity Defense
I’m the first to admit that I am notorious for writing out of sequence, writing multiple versions of chapters, and experimenting with different ways to tell the story. These are all fine, but it’s important to have the story’s facts correct throughout when it comes to putting the story together.
Obviously, your story will change, as will your characters as the story moves forward. However, aspects of the characters, the locations, and the items used by the characters have consistency. It’s important for you as an author to keep track of these things and make the needed revisions during a Continuity Pass during your final drafting phase.
I would also ask your Beta Reader to check for continuity issues. A fresh set of eyes can definitely help spot these errors so they can be fixed.
Keep A Cheat Sheet
To keep things easy, create a cheat sheet that lists your main characters and key aspects about them (age, style of dress, personality, eye color, hair color, etc.). Have it handy when you’re writing. If they drive, have the make, model, and color of their cars available. Any basic factual information about the setting, locations, and basic geography of the area can also help. This will help you keep these things consistent and avoid the lengthy process of changing them later once they are in the novel.
Change Is Fine, But Make The Changes Consistent
As you draft your story, nothing is really set in stone. This also means the info on your cheat sheet. If you decide to make changes to a character, a location, or some other story aspect, make sure those changes are reflected in your cheat sheet for future reference. You should also make the changes throughout the manuscript right away for assurance purposes.
You can do a word search in your writing program to find the item you want to change, or you can do a find and replace to do it automatically. Even if you use this method, still read through the manuscript to ensure the changes exist and make sense.
Where Are Your Characters?
It’s important to keep tabs on where characters are, where they aren’t, and how long it would take them to get from point A to point B. If you have a character leave the room in one draft of a chapter, then merge it with another draft, make sure that character is still absent all the way through. I’ve done this where I merge drafts, and characters who are absent at the beginning are mysteriously present later on.
It’s also important to keep track of who knows what and when they know it. If a character is talking about an event they weren’t around for, how do they know about it? Who told them? This can also happen when multiple versions of the same chapter exist. Just make sure to create a continuity that won’t confuse the reader.
Big Picture To Small Picture
While it’s good to go into the story with an outline and cheat sheet, getting the story out and on the page is a priority. You can’t revise and edit what doesn’t exist, which is why you want to start with the big, broad strokes and get into the smaller stuff as you fine-tune future drafts.
As you write, you may change a character, a location, or story element. All fine. But make sure you notate the change, so you know to check for continuity issues later on.
This is important since once the book is in the reader’s hands…
Details Count
While a reader probably won’t fact-check the hourly wage of a baker during the Renaissance, they will notice if a character’s eye color changes or if they suddenly have an umbrella with them for no reason during a freak storm. If a character’s clothing is referenced during a chapter, make sure that any mentions of their clothing are consistent (if she walks in wearing heels, make sure she’s not wearing flats a few pages later).
I believe a continuity pass should come toward the end of the drafting phase because it can become a distraction from what you really need to do: write the story. If you want to get into the detailed minutiae, save it for once the story is solid, and you’ve reached the end. Then you can dig in and make sure everything else has the continuity to keep the reader reading.
What glaring errors have taken you out of a novel, a movie, or a TV show? Leave a comment and let me know!
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
October 27, 2021
Writers Workshop Wednesday: Mark Twain (1835 -1910)
An icon of American Literature, Mark Twain was born Samuel Clemens in 1835. It would be his life experiences and the people he encountered that would inspire characters in his two most well-known novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Known for his wit and his unique perspective on life, Twain’s real life was filled with struggle and hardship as he navigated a world dominated by the Civil War, the Gilded Age, and the tail end of the Industrial Revolution. Twain would see a monumental amount of change during his life, even being one of the first subject of a new medium called moving pictures.
His writing career started at a newspaper, and evolved into writing about his travels, and finally into fiction. Twain’s life is a fascinating one, and one worth exploring to see how a man whose life began with a decade of childhood illness would go on to become one of the most-read authors in all of American Literature.
Check out more about his life from
The History Channel.
You can also learn more about him at this link to
The Mark Twain House and Museum.
Below are links to biographies, books, and interviews about Mark Twain. I also added a link the aforementioned moving picture featuring Twain that was filmed by Thomas Edison.
Enjoy!
Mark Twain 1
Mark Twain 2
Mark Twain 3
Mark Twain 4
Mark Twain 5
Mark Twain 6
Mark Twain 7
Mark Twain 8
Mark Twain 9
Back in two weeks with another great writer!
Known for his wit and his unique perspective on life, Twain’s real life was filled with struggle and hardship as he navigated a world dominated by the Civil War, the Gilded Age, and the tail end of the Industrial Revolution. Twain would see a monumental amount of change during his life, even being one of the first subject of a new medium called moving pictures.
His writing career started at a newspaper, and evolved into writing about his travels, and finally into fiction. Twain’s life is a fascinating one, and one worth exploring to see how a man whose life began with a decade of childhood illness would go on to become one of the most-read authors in all of American Literature.
Check out more about his life from
The History Channel.
You can also learn more about him at this link to
The Mark Twain House and Museum.
Below are links to biographies, books, and interviews about Mark Twain. I also added a link the aforementioned moving picture featuring Twain that was filmed by Thomas Edison.
Enjoy!
Mark Twain 1
Mark Twain 2
Mark Twain 3
Mark Twain 4
Mark Twain 5
Mark Twain 6
Mark Twain 7
Mark Twain 8
Mark Twain 9
Back in two weeks with another great writer!
October 24, 2021
Writing Tip of the Week: The Importance of Conflict in Your Story
Most of us go about our daily lives determined to avoid conflict. In the real world, it can be a real pain dealing with angry, disagreeable, and aggressive people, which can, in turn, negatively impact your day as a whole. If we find ourselves involved in a conflict, our primary goal is to end it or get away from it as fast as possible.
Obviously, there are those in the world that thrive on conflict and cause trouble for others, but for the most part, people like to have a semblance of peace in their day-to-day lives.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, Conflict equals Drama, and it’s true. Conflict is a must-have in the fictional world of a novel, a TV show, or a movie. Conflict helps drive the story forward, reveal character, and create an intense dialogue between those in conflict.
Suppose a story lacks a conflict for your protagonist. In that case, it can drag, feel aimless, and even cause the reader or viewer to lose interest. So, let’s talk about conflict and how to keep things alive in your story.
How Big Should the Conflict Be?
Not all conflict revolves around world-ending superhero movie stakes. A conflict can be as simple as a disagreement between the main character and another character. It can also be during the final showdown between the protagonist and antagonist. It’s something that puts a wrench in the protagonist’s day, and it’s something they have to work to overcome to get to their sense of normalcy once again.
Let’s look at story conflict on a scale of 1 to 5. One is the bare minimum. Maybe it’s a couple who can’t agree where to go to dinner or siblings who can’t decide whether to get a cat or a dog. Simple, low-stakes conflicts that will probably have an amicable resolution sooner than later.
A five is a relentless assault on the main character that has no clear end in sight, and the antagonist has the upper hand from the start. Horror movies are often a 10. Superhero movies can be up in the 10s. Disaster movies as well. High-stakes and a lot to lose if the main character is defeated.
In the middle are stakes and conflicts that can mirror real life, raise stakes, and create consequences for the main character. They aren’t easy to resolve but have some kernel of hope of a win nesting inside them.
Think about what you’re currently writing. What are the main conflicts the protagonist faces? Are they Ones? Fives? In the middle? Then ask yourself if the conflict is big enough for your main character to fight to defeat whatever the conflict is. Will the struggle? Will they suffer in some way? Have setbacks? Will these conflicts help them grow as a character?
Don’t Fear Conflict
It’s okay for your main character to argue with someone. It’s okay for the protagonist to disagree with other characters. If your protagonist gets their way from chapter one to the final page, it’s going to be a dull and predictable story.
Hallmark movies have conflict. As you read this, Hallmark Channel has started airing Christmas movies 24/7. Never seen one? Watch one and jot down the main conflicts that the main character faces throughout the story. On our scale, they are probably 1s and 2s (if you want 3-level conflict, flip over to Lifetime), but there is still conflict present.
When we hear the word Conflict, we think of shootouts, explosions, fistfights, and screaming matches. But conflict can take many forms rooted in a more realistic world than Batman versus The Joker.
Sitcoms can create a conflict out of a minor situation and expand upon it for 22 minutes. One of my favorite shows, Frasier, does this beautifully. From minor disagreements, misunderstandings, past rivalries, and more, these smaller conflicts can be a well-spring of material that can be used that don’t have to result in Metropolis or Gotham City being destroyed.
And just because your main character argues with someone doesn’t make them unlikeable. It makes them appear more human, which is a good thing.
External & Internal Conflict
What's causing the conflict in the story? If it's something outside the main character's control, it's an External Conflict. It disrupts the protagonist's world that has to be resolved to return to their sense of normalcy.
Most stories revolve around External Conflicts. There's a threat, a natural disaster, an antagonist creating chaos. Whatever it is, it's outside the main character.
Internal Conflicts can be a direct result of an External Conflict. Still, these are things the main character is struggling to overcome that are causing issues within.
Maybe they were just served divorce papers. The divorce is an External Conflict, but the feelings the main character has are an Internal Conflict. The protagonist must resolve the External Conflict (why does the partner want a divorce? Where are they? How can we fix this problem?). At the same time, they must deal with the Internal Conflict (what did I do to lead up to this moment? How can I change and become better? Is there something wrong with me as a partner?).
All characters, like real people, need to have an External and Internal life, which assists in creating the External and Internal Conflicts that serve the story and help the character grow and change within and without.
As you work on your story, think about how the external events are affecting the main character internally. How are their thoughts, feelings, and fears impacting their ability to stop the External Conflict they've been thrown into?
Conflict as a Driving Force
Conflict creates problems for the protagonist. In turn, the active protagonist sets out to resolve and end the conflict. Other conflicts may pop up in the meantime that must be tamped down as the main character continues their pursuit toward their goal of ending the conflict.
The majority of main characters in mainstream entertainment want to end the conflict they’re dealing with and go back to their life before everything got out of control. Of course, in working to stop and resolve the conflict, they will grow as a person and learn from their experiences, which creates their Character Arc.
Viewing for Conflict
Grab a couple of your favorite movies, a few episodes of your favorite TV shows, a novel you’ve read before, a notebook and a pen, and analyze the conflicts in each. Make a note about the main conflict, how the main character sets out to resolve it, and how they evolve throughout the story to end the conflict.
Now, look at your story and see where conflict can be increased and the stakes raised for your main character. What is your protagonist’s goal? How do they initially plan to resolve the conflict that has presented itself and upturned their calm state of being? How will they change as they work to resolve the conflict? Will they become a better or worse person by the story’s end?
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Obviously, there are those in the world that thrive on conflict and cause trouble for others, but for the most part, people like to have a semblance of peace in their day-to-day lives.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, Conflict equals Drama, and it’s true. Conflict is a must-have in the fictional world of a novel, a TV show, or a movie. Conflict helps drive the story forward, reveal character, and create an intense dialogue between those in conflict.
Suppose a story lacks a conflict for your protagonist. In that case, it can drag, feel aimless, and even cause the reader or viewer to lose interest. So, let’s talk about conflict and how to keep things alive in your story.
How Big Should the Conflict Be?
Not all conflict revolves around world-ending superhero movie stakes. A conflict can be as simple as a disagreement between the main character and another character. It can also be during the final showdown between the protagonist and antagonist. It’s something that puts a wrench in the protagonist’s day, and it’s something they have to work to overcome to get to their sense of normalcy once again.
Let’s look at story conflict on a scale of 1 to 5. One is the bare minimum. Maybe it’s a couple who can’t agree where to go to dinner or siblings who can’t decide whether to get a cat or a dog. Simple, low-stakes conflicts that will probably have an amicable resolution sooner than later.
A five is a relentless assault on the main character that has no clear end in sight, and the antagonist has the upper hand from the start. Horror movies are often a 10. Superhero movies can be up in the 10s. Disaster movies as well. High-stakes and a lot to lose if the main character is defeated.
In the middle are stakes and conflicts that can mirror real life, raise stakes, and create consequences for the main character. They aren’t easy to resolve but have some kernel of hope of a win nesting inside them.
Think about what you’re currently writing. What are the main conflicts the protagonist faces? Are they Ones? Fives? In the middle? Then ask yourself if the conflict is big enough for your main character to fight to defeat whatever the conflict is. Will the struggle? Will they suffer in some way? Have setbacks? Will these conflicts help them grow as a character?
Don’t Fear Conflict
It’s okay for your main character to argue with someone. It’s okay for the protagonist to disagree with other characters. If your protagonist gets their way from chapter one to the final page, it’s going to be a dull and predictable story.
Hallmark movies have conflict. As you read this, Hallmark Channel has started airing Christmas movies 24/7. Never seen one? Watch one and jot down the main conflicts that the main character faces throughout the story. On our scale, they are probably 1s and 2s (if you want 3-level conflict, flip over to Lifetime), but there is still conflict present.
When we hear the word Conflict, we think of shootouts, explosions, fistfights, and screaming matches. But conflict can take many forms rooted in a more realistic world than Batman versus The Joker.
Sitcoms can create a conflict out of a minor situation and expand upon it for 22 minutes. One of my favorite shows, Frasier, does this beautifully. From minor disagreements, misunderstandings, past rivalries, and more, these smaller conflicts can be a well-spring of material that can be used that don’t have to result in Metropolis or Gotham City being destroyed.
And just because your main character argues with someone doesn’t make them unlikeable. It makes them appear more human, which is a good thing.
External & Internal Conflict
What's causing the conflict in the story? If it's something outside the main character's control, it's an External Conflict. It disrupts the protagonist's world that has to be resolved to return to their sense of normalcy.
Most stories revolve around External Conflicts. There's a threat, a natural disaster, an antagonist creating chaos. Whatever it is, it's outside the main character.
Internal Conflicts can be a direct result of an External Conflict. Still, these are things the main character is struggling to overcome that are causing issues within.
Maybe they were just served divorce papers. The divorce is an External Conflict, but the feelings the main character has are an Internal Conflict. The protagonist must resolve the External Conflict (why does the partner want a divorce? Where are they? How can we fix this problem?). At the same time, they must deal with the Internal Conflict (what did I do to lead up to this moment? How can I change and become better? Is there something wrong with me as a partner?).
All characters, like real people, need to have an External and Internal life, which assists in creating the External and Internal Conflicts that serve the story and help the character grow and change within and without.
As you work on your story, think about how the external events are affecting the main character internally. How are their thoughts, feelings, and fears impacting their ability to stop the External Conflict they've been thrown into?
Conflict as a Driving Force
Conflict creates problems for the protagonist. In turn, the active protagonist sets out to resolve and end the conflict. Other conflicts may pop up in the meantime that must be tamped down as the main character continues their pursuit toward their goal of ending the conflict.
The majority of main characters in mainstream entertainment want to end the conflict they’re dealing with and go back to their life before everything got out of control. Of course, in working to stop and resolve the conflict, they will grow as a person and learn from their experiences, which creates their Character Arc.
Viewing for Conflict
Grab a couple of your favorite movies, a few episodes of your favorite TV shows, a novel you’ve read before, a notebook and a pen, and analyze the conflicts in each. Make a note about the main conflict, how the main character sets out to resolve it, and how they evolve throughout the story to end the conflict.
Now, look at your story and see where conflict can be increased and the stakes raised for your main character. What is your protagonist’s goal? How do they initially plan to resolve the conflict that has presented itself and upturned their calm state of being? How will they change as they work to resolve the conflict? Will they become a better or worse person by the story’s end?
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
