Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "characters-in-plots"
Where Is the Plot?
So far we have the hero, heroine and villain for our melodramas. Now we need a plot.
Where do we find a plot?
Old melodramas have the villain trying to trap the heroine into marriage. The hero and heroine are in love so the hero thwarts the villain to win the girl. So simple. So trite. So stereotyped.
Where do we find a better plot?
A plot revolves around things the characters want and what they are willing to do to attain these wants. Let's revisit our characters.
We have profiles of these characters individually. How do they connect with each other? How do these connections affect their hopes, dreams and desires?
What obstacles stand in the way of the characters attaining their hopes, dreams and desires? Can you think of more obstacles? Even obstacles that seem far-fetched should make the list.
Which of the main characters will take center stage in your melodrama? Your character sketch is who this character is at the beginning of your melodrama.
Which hope, dream or desire will this character attain in your melodrama? This is where your character is going.
Now, fill in the space between these two with the obstacles. You won't use all of them. You may even come up with new ones. These will pull in your other main characters.
Now you have the beginnings of a plot.
Where do we find a plot?
Old melodramas have the villain trying to trap the heroine into marriage. The hero and heroine are in love so the hero thwarts the villain to win the girl. So simple. So trite. So stereotyped.
Where do we find a better plot?
A plot revolves around things the characters want and what they are willing to do to attain these wants. Let's revisit our characters.
We have profiles of these characters individually. How do they connect with each other? How do these connections affect their hopes, dreams and desires?
What obstacles stand in the way of the characters attaining their hopes, dreams and desires? Can you think of more obstacles? Even obstacles that seem far-fetched should make the list.
Which of the main characters will take center stage in your melodrama? Your character sketch is who this character is at the beginning of your melodrama.
Which hope, dream or desire will this character attain in your melodrama? This is where your character is going.
Now, fill in the space between these two with the obstacles. You won't use all of them. You may even come up with new ones. These will pull in your other main characters.
Now you have the beginnings of a plot.
