Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-a-melodrama"
Developing My Melodrama Plot
How do my characters relate?
Andromeda works for Franz as his receptionist. Andromeda is Margaret's daughter. This makes Andromeda the link between my three main characters.
What are my characters' aspirations?
Andromeda may be working as a receptionist but she wants to work outside, preferably in a state or national park as a ranger.
Franz is a financial consultant with an established clientele. Since the death of his wife, he has buried himself in his office.
Margaret is getting older and afraid of being left alone. Her husband found a new love and left her. One by one two of her children have left home. Only Andromeda is left.
The trite plot would be for Margaret to use guilt as a weapon to keep Andromeda from becoming a person in her own right, trapping her into taking care of Margaret as she grows older. Franz comes in as a mentor encouraging Andromeda to pursue her dreams.
This would work. Yet it leaves the characters little more than stereotypes and the plot stale.
How can this plot be changed to make it more interesting? The key must be buried somewhere in my character sketches. I must go looking.
Andromeda works for Franz as his receptionist. Andromeda is Margaret's daughter. This makes Andromeda the link between my three main characters.
What are my characters' aspirations?
Andromeda may be working as a receptionist but she wants to work outside, preferably in a state or national park as a ranger.
Franz is a financial consultant with an established clientele. Since the death of his wife, he has buried himself in his office.
Margaret is getting older and afraid of being left alone. Her husband found a new love and left her. One by one two of her children have left home. Only Andromeda is left.
The trite plot would be for Margaret to use guilt as a weapon to keep Andromeda from becoming a person in her own right, trapping her into taking care of Margaret as she grows older. Franz comes in as a mentor encouraging Andromeda to pursue her dreams.
This would work. Yet it leaves the characters little more than stereotypes and the plot stale.
How can this plot be changed to make it more interesting? The key must be buried somewhere in my character sketches. I must go looking.
